By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

There are three levels of Focus vehicles starting with the standard version propelled by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making 160 horsepower. That's a good number in the popular compact segment. But if you want more, you can go to the Focus ST with 252 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. If Ford had stopped there it would still be ahead of the game. But why stop there…

Try this on for size — the Focus RS is a small hatchback that weighs less than 3,500 pounds with a turbocharged 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder engine making an eye-popping 350 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm capable of 0-to-60 in 4.5 seconds. Load your hatch up with the family's groceries mom, and then find something to hang onto as dad gets his daily go-fast kicks on the way home from the supermarket.

It's just crazy that this over-the-top performance is available to the common man, and there are plenty of adopters from around the country ready and willing to fork over nearly 40 grand to be behind the wheel of this screaming machine.

This is a driver’s car. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered, all-wheel drive is standard, and the Recaro seats, though perhaps uncomfortable for some, provide solid support to keep you in position behind the wheel when accelerating through corners. The 0-to-60 clocking of a Focus RS in 4.5 seconds is nearly two seconds quicker than the Focus ST and twice as fast as the standard Focus. And the RS can finish off a quarter mile in 13.4 seconds at 102 mph.



While it's a hoot to blast through the gears — being careful to use law-enforcement deprived roads — it's even more fun to run through a curving stretch of rural blacktop at ungodly speeds marveling at how well the RS hugs the pavement like it had glue on its tires. The engine sound is exhilarating, and back off the gas and raucous pops and crackles belch from the exhaust putting a smile on your face. This is, indeed, the joy of driving.

To get to this point Ford has endowed the RS with a bundle of cool stuff including a dual exhaust system, Brembo front brake calipers, launch control, special grille and rear spoiler, a performance shift indicator, and adjustable shocks. Auxiliary gauges at the top of the center stack display oil temperature and pressure as well as turbo boost, and the shift indicator flashes when approaching the engine speed limiter.

But not all is sweetness and light. The big thing here is a suspension so much tuned for performance even on the softest of the four suspension settings every flaw in the pavement is felt, and the repeated pounding especially on highways with a lot of joint repairs can be nerve racking. Secondly, the Recaro seats with their aggressive bolstering are not conducive to the comfort of big bodies for long periods of driving. For this reason — as much fun as the RS provides — we deem it a weekend entertainment vehicle to help take the weight of the world off your shoulders, and not a daily driver. Even at that we think it's worth every penny of the 37-grand base price.

The interior is attractive and controls are right at hand. And a big plus, the RS comes with Ford's advanced Sync 3 infotainment system, which uses an 8-inch touchscreen in the center console. Much like an iPad, the screen is designed for gestures such as swiping and pinching to zoom. We have found after experiencing Sync 3 in several Ford products, that it is far superior to the outgoing MyFordTouch system.

Seat comfort aside, we had no trouble finding a good driving position. The rear seats are comfortable, but legroom can be a problem and taller passengers may need to negotiate with their front-seat counterparts for more space. The hatchback design gives the RS an ample 19.9 cubic feet of cargo space.

Among the standard safety features are a rearview camera, blind-spot mirrors and Ford's MyKey system, which can be used to set electronic driving parameters for others, namely teenaged children. Also, the Sync 3 system includes an emergency crash-notification feature that automatically dials 911 when paired with a compatible cellphone.

It can be argued that the RS is the ultimate hot hatch in North America so be prepared to pay for the incredible driving entertainment. The very-well-equipped 2017 RS starts at $36,995 including destination charge. Our test car with a 19-inch alloy wheel option carried a bottom line of $40,560.

Essential
Base price: $36,995; as driven, $40,560
Engine: 2.3-liter turbocharged four cylinder
Horsepower: 350 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 350 foot-pounds @ 3,200 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drive: all-wheel
Seating: 2/3
Wheelbase: 104.3 inches
Length: 172.8 inches
Curb weight: 3,454 pounds
Turning circle: 36 feet
Luggage capacity: 19.9 cubic feet
Fuel capacity: 12.4 gallons (premium recommended)
EPA rating: 19 city, 25 highway, 22 combined
0-60: 4.5 seconds (Car and Driver)
Also consider: Subaru WRX STI, Volkswagen Golf R

The Good
• Exhilarating performance
• All-wheel drive standard
• Stylish interior with Sync 3

The Bad
• Recaro sports seat not for everyone

The Ugly
• No automatic transmission offered