The Ford Focus RS comes out of the blue corner swinging some big haymakers. With a 350PS punch from its 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine going to all four wheels via a trick torque vectoring drivetrain, it’s made of the right stuff.

The all-wheel-drive system in this third generation model is extremely clever, featuring a pair of electronically controlled clutch packs which act much like a limited slip differential by taking data from sensors 100 times a second to direct power to the front and rear axles and then to either side at the rear. Up to 70 per cent of torque can go to the rear end and of the figure, 100 per cent can go to either rear wheel, making this system hugely flexible, Ford reckoning that understeer can be virtually eliminated in this fashion. With a short-shifting six-speed manual, this is going to be one for the purists. Expect 62mph to come and go in the high fours.

There’s only one five-door body style, but the RS definitely looks the part. The front end treatment is perhaps the most unusual aspect of this car, with a broad plastic bar splitting the upper and lower grille intakes. Still, it means there’s somewhere to put a number plate, unlike some cars (ahem, Alfa) which seem to have been styled with no reasonable place for such an item. The bonnet features aggressive fluting and there are vertical strip running lights.

The wheel arches look muscular but they’re more Jason Bourne than John Rambo this time round, and there’s more flow to the styling. There’s still a roof-mounted spoiler above the rear glass, and a bit of a diffuser effect down near the exhausts that looks more for show than go, but overall, the effect is just about right if Ford wants the RS to appeal to a broader audience than the last one.

Ford simply doesn’t drop the ball when it comes to its fast hatches. The Focus RS is altogether more serious stuff. It’s a genuine next generation product from Ford and will pave the way for a series of even more focused performance cars. But Ford hasn’t taken any short cuts here. This is going to be fun.

  • CAR: Ford Focus RS
  • PRICE: £31,000
  • INSURANCE GROUP: tba
  • CO2 EMISSIONS: 175 g/km
  • PERFORMANCE: Top Speed 165mph 0-62mph 4.7s
  • FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 36.7mpg
  • STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Electronic stability control, ABS with brake assist, twin front and side, knee and curtain airbags
  • WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height mm 4390/1823/1472