Ford creates 276kW farewell to Focus RS

Ford has announced production of its Focus RS hot hatch will end on April 6 and, to mark the occasion, the car maker has created a Heritage Edition run-out model.

Just 50 Heritage Editions will be made and each come equipped with the Mountune performance upgrade offered in Europe that boosts power and torque from the standard car's 257kW/440Nm to an even more muscular 276kW/500Nm.

To help channel the power efficiently to the road, all Heritage Editions will come with the Focus RS Limited Edition's Quaife limited-slip differential and 19-inch forged alloy wheels that are shod with the stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.

Paying tribute to the original Ford Escort RS, the final Focus RS will come with a new Tief Orange paint option that was famously used on the original Escort Mexico.

New grey brake callipers, and black forged wheels will also be offered along with black door mirrors and a dark finish for the rear spoiler.

Inside, the final edition Focus RSs come with half-leather Recaro seats and a heated steering wheel while all Heritage Editions get a sunroof and rear parking sensors as standard.

In the UK, the Focus RS Heritage Edition has been priced from £39,895 ($A70, 690).

The next Focus RS based on the fourth-generation Focus is set to arrive a year after the regular hatch goes on sale in 2019.

It's not known if the 2020 Focus RS will get a downsized version of its current engine or the 2.3-litre turbo Ecoboost donk will live on.