Ford Focus RS Drift Mode tested

Powersliding, drifting, fishtailing, touge: call it what you want, it's huge fun.

Why? Because it's a challenge, it's a great test of driver skill, it's rewarding, it's thrilling and it's bit naughty. And it's highly illegal – at least on public roads.

Indeed, in Australia, it's deemed 'hooning' and will get your car impounded.

But on a racetrack, or in private car park – like this exercise at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia – it's fair game. And the satisfaction factor is off the dial. Check out the video for evidence…

So just what is drift mode?

Well, in the case of the Ford Focus RS, the car's computer brain alters the stability control and all-wheel drive settings to shunt the majority of the engine's 470Nm torque output to the rear axle and also allow for wheel spin (to put it mildly).

The result is that you can go sideways, with tyres smoking. So what does it feel like?

Well, it's certainly not the same as drifting (or attempting to drift) a rear-drive vehicle, because you can essentially keep the throttle pinned to the floor and let the AWD techno-doodads figure everything out.

Granted, it helps if you feather the throttle a little, but only moderate counter steering is required to keep it sideways. Just trust the diff and away you go.

Put it this way: I'm basically a drift peasant, but in the Focus RS I am a drift king.

Gymkhana legend Ken Block had a bit of input during the car's development and although I'm convinced he probably hated the system – it's a quasi-understeer burnout to some extent, where you'll never be completely crossed up – the result is accessible and spectacular.

Once the drift commences and you're "in the zone" it's all very intuitive. But it's the initiation that's a bit tricky. There's an urge to counter steer straight away but if you do the tyre smoke and the sliding ends.

As the video shows, you essentially nail the throttle hard from about 20km/h while turning, and the outside rear wheel – thanks to Ford's clever torque vectoring system – does the rest.

Drift mode is enormously satisfying but very different to oversteer shenanigans in a rear-drive car. Methinks it will either be love or hate for most motor heads.

It's also the kind of caper you wouldn't want to do too often with fresh tyres. Indeed, if you're almost ready to get a new set of hoops (and have access to a legal, controlled environment) it's party time, but the Michelin blokes at the test had a giant truck full of tyres and said they were going through a couple of sets per car, per day.

We're not sure if owners will engage and utilise drift mode regularly, but the fact such a superfluous yet satisfying system has been integrated for the first time on a mass-production (and affordable) performance car certainly sets the new Focus RS apart.

That it comes from Ford – the same company that has removed the brake line-locking 'burnout mode' from its new Mustang in Australia – makes it all the more surprising.

A big part of the 'drift mode' appeal is that it's taboo on public roads, so whether you have petrol running through your veins or not, 'drift mode' is wickedly appealing.

For the hot hatch enthusiast, it's undeniably irresistible, indisputably enjoyable, unquestionably stupid fun. But save it for the racetrack, OK?

More on Focus RS:
>> Ford Focus RS 2016 track test
>> Ford Focus RS 2016 Review
>> Ford Focus RS sold out