The RS designation – Rally Sport – has represented, for over 40 years, the most radical side of Ford in Europe. With undeniable success on rally stages and a legion of dedicated fans, Ford vehicles bearing the RS designation offer an unusual combination of performance and versatility.

Launched in 2016, the third-generation Focus RS is the latest RS offering and it's seriously fast. How fast? It hits 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and the speedometer quickly climbs to 270 km/h.

But it's on the curves that you can get the most pleasure from this 'hot hatch', which provides dynamic handling and old-fashioned driver engagement, thanks to the 6-speed manual gearbox and a rather playful chassis that allows the rear to slide out when entering a curve while you hear the characteristic 'pops' when lifting your foot off the accelerator.

Like any self-respecting 'hot hatch', the Focus manages to be remarkably versatile, as it doesn't lose any of its qualities of versatility and equipment compared to a standard Focus. Access and start are keyless, and the premium Sony sound system guarantees excellent music reproduction with Bluetooth. It also features automatic door protectors, which are welcome in the hustle and bustle of the city.