Will the Ford Focus RS be the top hatch?

The 300bhp Ford Focus RS

Fans of fast fords have being waiting for a new high performance car since the last Ford Focus RS went out of production.

The Ford Focus ST is a great car, with a superb blend of speed and comfort – but it’s a little too refined for true performance car junkies.

The Ford Focus RS has 300bhp which is sent through the front wheels. This is unprecedented (except for some bizarre US creations). But will it be enough to make the Focus RS the top hot hatch?
With an unprecedented (except for some bizarre US creations) 300bhp being sent to just the front wheels and some exceptional chassis tuning the Ford Focus RS looks set to take no prisoners in 2009.

It’s surely the car Ford fanatics have been waiting for. Reports claim 1,000 people have already signed up to own one without even knowing what colour car they can get.

In terms of speed it’s expected the Renault Megane R26.R will be able its only real competitor.

It has a substantial power deficit with around 230bhp on tap – but uses semi-slick tyres and hardcore suspension to generate massive grip and has had its performance boosted thanks to a 123kg diet which included losing the rear seats.

Acceleration from 0-62mph takes just six seconds and a top speed of 147mph is possible.

But it’s on track the R26.R really shines. It smashed the Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record for a front-wheel-drive car with a time of 8 minutes 17 seconds – 18 seconds quicker than a Ford Focus ST.

We’ll have to wait until the Focus RS is launched to see if it can beat the Renault around the tough 14-mile circuit.

Ford will be confident it can. It benchmarked the Focus RS not against other hot hatches but against cars from the class above, including the Volkswagen Golf R32 and Subaru Impreza WRX.

Do you think the Ford Focus RS is going to be a legendary Ford and the ultimate hot hatch? What will its main rivals be? And is 300bhp just too much for a front-wheel-drive car?