What's all this then?
This is the Ford Focus RS Edition.
Haven't we already pretty much driven the wheels off the Focus RS?
Yes, just a touch, but this one is new and updated.
Updated? How?
Well, it gets some carbon-black exterior finishes for the roof and door mirrors, there are new wheels - they're black too, and 19-inches - plus it gets new Recaro shell bucket seats finished in two-tone black-and-blue.
Well, that just sounds like a bunch of trim updates.
There's more. You also get parking sensors, privacy glass, folding mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter (yes, on an RS), a heated steering wheel, and Active City Stop.
Is there anything really different, though?
Well, actually yes, there is. Ford has fitted a Quaife limited-slip differential to the front axle of the RS Edition, which means that you can now exercise even greater control over how much power the front wheels get and can cope with during high speed driving. Ford says that the extra diff makes the RS even more fun to drive than before, which considering how good it already was...
"Our new Focus RS Edition represents accessible performance at its finest," said Leo Roeks, Ford Performance Director, Europe. "Improving on the class-leading driving dynamics of the Focus RS was no small task - but our Ford Performance engineers have delivered a drivetrain capable of wringing every drop of performance from the 350hp EcoBoost engine.
"For hardcore driving enthusiasts, the additional mechanical grip offered by the Quaife LSD will make it even easier to carry speed through a corner on the track, and maximise acceleration on the way out. The new setup also delivers greater mechanical stability and control when braking hard, and will help drivers set the car up for power-slides using Drift Mode," Roeks said. "The Focus RS Edition takes our 'fun to drive' philosophy to a new level for an everyday road car."
Neil Briscoe - 14 Sep 2017