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Focus RS specs

Official specification of 2009's highly awaited Focus hot hatchback revealed

After months of speculation the final specification of the Ford Focus RS has been confirmed. Its 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo – an upgraded version of the unit in the Focus ST and Volvo C30 T5 – produces 300bhp and 324lb ft.

That means hikes of around 35 per cent over the ST, with the top speed up 13mph to 163 and 62mph arriving nearly a second quicker at 5.9sec: an impressive stat in a hot hatch weighing 1467kg. Fourth gear acceleration from 30-60mph takes 5.3sec.

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It’s all channeled through the Focus’s front-wheel-drive chassis via Ford’s ‘Revoknuckle’ suspension technology, which is mounted to the Macpherson strut front suspension and is responsible for eliminating torque steer. Rear suspension is based on the control blade independent suspension that Ford debuted on the Focus; there’s a larger anti-roll bar for the RS.

Your £24,995 also gets you a suitably large set of 19in alloys, wrapped in 235/35 Continental rubber. Combined fuel economy is a claimed 30.5mpg while carbon emissions are 225g/km, sneaking the RS into £300-a-year tax band K.

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