Ford has released more tantalising details of the forthcoming Focus RS, and the headline figures are looking mighty impressive.
Set to be one of the fastest - if not the fastest - production hatchbacks ever, the new RS will have a top speed of 163mph, and will climb 0-62mph in just 5.9 seconds, which easily eclipses the manic Sierra RS500 of the 1980s.
But perhaps the most impressive stats are in the midrange, where the RS thrusts from 30 - 60mph in just 5.3 seconds in fourth gear.
This comes in-part thanks to the RS's Borg Warner K16 turbocharger, designed to minimise lag and keep the maximum 324lb ft of torque accessible all the way from 2300 to 4500 rpm, and keeping above 240lb ft all the way up to its 6500rpm red line.
Interestingly, Ford has revealed that the R&D group that created the RS had only set out to fine-tune the current ST, but discovered that the Focus chassis had the potential to cope with more power, and the RS was the eventual result.
Judging by these exotica-bothering stats, we're glad they kept on going.
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