cars news 10: First 2016 Ford Focus RS Sells for $550,000 at Auction

The first 2016 Ford Focus RS sold for $550,000 during the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2016 auction last week. All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), “Improving lives. Curing Type 1 diabetes.”

Power for the 2016 Ford Focus RS comes from a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 producing 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is the only available transmission and sends power to the new torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.

A set of 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Super Sport summer tires puts the power to the ground. Suspension and steering systems have also been retuned to handle the extra power and accommodate the all-wheel drive handling.

The Focus RS features unique bodywork including an RS-exclusive front fascia, grille, headlights and foglights up front, and a larger hatch wing and RS exhaust tips out back. Inside, the Focus RS features Recaro sport seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, alloy pedals, unique gauge cluster graphics, and additional gauges mounted at the top of the center stack as well as Ford SYNC 3 infotainment system.

2016 Ford Focus RS rear three quarter 02

2016 Ford Focus RS front three quarter in motion 20 2

The winner of the first 2016 Ford Focus RS will have the option to choose from four exterior colors including Stealth Gray, Shadow Black, Frozen White, and an exclusive Nitrous Blue color.

The first 2017 Acura NSX was also sold at the Scottsdale, Ariz., auction this past weekend, generating $1.2 million.

Many first edition models have taken home big figures in past auctions. The first 2016 Ford Focus RS sold for more than the first 2015 Ford Mustang GT and the last 2015 Ford Mustang GT 50^th Anniversary models, which sold for $300,000 and $170,000, respectively, but sold for less than the first Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang, which sold for $1 million.

The first 2013 Dodge Viper sold for $300,000, while the first 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray sold for $1 million. Additionally, the first 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat sold for $825,000 and the third 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 produced sold for $147,500.

Source: Barrett-Jackson