Ford sharpens Focus RS with Limited Edition

FORD Australia has announced a Limited Edition version of its manic Focus RS, with 500 hot hatch specials arriving in November priced from $56,990 before on-road costs.

Commanding a $6000 premium over the regular Focus RS, the Limited Edition ups the ante with a helical mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD) for the front axle, which the Blue Oval claims is not like a conventional plate-style set-up.

Thanks to a partnership with Quaife – a UK-based engineering company – Ford developed an LSD that “relies on gears rather than clutches for its operation’’.

According to the car-maker, the result is much smoother, with torque automatically biased away from the spinning wheel and transferred “across the axle to a constantly varying degree’’.

However, there are no other changes to the hot hatch’s powertrain, meaning the 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder unit carries over with 257kW of power and 440Nm of torque on tap.

Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, thrust is sent to the ground via an all-wheel-drive system, while a launch control mode aids the dash from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

Nevertheless, the Limited Edition comes standard with 19-inch forged alloy wheels shod in 235/35 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres – a $3500 option on the standard car.

Additional equipment further extends to autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and privacy glass, as well as an Absolute Black finish for the rear hatch-mounted spoiler, side mirror caps and roof.

Inside, Recaro shell seats are trimmed in an exclusive Nitrous Blue leather application, which complements the Limited Edition’s only exterior prestige paint colour choice.

All of these aforementioned features add to standard kit levels, which include an 8.0-inch Sync3 touchscreen infotainment system, satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support.

Ford’s local arms says all of the upgrades over the normal Focus RS are a direct result of customer feedback since the model’s launch in July last year.

Specifically, the Limited Edition’s inclusion of an LSD helps build upon the spicy five-door’s established performance pedigree, according to Ford Performance chief engineer Jamal Hameedi.

“Our new limited-edition Focus RS represents accessible performance at its finest,” he said.

“Improving on the thrilling driving dynamics of the Focus RS is no small task, but our Ford Performance engineers have delivered a drivetrain capable of wringing every drop of performance from the engine.”

Ford Australia president and CEO Graeme Whickman reiterated the importance of hi-po variants, like the Focus RS, to the company’s line-up.

“Performance models are an important part of our line-up, and we’re excited to offer Australians an even more capable version of the Focus RS, which has struck a chord with driving enthusiasts across the country,” he said.

The Focus RS Limited Edition’s arrival is timely given the updated 213kW/380Nm Volkswagen Golf R ($52,990) goes on sale this month, while the 228kW/400Nm Honda Civic Type R ($50,990) waits in the wings ahead of its October launch.