3 Ways the 2018 Ford Focus RS gets better for the Final Year (Video)

Ford Motor Company has announced that 2018 will mark the final year for the Focus RS as we know it. Over the past two model years (2016-2017), the 350 horsepower Focus RS has hurled Ford to the head of the sport compact class and the segment has responded, snatching up the high performance, all-wheel drive compact cars as quickly as possible.

While people have been buying and loving the new Ford Focus RS, they have also been talking about what they would like to see done differently with their hot hatch, and the Motor Company has been paying attention. As a result, Ford has rolled out the 2018 Focus RS Limited Edition, which will include unique features inside, outside and under the car – but only 1,000 examples will be made for the US and Canada will get just 500 examples of this hotter hatch.

“To satisfy strong demand for the ever-popular Focus RS, I’m very excited that we’re bringing this limited-edition vehicle to North America,” said Henry Ford, Ford Performance marketing manager. “We have spent a great deal of time listening to our customers, speaking to owners’ club members, reading comments and suggestions on enthusiast websites, and even studying various forum Photoshop renderings.”

The 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition
The 2018 Ford Focus Limited Edition is fundamentally the same as the 2016 and 2017 Ford Focus RS, but the Limited Edition RS package adds a unique look on the outside, a long list of standard features inside and added performance with a new front differential.

-On the outside, the 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition will be offered in a new Race Red or the familiar Nitrous Blue paint with a gloss black roof, gloss black mirror caps over heated mirrors and a gloss black rear spoiler with the blue RS logos on the wing-ends. The outside also benefits from standard 19-inch painted alloy wheels with blue RS-branded center caps.

-On the inside, the 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition has a handbrake level and a boost gauge which are trimmed in high gloss carbon fiber, along with a handful of now-standard features borrowed from the RS2 package. This includes heated black leather-and-suede Recaro seats with 8-way driver’s seat adjustment, a heated steering wheel and a voice activated navigation system.

-Finally, the performance of the 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition is improved by means of a new Quaife limited slip front differential. According to the announcement this new limited slip differential will allow 2018 Focus RS Limited Edition drivers to put all of that turbocharged power to the wheels more efficiently and more effectively.

“Our new limited-edition Focus RS represents accessible performance at its finest,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford Performance chief engineer. “Improving on the thrilling driving dynamics of the Focus RS is no small task – but our Ford Performance engineers have delivered a drivetrain capable of wringing every drop of performance from the engine.”

We don’t know how much the 2018 Ford Focus RS Limited Edition will cost, but we know that it will reach dealerships later this year. We will bring you pricing information once it becomes available but in the meantime, check out the RS Limited Edition debut with featuring Mr. Ken Block.