An early prototype of the fastest Focus road car to date, is now undergoing performance and durability testing at the Nürburgring Circuit in Germany, in preparation for its launch in 2009.

The all-new Focus RS features a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre engine, based on Focus ST, but significantly revised to generate over 280PS and more than 400 Nm of torque, thus achieving an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Various chassis innovations are being tuned for the new car by the Cologne-based Ford Team RS. Their overriding objective is to achieve optimized driving dynamics and on road performance through an advanced technology front-wheel drive system, combined with a limited-slip differential.