Reimagined RS2.00 | Author Steve Saxty

Ford reimagines an RS Icon

In mid-December 2021, author Steve Saxty spent the week as a guest with Ford’s Design team in Merkenich. It was the culmination of an incredible partnership between the two parties during the lead-up to the launch of Secret Fords Volume Two. Most history books look to the past, but Steve’s professional career has always been to look to the future – it inspired him and Amko Leenarts, Ford’s Director of Design to do something unique and reimagine one of Ford’s heroes. Ford of Europe Design’s Ernesto Rupar, Marco Murdaca, Michaël Barthly, Nedzad Mujcinovic and Robert Engelmann took on the challenge.

The idea was, as Steve put it, to do something “Really Special” for fans and readers of his books. These are a few photos (with videos to come) of the author’s trip and a glimpse of the RS2.00 designs that are revealed in the RS Special Collector’s Edition. The Secret Fords project represents an unprecedented level of trust between Steve and Ford that takes readers behind the scenes – here to the most secret inner sanctum of all, the Ford Design showroom.

A week inside a secret world

Past meets present

The night before the RS2.00 was filmed Steve Saxty had dinner with John Wheeler, the legendary chief engineer behind the mid-’80s RS200, and give him the first copy of the RS Special Collector's Edition that the two worked on so closely. John was also the chief engineer on the Escort Cosworth and Mark II Focus RS.

The ultimate RS200?

John Wheeler talks Steve around his unique RS200 – rebuilt by John, in his garage of course, to the mooted Group S spec. His redeveloped RS200 rally car features an extensively modified chassis and a Sierra Cosworth engine – both parts of his Group S plan that the FIA didn't proceed with that was intended to increase safety and reduce cost.

Meet the boss

Ford of Europe's Director of Design Amko Leenarts invited author Steve Saxty to spend the week with his team when past present and future mixed in a unique fashion. Amko and his team were excited to do something unique at the end of the Secret Fords project that would remind enthusiasts of their passion for the work they do.

Lucky man

Author Steve Saxty stands in the main corridor of the Cologne Design centre. Behind the wall featuring classic Fords of the past sits the future of Ford. Very few Ford employees get inside this secure location and just a handful of outsiders, of which Steve was one, have got to walk down this corridor and see what's behind securely locked doors.

Take a first look

Steve and Ford's designers worked to create a unique reimagining of the RS200 for the RS Special Collector's Edition of Secret Fords. When he stepped inside the Design studio on Monday these giant posters were being prepared for the 'RS2.00' presentation on Thursday.

Hello old friend

Director of Design Amko Leenarts wanted to make a splash for the film crew by bringing an original RS200 into the studio. This is the first time since the ’80s that an RS200 has sat in this most secret room of all. The car was covered in the same sheet used to unveil the future Ford vehicles.

Action!

Steve and Amko stand in front of Michael Bartley's design for RS2.00. The designer reimagined his RS to incorporate elements of gaming philosophy and a movable vane that allows the car to literally play its own dynamic tune.

Stand and deliver

Ford's designers and Steve stand around for a few moments between filming. Ernesto Rupar (left), designer of the Mark III Focus RS walks towards the camera while his stunning RS2XX stands on an easel to the right.

Action!

The chief designer and author stand to camera and explain this unique project; an internal design competition to reimagine the RS200. Five sets of designers' work were selected to feature in the book from across the FoE's team.

No masking the excitement

The interior of the original RS200, designed by John Hartnell and Ian Callum was a magical work of simplicity. Designer Robert Engelman updated in in a radical fashion for his re

Explaining the vision

Designer Michaël Barthly sets out his ideas for RS2.00 with a car inspired by the virtual world of gaming – it's an exciting idea that links the past with the digital world of the present and shakes its hand with Ford's electrified future.

Icons reunited and reimagined

The rear cover of the RS Special Book that features as part of the three-book RS Special Collector's Edition of Secret Fords. Readers get a first glimpse of what's inside – a unique gathering of never-seen RS design material.

"They bleed blue"

Says Director of Design Amko Leenarts. You'll have to look inside the RS Special Collector's Edition of Secret Fords to see more of the RS2.00 project – this is Michaël Barthly's design – one of four in Secret Fords RS Special Collector's Edition

Happy man

Author Steve Saxty takes a quiet moment with the RS200 that was shipped over from the Dagenham Heritage Collection to Cologne for the event. Wouldn't you be happy too to write the book and share something as exciting as this?