The Ford Focus RS is gearing up to be one of the hottest hatches ever made. Powered by a Mustang-sourced 2.3-litre turbo powerplant cranking out 257kW and up to 470Nm of torque in overboost mode, it's going to be real fast.
Combined with all-wheel drive it could be a game-changer – in more ways than one.
Ford has revealed a hard-to-miss Focus RS designed by Forza Motorsport gamers that was driven to the Gamescon gathering in Cologne, Germany, by the Stig, of Top Gear fame. It will be showcased alongside the sleek bodywork of the new Ford GT supercar, which is powered by a mid-mounted twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 belting out more than 450kW.
With profits rising and fortunes improving – and cars like these two generating a huge buzz – Ford is clearly finding its groove.
"In Cologne we're excited to showcase the real all-new Focus RS clad in a special paint scheme created by the Forza community. During Gamescom, gamers will also get to see the Forza Motorsport 6 cover-car Ford GT in person," said Dan Greenawalt, creative director at Turn 10 Studios, the Forza 6's developer.
As Europe's biggest video gaming convention, Gamescon (August 5 - 9) was chosen to debut the Forza Motorsport 6 video game for the Xbox One console, a game which features the Focus RS and Ford GT. Forza 6 will be available later in 2015 but attendees are expected to get their first taste of both the fiery Focus RS and the ballistic Ford GT in the digital world, via the game.
It's a strategy that rival Playstation 3 racing video game Gran Turismo 6 has used to great effect with various virtual concept cars from Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and Mitsubishi available to drive. That particular game has even blooded some very talented real-world racers via the GT Academy.
Indeed, the role of video games in exposing people to the experience of driving expensive cars will expand in scope in the coming years and could one day reach dizzying heights far beyond merely interacting with a vehicle in the digital world.
"In Forza Motorsport 6, racing and gaming enthusiasts all over the world will be the first to experience Ford's new ultra-high-performance supercar, the Ford GT," said Greenawalt, who for now will be content that two hugely popular – and as yet undriveable – Fords are in his video game.
And for those who plan on driving the Ford Focus RS in the real world, some of the go-fast features of the third-generation vehicle will include a launch control system for rapid getaways and a number of selectable 'Drive Modes', including Drift Mode which is an "industry-first" says Ford.