FORD is putting the focus well and truly on performance and has made the new Focus RS the fastest ever with a top speed of 165mph.

The car, which is due to arrive early next year, has a blistering 0 to 60 acceleration time of 4.7 seconds and comes with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system enabling the vehicle to drift.

Details of the new RS were revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show where Ford is also showing off its new GT supercar alongside its established Focus and Fiesta ST hot hatches and estate cars.

The new Focus RS will be priced from £28,940 and is powered by a 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine developing 350ps.

It is fitted with launch control to enable maximum acceleration and an uprated torque vectoring system to enhance agility.

The Focus RS launch system - which is designed specifically for track use - configures the vehicle's chassis and powertrain systems to deliver the fastest possible acceleration.

The driver selects launch control from the cluster menu, engages first gear, applies full throttle and then releases the clutch.

The system then delivers optimum drive - including distributing torque through the AWD system, maintaining maximum torque using turbo overboost function, managing the traction control system, and setting the dampers.

To achieve maximum acceleration through the gears, a performance shift light in the instrument cluster alerts the driver when approaching the optimum upshift point of 5,900 rpm, and flashes if the engine hits the limit of 6,800 rpm.

The Ford Performance AWD system uses twin electronically-controlled clutch packs to manage the car's front/rear torque split, and also can control the side-to-side torque distribution on the rear axle - delivering the torque vectoring capability, which controls handling and cornering stability.

Drivers can select four different modes that configure the AWD system, damper controls, electronic stability control, steering and engine responses, and exhaust sound to deliver optimum performance in road or circuit driving conditions.

Normal, Sport or Track settings are available, alongside a special Drift Mode to help the driver achieve controlled oversteer drifts under circuit conditions.

The EcoBoost engine is a development of the all-aluminium block Ford is fitting in the new Mustang with its turbo system remapped to produce 10 per cent more power.