Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson Technical Editor
July 3, 2019
Contributers: Michael Johnson

For most of us, V8 power is where it's at. Anything else, save for a couple non-V8 powerplants, is subpar. Yeah, we respect elapsed times and horsepower numbers from many different combinations, but when it comes down to it for our cars, it's a V8 or nothing. However, when we do drive a non-V8 with a good bit of power, our eyes are opened to the possibility of enjoying it as a second car.

Case in point, we recently had the chance to get behind the wheel of Dream Giveaway's 2017 Focus RS. We're one of those people who believe V8 power is where it's at, but driving the 450hp, all-wheel-drive, Focus RS dude, we could get used to that. However, the best thing is, this particular RS doesn't come with a huge price tag. For just a few dollars, this 2017 Focus RS could be in your garage next to your Mustang.

We'll get to how you can win the car in a minute, but more importantly to us is how it arrived at 450 horsepower. First off, a stock Focus RS is pretty impressive, but to take Dream Giveaway's example over the top, it features a few parts from Extreme Turbo Systems, including the company's front-mount intercooler and upgraded piping, high-flow intake system, 3-inch downpipe, and a 3-inch exhaust system. Then it features a Cobb Tuning AccessPORT V3 ECU upgrade for its custom tune.

The car isn't just about horsepower, though. Dream Giveaway's Focus RS also makes use of Whiteline front and rear sway bars and end links, KW V3 coilovers, Advan Racing RSII wheels, and Nexen N FERA SUR4G Extreme Performance Summer tire. With all that grip and acceleration, safety and security is needed on the inside, as well. For safety, the car features a Watson Racing 4-point bar, while Schroth Racing harnesses keeps driver and passenger securely in place. Follow up all these modifications with a custom paint scheme, and you have a SEMA-worthy show car.

That's not all, though. This Focus RS came from the factory with what Ford calls a "drift mode." The car's "drift mode" allows for up to 70 percent of the car's torque to drive the rear wheels, and then shuffles that power to either side to engage the car into a drift. We've seen "drift mode" in action, but on our trip over the Dream Giveaway garage, we didn't want to chance wadding up their example, so we just used it to do a couple donuts. We would need a huge parking lot in the middle of nowhere without cameras to fully experience everything "drift mode" has to offer. In a nutshell, though, this car is more fun than should be legal, and you can win it with a small donation.

So how do you get Dream Giveaway's 2017 Focus RS in your garage? Simply go to www.dreamgiveaway.com, click the link for the car, and decide how much you would like to donate in return for a chance to win the car. Or better yet, use this promo code link (www.dreamgiveaway.com/?promo=mg0819f) to double your tickets! Then, just sit back and wait. The Focus RS giveaway runs until February 25, 2020, so you have time to throw your name in the hat. Just don't wait until the last minute. You don't want to miss out on this one, trust us.

Dream Giveaway's 2017 Focus RS is bathed in Nitro blue with silver accents and wears Advan Racing wheels wrapped in Nexen N Fera SUR4G 235/35ZR19 treads. To bring the RS closer to earth, the car features a KW V3 Focus RS coilover suspension kit with Whiteline sway bars and rear end-links. The factory RS Brembo brakes easily handle bringing the car to halt.
The factory Focus RS is rated at 350 horsepower and is a great car out of the box. However, Dream Giveaway reps wanted something a bit more evil. This particular Focus RS perfectly fit the bill. Several components from Extreme Turbo Systems found their way onto the car, which upped horsepower production into the 450 range. With a turbocharged combination, cooling the intake charge, along with opening up in the air intake and exhaust is what is needed to really improve horsepower production. A Cobb Tuning AccessPORT V3 ECU upgrade holds the custom tune necessary to arrive at 450 horsepower.
Inside, the factory Recaros do a great job of holding you in place during hard cornering, but for added security, Dream Giveaway's Focus RS utilizes Schroth Racing harnesses. In a car with the handling capabilities of this car, the harnesses are a welcome addition. To entertain yourself while drifting the Dream Giveaway Focus RS, it features the factory 10-speaker Sony audio system.
In addition to the Schroth harnesses, for even more safety the Dream Giveaway Focus RS features a Watson Racing four-point roll bar, which is removable. The roll bar does take up a lot of back seat space, but the Focus RS has ample hatch area for whatever it is you need to drag home, though. We're sure the space will come in handy when it's time for new tires, which will be soon after you win the car.