Ford Focus replacing the Evo in the US market?

Ford's recent announcement to bring the AWD Ford Focus RS to the US market 

has generating quite a lot of buzz among auto enthusiasts!

Ford has kept a lot of its 4 cylinder performance tech out of the US in the past.

One of the most popular examples would of been the Ford Escort Cosworth RS that to this day maintains a legacy that sits up there with kings such as the early Evos, Rx7s, supras, and others.

Let's talk about what is probably one of the most interesting concept to us enthusiasts: the hunk of metal that is going to be housing all the explosions that power this beast!

Details are not finalized/released on the 2016 RS but we do know it will use the

 same 2.3L ecoboost motor being used in the 2015 Mustang. Using this information we can make some fair guesses at its power output. The 2.3L ecoboost is advertised to put out 310bhp and 320lb-ft of torque in the 2015 Mustang. So it'd be fair to guess that it'll make at least those numbers in the Focus RS which even if left at that would make for one fun packed ride!

This leads to a prime question that many auto enthusiasts have been debating.

Up until the announcement of the revelation that the Evolution will cease production - the Evolution and Subaru's WRX/STi were the head of the 4 cylinder AWD enthusiast market.

With one of the kings of the 4 cylinder and AWD automotive world taking its leave of the market - many are questioning if Ford's AWD Focus will help fill that void at least in the US market. The 2015 Mitsubishi Evolution from the factory is rated at 291 horsepower and 300 ft-lbs of torque with a curb weight around 3500lbs depending on which trim you're looking at.

The current Focus ST comes in at a curb weight around 3200lbs. 

It's safe to say we will see that go up to around the Evolution's weight numbers with the AWD drive-train. This is not to say there could be weight increases or reductions in other areas of the car since there's a lot changing besides just its drive-train. It's probably safe to say though that with the additional power the 2.3L is making that it already has the Evo beat in that regard.

There are many other key factors though that play a part in overall analysis of the quality of cars besides factory stats though - at least to we enthusiasts who modify our cars. Some of these being such things as durability, how easy the vehicle is to work on, the cost and availability of aftermarket, and more. One thing people loved about the Mitsubishi Evolution was how much power it could reliably make on the stock block and turbo with proper supporting mods and tune.

If the Focus RS AWD could nail all these and maybe even do them better - is it possible that it will fill the space in the enthusiast market that the Evolution is leaving behind?

What do you think?