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It's the first indication that Ford is following through with a high-performance variant of the Focus hatchback - and these pictures prove it.
This is the prototype Ford RS, the fastest Focus road car to date, which underwent performance and durability testing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany in preparation for its launch in 2009.
The principal architect of the Focus RS project is Jost Capito, Ford of Europe's director for performance vehicles. Capito's development group was responsible for the first generation Focus RS in 2002 and, more recently, the Fiesta ST and the new Focus ST.
"The new Focus RS is as much a car for driving enthusiasts as the one before it and classic Ford RS models of the past," Capito said.
"We're staying true to the core RS principles of a no-compromise, affordable, high-performance road car you can live with.
"The new Focus RS will have the muscles, heart and soul of a genuine RS and will be exciting to drive every day."
The Focus RS features a turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing around 210kW and 400Nm of torque.
The chassis was developed by Ford's advanced engineering centre in Germany and is being tuned by the Ford Team RS.
Capito says the objective is to use a sophisticated limited-slip differential to produce the most advanced front-wheel-drive street-legal performance car.
"In early prototypes based on Focus ST vehicles, the new system is more than meeting our targets for exceptional levels of traction, handling and steering."
Capito says the standard Ford Focus is an excellent base for a high-performance car - it is agile, responsive and stable.
"While the latest Focus ST has already proved this to be the case, the new RS will take these qualities to the next level, benefiting from extensive engineering knowledge gained through the company's motorsport programmes, notably with the Focus World Rally Car.
"We have no doubt that we can enhance the acclaimed qualities of the already excellent Focus for an even higher performance model than the ST."
Capito says a pre-production version of the Focus RS will be unveiled at the British motor show next month but the development programme will continue until early next year when the car will first go on sale in Britain.
