Official details have been released on the new Ford Focus RS. Introduced as a concept in London last year, the Ford Focus RS will have a large amount of power in a very recognizable package.

This is the first RS-badged Ford in six years, with the last being the first-gen Focus. As Ford performance vehicles exec Jost Capito said, “This is a serious machine, with the performance, traction and precision to match far more exotic sports cars. The RS badge is not something we treat lightly and I believe this car proves it.”

Engineers designed this car with a 2.5-liter Duratec engine that produces 300 bhp. Ford contacted previous RS owners to decide what other technologies to put into the vehicle. In the end, they decided to build a car that could do fast laps while serving as a daily driver.

For this reason, Ford will manufacture this vehicle as front-wheel-driven, a decision that has some benefits and detriments. “Front-wheel-drive was our preference all along,” says RS Chief Engineer Dirk Densing. “All-wheel-drive systems add cost, weight, inertia and consequently, fuel consumption.” He goes on to state that this choice gives drivers better linear steering and better performance. Ford probably should have found a way to add on an AWD system, instead of going for this option.

The 2009 model year marks both the 10th anniversary of the Focus, and the 40th anniversary of the RS. The new 2009 Ford Focus RS will be on sale at Ford dealerships very soon.

[Source: Ford]