Focus RS headed Down Under

Ford announced today that local delivery for the company's hyper-hot hatch, the Focus RS, is officially scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. In a press release the company conceded that the decision was a long time in the making.

"Customers, the motoring press, Ford enthusiasts and hot hatch fans have all been constantly asking us about Focus RS and when it might be coming to Australia, so we're very pleased and incredibly excited to be able to confirm for everyone today that it's on its way and will be here soon," Ford Australia President, Marin Burela was quoted as saying.

"The buzz and excitement surrounding Focus RS has spread rapidly around the globe since it was introduced in Europe early last year, winning a host of motoring awards and receiving widespread critical acclaim for its outstanding combination of high-performance road car technology and every day Focus practicality. 

"Now it is poised to conquer the Australia market, setting a new benchmark for hot hatch performance in this country and creating a whole new generation of performance car enthusiasts in the process."

The Focus RS is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing 224kW and 440Nm of torque. Complementing the car's straight-line performance are an exclusive sports suspension set-up, a Quaife torque-sensing helical LSD, premium brake package and 19-inch alloy-wheel/Continental tyre combo with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Visually, the Focus RS can be identified by its aggressive styling, including modified panels, flared wheel arches, side skirts and a 'twin-blade' rear spoiler. In addition, the Focus RS features xenon headlights and reverse-parking sensors.

As standard, the Focus RS comes equipped with partially leather-trimmed Recaro seats, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, electrochromatic (auto-dipping) mirror and an eight-speaker/six-disc CD audio system with USB/iPod compatibility. The equipment list is topped off with Bluetooth connectivity and a keyless entry/start system.

Only three exterior colour choices will be available to Aussie customers: Ultimate Green (pictured), Performance Blue and Frozen White. Ford describes the green as the "signature colour" for the new car, with the blue a legacy colour harking back to the original Focus RS.

Even priced at $59,990 -- excluding on-road costs and dealer pre-delivery charge -- buyers will need to get in quick, because Ford Australia plans to bring in just 315 examples of the car.

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