What's this then?

Following hot on the heels of the Shelby GT350 R and incredible GT supercar, Ford has revealed its latest performance car in the shape of the new Focus RS. The previous models have become cult icons of a younger generation but this time around there is a degree of maturity about it. Part of this is down to the fact that it now comes only in a five-door body style. This gives the car less of a stubby side profile image than before. There are still some generously flared wheel arches and of course there's a not-too-subtle rear spoiler, which also has the RS logo embossed into the centre of it.

Up front there is no mistaking this for any other Ford Focus. The gaping trapezoidal grille has been made as large as possible in order to facilitate the additional cooling needed for the new engine. On either side of this are extra air intakes that feed cool air into the brake ducts. The angular design of these adds to the visual impact of the car when viewed head-on. Vertically-stacked fog lamps are located on the outer side of each of these inlets. The rear of the Focus RS is dominated by that aforementioned spoiler and a contrasting black diffuser panel from which exits the substantial twin exhausts.

New engine you say?

Yep. Power comes from the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine that will feature in the forthcoming Mustang. The turbocharged unit will produce 320hp thanks to a new twin-scroll turbocharger that has been optimised to give better air flow into the engine.

The big news however is that this new Focus RS will feature a four-wheel drive system. Ford calls it the Performance All-Wheel-Drive system and it features advanced torque vectoring software that shifts around power delivery to different wheels in order to maximise traction. The system makes use of twin electronically-controlled clutch packs that are located on either side of the rear drive unit, which manage the torque split between the front and rear axles. These are also capable of controlling torque distribution from side-to-side on the rear axle and Ford engineers say that up to 70 per cent of the car's power can be sent to the rear wheels.

What's the cabin like?

All of the main bits will be just as you would find them in any other highly equipped Focus, but there are still plenty of tasty additions. Up front there is a pair of wide-backed Recaro sports seats, which are clad in half-leather and, along with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, highlight the performance theme.

Ford has also included the latest version of its voice controlled infotainment system called SYNC. This allows the driver to speak commands to the car in a more natural manner than before. It can be used to perform functions such as asking for text messages to be read aloud or to verbally enter destinations to the satellite navigation. Engineers have also added a new feature to the system that enables the driver to find the nearest public circuit by simply commanding "find a race track".

What else can you tell me about it?

This new RS isn't just about producing big horsepower figures. Ford has spent a great deal of time on the suspension and chassis. Stiffer spring rates and suspension bushes, as well as new anti-roll bars all help to give the car a sharper feel, it is claimed. The steering knuckle design has been retained but it has been modified and now incorporates shorter link arms.

Other than that there will be a choice of four distinct colours: Nitrous Blue, Stealth Grey, Absolute Black and Frozen White. For now there is no official pricing from Ford but we expect that this will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show next month.