Ford's performance Focus RS tears up asphalt

ROSAMOND, Calif. – Ford's 350-horsepower 2016 Focus RS made mincemeat of the famed Streets of Willow road course race track here, hugging sharp, challenging curves as it topped 100 miles an hour on the twisty 1.6-mile circuit.

Boasting a new performance-tuned all-wheel-drive system, adjustable dampers and every aerodynamic trick in Ford's arsenal, the RS will challenge the world's fastest and most powerful compacts when it goes on sale in the spring.

The new Focus RS is the first truly global RS model, destined for sale in 32 countries, including China. Ford will build it alongside regular Focuses in Saarlouis, Germany.

The prospect of global sales allowed Ford to invest more in performance improvements and technology than on any previous RS, chief engineer Jameel Hamadi said. The car has several drive modes, including one for drifting. Driver-adjustable performance parameters include the dampers, throttle response, steering exhaust note and exhaust.

The RS boasts a turbocharged version of Ford's 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that's been boosted and tuned to the nth degree. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. The all-wheel-drive system can send all of the engine's torque to the front or rear axle, or to the either rear wheel. Supplier GKN will build the system.

The Focus RS accelerates from zero to 62 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds and has a top speed of 165 mph.

Prices for the 2016 Ford Focus RS will start at $35,730 excluding destination charges.