Ford gives glimpse of new Focus RS’s grunt

There's just over a week to go (until the 3rd fo February to be exact) until we get a proper look at Ford's new Focus RS. Significantly above the just-updated 250hp Focus ST hot hatch, the RS has a good chance of joining its MkI and MkII sister cars as a ture performance icon.

Ford has released this brief video of test versions of the new RS driving, er, somewhat energetically around the company's test track in Lommel, Belgium. While the cars are covered in the usual disguise tape and bin-liners, it's clear that the front end wears a deeper air-dam and more aggressive styling than the ST.

That will befit a machine that is probably going to have well over 300hp at its disposal. Its 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine is closely related to the 314hp unit found in the new Mustang but rumour has it that the Focus will have north of 330hp.

Sticking with front wheel drive means Ford will have to work hard to keep all that power under control, and it will deploy both its ’Revo Knuckle’ front suspension (which keeps torque steer to manageable levels) and a new electronic front differnential to help keep the RS under some sort of control. The images in this video suggest that effort has been at least partially successful...

Don’t expect much change from €45,000 for an RS when it arrives on sale later this year.