This may be the final Ford Focus RS until 2024

Ford has unveiled an upgraded version of its wicked Focus RS that will arrive in Australia around the end of this year, but it will be among the final local shipments of the iconic Blue Oval hyper-hatch until its replacement appears some time after 2020.

Revealed in the form of a special-edition limited to 1500 units in North America and Canada, and as an option pack in Europe, Ford’s new Focus RS upgrades include a Quaife mechanical limited-slip front differential and a two-tone interior and exterior colour scheme.

There are no mechanical changes to the hottest Focus’ 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol EcoBoost engine, which continues to slam out 257kW of power at 6000rpm and 440Nm of torque from just 1600rpm, launching the small five-door to 100km/h with help from a standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system in an unchanged 4.7 seconds (claimed).

But Ford of Europe says “the additional mechanical grip offered by the Quaife LSD will make it even easier to carry speed through a corner on the track, and maximise acceleration on the way out.

“The new setup also delivers greater mechanical stability and control when braking hard, and will help drivers set the car up for power-slides using Drift Mode.”

Although the limited-edition will also be available in red in the US, all European (and likely Australian) versions of the option-packed Focus RS will come with the model’s signature Nitrous Blue exterior paint, plus a contrasting matt-black roof, mirror caps and rear spoiler.

Other fresh touches include 19-inch low-gloss black forged alloy wheels with ‘RS’ centre badging, RS blue-coloured Brembo brake calipers and, inside, carbon-fibre highlights and contrasting Nitrous Blue leather elements for the standard Recaro sports bucket seats.

Ford Australia product communications manager Damion Smy said the new Focus RS additions are being evaluated for our market.

However, as in the US, we understand the extras will arrive in Australia as part of a special-edition, first examples of which will land by the end of this year or early next.

The bad news is the 2018 Ford Focus RS special was designed to send off the hottest ever Focus with a bang, with Ford of America confirming that Focus RS production -- which only takes place in Saarlouis, Germany -- will end soon.

“Ford Performance fans talking to each other and posting comments online about the Ford Focus RS hot hatch performance car have led to a special 1500-unit limited-edition celebrating the end of run of this generation hot hatch,” said Ford yesterday.

Smy confirmed that production of the Focus RS for Australia would end next February or March, meaning that final shipments will arrive here around mid-2018.

“It will be the end of Focus RS for us by around the middle of next year,” he said.

After that, Ford hyper-hatch fans will have to wait for the Blue Oval to produce a new range-topping RS version of its next-generation Focus, which isn’t due to appear until late 2018 at the earliest and more likely 2019.

Given the current (third-generation) Focus was released in 2011 but the existing Focus RS wasn’t rolled out for another five years in 2016, it could be 2024 before we see another Focus RS.