Video: 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition road and track drive
A track day in a range of sporty Focuses culminates in discovering whether the addition of a torque-biasing front diff and stickier rubber makes the Ford Focus RS Limited Edition an even greater hot hatch.
- Front diff and Cup 2 tyres combine for faster lap times
- Throttle-adjustable handling
- Brilliant brakes
- Hugely impressive grip in wet and dry
- Torquey engine great for tracks and commutes
- Limited gains AEB
- Quaife diff hinders prolonged slides
- Still heavy for a hot hatch
- Gearshift action could be sweeter
- Cabin quality still not a Ford strong point
- High-set front seats
The Ford Focus RS Limited Edition is an upgraded version of the Blue Oval hot-hatch we’ve loved since it was released in mid 2016.
It lifts the price tag from $50,990 to $56,990, though additions include the Performance Wheel Package that was previously a $2500 option and, more exclusively, a Quaife helical-geared limited-slip differential for the front axle.
There’s no change for the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, with power remaining at 257kW – channelled to all four wheels via a single gearbox choice: a six-speed manual.
Ford Australia has placed a cap of 500 units of the Limited Edition, which will be the last hurrah for this third-generation RS.
An extra six-grand doesn’t buy you a faster car off the line – the RS is still quoted at 4.7 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint – and even Ford says the front differential will be noticed more on a track than a road.
So, after an enjoyable blast on a country road, we headed to Sydney Motorsport Park to try both the original third-generation RS and the new Limited Edition to find out the differences on the stopwatch.