The news that the Ford Focus RS will end its production run in after 2018 is quite jarring, as least to us. Seems like only just months ago that it was first introduced in near-production form at the Geneva Motor Show (though this was in 2015), followed by some reasonable ‘hoonage' at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later that year with Ken Block at the wheel.
And who doesn’t remember the controversy caused by the intersection of safety conscious observers with the RS’ much discussed Drift Mode in multiple markets including our own.
But before the Focus RS, and the third-generation Focus altogether, recedes into night in order to make way for an all-new model, Ford Performance is rolling out a Limited Edition run of the all-wheel drive mega hatch to give it a proper send-off.
Granted, these units are limited to the United States and Canada, the former receiving an allocation of 1,000 examples while the latter getting 500. But other markets, such as Australia, who also love the car, may be getting a special Option Pack which will add in the same goodies.
Specifically, and just like the Limited Edition bound for North America, the main enthusiast-focused new feature here is the front limited slip differential. It’s been developed by specialists Quaife alongside Ford Performance to address some criticisms with current RS’ corner exit speed, working with the car’s standard all-wheel torque vectoring system to more effectively launch the car out of an apex.
Additionally, the new diff will also help the RS during hard braking situations where the wheels are more prone to locking up. Instead, this better spreads the load so the anti-lock braking system isn’t overwhelmed.
The Option Pack also comes with a handful of cosmetic upgrades. As a pairing to the Nitrous Blue or new Race Red exterior colour, there’s now a contrasting matte black treatment given to the roof, mirror caps, and rear spoiler. There’s also 19-inch forged alloy wheels with blue RS centre caps and brake callipers.
Inside, there’s leather Recaro buckets accented with Miko-Dinamica inserts taken from their existing RS2 pack, along with a carbon fibre finish given to the turbo gauge cluster surround, handbrake lever, and door handles.
The 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine is unchanged, however, producing 257kW and 440Nm (470Nm on overboost) and transmitted to all-four wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.
For more on Ford vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
