SPY PICS: New Focus RS almost ready

We recently reported on the new RS model that Ford is honing as a last-hurrah for the current-gen Focus, and now here’s more pics of the rip-snorting hot-hatch undergoing development testing.

Captured while pounding around the Nurburgring by the Automedia lenses, this silver prototype wears an ST badge on the tail, but its extra-beefy stance, huge rim/tyre combo and bespoke body addenda leave no doubt about its true identity.

The miniscule gap between the tyres and wheel-arches are clear evidence that this Focus’s ride height has been dumped, while the cobbled-up front bumper spoiler assembly looks to have been designed to channel as much air as possible to the engine bay.

The sidesill extensions and rear spoiler are also bespoke items, while the reprofiled rear diffuser features cutouts for the exhausts situated closer to its outer extremities (whereas the Focus ST has centre-exit pipes).

It will be interesting to see if Ford decides to have a crack at the new 7:54.36 front-drive benchmark set at the Nurburgring Nordschleife by the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R, but the Focus RS certainly appears to have the right ingredients.

As previously reported, the RS is expected to derive propulsion from a variant of the 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that will also be used by the new Mustang.

It’s believed Ford’s boffins had to do a lot of work to adapt the motor to a front-drive application, and the Euro grapevine suggests the turbo four-pot’s wick could be turned up to kick out as much as 260kW.

This prodigious oomph will be sent to the tarmac by the front wheels only, but an electronic differential and Ford’s Revoknuckle front suspension should help ensure it’s not a torque-steering nightmare.

Ford has yet to provide official confirmation that it is indeed working on a Focus RS, but these pics – plus recent comments by Ford Europe COO Barb Samardzich – leave little doubt that it’s only a matter of time before the flagship hot-hatch hits showrooms.