As we come closer and closer to the long anticipated release of the Ford Focus RS we learn more about this car before it shows up.  Why do we have so much enthusiasm for a car that is actually a small hatchback that at its roots is designed to be a plain and unassuming vehicle?  Mostly because this car is certain to blow us away and find its way to the track where it just might leave many actual sports cars in the dust, which certainly we would love to see and give praise to Ford for creating such and interesting car.

The Focus RS is not any other Focus.  What happened here is Ford decided it was time for a hot hatch and brought it to us in the US, finally.  This beautiful little car will offer plenty of great features that will make it dynamic, sporty and one of the best handling cars on the market, but that would certainly describe many other small cars.  What makes the Focus RS different to start with is the massive amount of power from under the hood.  Initially we were going to be pleased with the 315 horsepower that Ford said the car would have, but Ford lied.

The Focus RS model that will make its way to our shores will actually offer 350 horsepower from the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder  engine.  For the European market the horsepower will show at 345, but ours will be a 350 for both the ponies and the torque, giving us a car that is powerful across the rev range to let anyone behind the wheel have an amazing ride.  As a comparison, the Golf R will have 292 horsepower while the WRX STI offers 305.  You have to reach up to the CLA45 and GLA45 to get 375 horsepower but that comes at a much higher sticker price than this Focus RS.

With this amount of power we have to discuss the clock times, of course.  The Focus RS is expected to reach sixty mph in 4.7 seconds with the aid of the launch control system.  Mated to this awesome engine is a six-speed manual transmission that offers torque vectoring and the benefit of stall recovery to ensure you don’t stall out the car.  Add in the AWD and you have full control over this hot hatch which is also a power monster.

What will all this cost you?  For the Focus RS at the base model you will be asked to pay $36,605 which will give you the leather upholstery, the Sync3 infotainment system and a ten speaker audio system to name a few niceties.  For $2,785 more the RS2 package can be installed to add a power driver’s seat, full leather upholstery, heated mirrors, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a navigation system.

Will you be driving the Focus RS on the roads and tracks in your area soon?  If you want power and performance in one of the most amazing hot hatches to every come down the assembly line you certainly will be.  I’ll see you at the Ford dealership as we get a pair to go racing, happy driving.