Ford tops current Focus RS range with Limited Edition variant

THE world of affordable, high-performing hot hatch metal has never looked better thanks to the likes of the Ford Focus RS, Volkswagen Golf R and Peugeot 308 GTi.
 
Ford’s hot hero hatchback was undoubtedly among the cream of the automotive crop last year, but since then VW has hit back with an updated 7.5-generation Golf R, upping power from its 2.0-litre turbo four to 213kW.
 
Next month Honda returns to the fray with its new Civic Type R and Peugeot unleashes its updated 308 GTi, while Renault waits in the wings with its new-generation Megane RS that was just revealed at the Frankfurt motor show.

Not one to rest on its laurels however, Ford will bring out a tweaked Limited Edition version of its Focus RS hero hatchback in November to stave off the reinvigorated competition.

Retaining its characterful 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine – the same one from the Mustang EcoBoost – the Ford Focus RS Limited Edition musters 257kW of power and up to 470Nm of torque.

Limited to just 500 examples in Australia, the Focus RS Limited Edition will lighten wallets by $56,990 before on-road costs ($6000 more expensive than the standard vehicle), with changes promising to make the new Ford one of the most capable hot hatches yet.

A helical mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD) has been added to the front axle to aid in getting all 257kW of power and 440Nm (470Nm with over boost) down to the tarmac – not much of a problem before, but now made even more effortless.

Developed by Quaife, a UK engineering firm known for specialising in LSDs, the result is a more seamless transition of torque from the spinning wheel to the wheel with grip, giving the new Focus RS even more out-of-corner pull.

The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition can easily be spotted from the crowd thanks to its Nitrous Blue paint scheme and blacked out roof, spoiler and side mirrors.

The Limited Edition model also gains stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 235/35 tyres wrapped around lightweight 19-inch wheels – a $3500 option on the standard car, so you know the rubber is good.

To differentiate itself from the rest of the Focus RS range, the Limited Edition also gains black finishes to the attention-grabbing roof-mounted rear spoiler, side mirrors and roof because nothing says fast like contrasting panels.

All Focus RS Limited Editions are finished in the hero Nitrous Blue hue, which is a $500 option on the base car.

Ford’s signature Nitrous Blue colour scheme makes its way inside the Focus RS Limited Edition too, with the eye-catching colour adorning the Recaro bucket seats.

Step inside the cabin and the new Focus RS also sports snug-fitting Recaro bucket seats trimmed in Nitrous Blue to match its exterior colour.

Another equipment addition, although a less obvious one, is the inclusion of autonomous emergency braking to help avoid low-speed collisions for drivers who sit on their phone in traffic when they shouldn’t.

Power from the mighty four-pot engine is still, luckily, sent exclusively through a six-speed manual gearbox, resulting in enough thrust to accelerate the Focus RS Limited Edition from zero to 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds.

Thanks to its all-wheel-drive system, the Ford Focus RS Limited Edition can shoot from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, making it quicker than a Porsche Boxster.

Other standard equipment includes an 8.0-inch Sync3 infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, satellite navigation, and the now famous drive select system with Drift Mode.

Although the Focus RS currently faces stiff competition for the hot hatch crown from the aforementioned Honda, Volkswagen and Renault, its predecessors have often faced little resistance for the title.

The previous-generation Focus RS was released in Australia back in 2010 in limited numbers, which was topped by a hardcore RS500 variant that did not arrive in local showrooms.

With a global production cap of just 500 units, the Ford Focus RS500 made use of a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 247kW – enough power to match the current Focus flagship.

Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol five-cylinder engine, the Ford Focus RS500 made 257kW of power and 460Nm of torque sent exclusively to the front axle for a 0-100km/h time of 5.4s.

To tame the torque steer, a Quaife LSD was fitted, as well as a tricked out MacPherson strut suspension set-up dubbed RevoKnuckle, mirroring Ford’s World Rally Championship car at the time.
 
However, the birth of the Focus RS nameplate occurred back in 2002, when the Focus took over the RS nameplate from the likes of the Escort and Sierra.

Produced from 2002 to 2003, the first-generation Ford Focus RS was limited to European markets not made available to the Australia.

Powered by turbocharged 2.0-litre straight-four engine producing 158kW/310Nm, the first-ever Focus RS was known for its communicative characteristics and on-limit performance thanks in large part to a LSD from, you guessed it, Quaife.

It seems like the new Ford Focus RS Limited Edition follows a well-tread formula then. One part high-performance turbocharged motor, throw in a communicative chassis and steering and finally add a healthy dose of Quaife LSD.
 

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