As bonkers as the standard standard third-generation Ford Focus RS is in terms of raw power and dynamic ability, Ford has been known to not let the ‘standard’ car be left on its own and has more often than not released a more powerful version - sometimes in limited numbers.
The previous Focus RS, for example, spawned the RS500 which was only produced in a run of 500 examples and produced 33kW more power than the regular second-generation Focus RS from a revised version of its 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged motor.
A new report has emerged from Autocar UK saying that a new RS500 version of current RS is well into development by Ford Performance in Germany and should emerge somewhere in 2017 as the third-generation Focus enters its run-out phase toward the tail-end of next year.
Some photos had surfaced of a Focus RS prototype being driven around the Nurburgring recently wearing selective camouflage, with only some new vents being the most identifiable distinguishing feature.
Should this iteration of the RS500 name indeed being readied for launch in 2017, we will no doubt see power rise from the current RS’ 260kW to somewhere around 298kW, which is around a 15 percent increase to match the gain that Ford gave to the previous RS500.
In the mega hatch arms race, Mercedes-AMG is reported to be upping the power figure of the next A45 to close to where the RS500 could be treading as well, leaving Ford Performance to wait until the release and development of the next (fourth-generation) Focus and Focus RS to have another go at reclaiming the power throne.
If these reports prove accurate about a more hardcore Focus RS, it will likely result in some kind of response from Renault and Honda, as their offerings - the Megane RS and Civic Type R, respectively - lose ground to the two most powerful sports hatchbacks in the game.
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