Currently reading: 370bhp Ford Focus RS Heritage Edition lands as hardcore swansong
The run-out version of current Ford Focus RS features a Quaife locking differential at the front and Mountune power upgrade

This Ford Focus RS Heritage Edition, is the last hurrah for the Blue Oval’s current all-wheel-drive mega-hatch, which goes out of production on 6 April.

The Focus RS Heritage Edition comes equipped with the model’s most performance-focused optional equipment – including a higher-specification drivetrain and a power upgrade to 370bhp – to make it the fastest variant of a Focus RS yet produced.

Located between the car's front driveshafts is a Quaife mechanical locking differential – the same kind that was added to the recent RS Edition – to juggle torque between the wheels more effectively and enhance traction under heavy throttle loads.

No changes have been made to the car’s GKN-supplied driveline technology at the rear, so Drift Mode is still able to send up to 100% of torque to each rear wheel to enable the car to perform powerslides and drifts.

The Heritage Edition gets the FPM375 Mountune power upgrade as standard. The overhaul increases output by 25bhp and torque by 30lb ft, bringing the 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine’s maximum to 376lb ft. This is achieved via the fitment of a high-flow induction kit, an uprated turbo re-circulating valve and an ECU remap to make the most of the new hardware.

Based on rs edition with unique deep orange exterior body colour 0

As a nod to the RS’s spiritual forebears, which stretch back 50 years to the first Ford Escort RS, the car comes painted in a classic Ford colour, Tief Orange. This shade of paint was a popular colour on classic models such as the Escort Mexico.

Also added to the Heritage Edition are RS Edition finishes, including grey brake calipers and black forged alloy wheels, as well as black door mirrors and a black rear spoiler. Inside, there are part-leather Recaro seats and a heated steering wheel, while a sunroof and rear parking sensors are fitted as standard.

Just 50 examples of the Heritage Edition are being produced, each priced from £39,895. This is £3600 more than the Red Race RS Edition that arrived in December with the same Quaife hardware but without the Mountune upgrade, and was produced in 300 units.

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

Is Ford’s AWD mega-hatch as special as we first thought? And can the Focus RS beat stiff competition from the Volkswagen Golf R and Mercedes-AMG A45?

Back to top

Autocar understands Ford is already working on the next-generation Focus RS, despite rumours it could be canned. The brand’s boss, Jim Farley, has previously stated his support for high-performance models due to their ability to boost the image of a company.

The next Focus RS is predicted to follow suit of its predecessors and arrive one year after the latest version of the regular car. The first versions of the next-generation Focus are due on roads later this year, but the Focus RS will be based on a more powerful version that's due in 2019. This means the unveiling of the next RS will most likely take place in the first quarter of 2020.

More content:

Britain's best affordable driver's car: BMW M140i versus Honda Civic Type R

Ford Focus RS engine problem: free repairs offered to prevent 'white smoke'

Ford Focus RS driven at Spa-Francorchamps

Join the debate

Comments
4
Add a comment…
BenS1 15 February 2018

"Located between the car's front driveshafts is a Quaife..."

"Located between the car's front driveshafts is a Quaife mechanical locking differential"

Is it really a locking differential? I thought it was a Torque Biasing Differential?

Lanehogger 15 February 2018

"The next Focus RS is

"The next Focus RS is predicted to follow suit of its predecessors and arrive one year after the latest version of the regular car. " RS versions of the Focus have gone on sale much later during each generation's lifetime, normally not long before the next generation Focus is launched.

Marc 14 February 2018

Probably fitted the engine in

Probably fitted the engine in backwards on this version.