| New high-performance model | 2008 British International Motor Show | 2009 Ford Focus RS |

It's more than two weeks to the Focus RS's world debut at the British Motor Show, but Ford today revealed the show car in all its vivid green glory, along with more information regarding the car's chassis.

Even without the lurid paintwork, it's clear that the Focus RS is an aggressively styled car taking more than a little influence from the Focus that competes in the World Rally Championship. The new front-end is dominated by a floor-scraping air dam, featuring a massive black trapezoidal centre section and fog lights at its extremities. The headlights have been tweaked too and a new piano black strip runs between them, ahead of the heavily vented bonnet.

More vents appear in the front wings, while the wheelarches front and rear have grown to accommodate the car's wider track and larger 19-inch alloys. The rear of the car isn't as menacing, though it does feature an under-bumper diffuser, a distinctly large black roof spoiler and two chromed exhausts.

As you'd hope from the iconic RS badge, the new Focus is as much about go as it is about show and though Jost Capito and his team are not quite finished with the car, it is likely that its 2.5-litre, five-cylinder turbocharged engine will put out 296bhp and over 300lb.ft of torque, which should result in a 0-62mph time south of six seconds.

Many doubt the car's ability to put all of that power to the road effectively, especially as the Focus RS will retain the ST's front-wheel drive layout. However, Ford is adamant that the work it has done on the chassis will ensure the car is manageable.

Headlining the changes is a Quaife automatic torque sensing limited slip differential (LSD). Acknowledging that the fitment of a mechanical LSD to a powerful front-wheel drive car with wide tyres increases the likelihood of torque steer, Ford has employed a new idea in the geometry of the suspension called RevoKnuckle.

We'll have to wait until later in the year to find out how successful Ford has been, but in the meanwhile, get yourself down to the show in London, between July 23rd and August 3rd, for the car's unveiling.

Shane O' Donoghue - 4 Jul 2008