Originally Posted by Ford Performance

Ford has announced a limited run of 50 Heritage Edition Focus RS models, exclusive to the UK market, before production stops altogether on 6th April 2018.

Following the announcement of the “RS Red Edition” in December, just 50 RS Heritage Edition models will be produced in a unique “Tief Orange” (“Deep Orange”) body colour, marking 50 years of the Escort nameplate in the UK and commemorating the most iconic model of its line, the RS.

In addition to the Deep Orange exterior colour, the Heritage Edition features grey brake callipers behind black forged alloy wheels and the RS Edition’s trademark contrasting black door mirrors and rear spoiler. It also comes equipped with partial leather Recaro seats, privacy glass, a sunroof, rear parking sensors, power-fold door mirrors, cruise control with speed limiter and heated steering wheel.

All Focus RS Edition models features a front mechanical Quaife limited-slip differential (LSD), providing heightened dynamic sensation for performance driving enthusiasts. The Heritage Edition also gains the dealer-fitted FPM375 Mountune upgrade, increasing overboost power from 350PS to 375PS, and torque from 470Nm to 510Nm, thanks to a high-flow induction kit, uprated turbo re-circulating valve and calibration. The RS Heritage Edition will be priced at £39,895.

Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain, said: “The RS brand is hugely important to Ford and is recognised across the globe, however it has a special place in the hearts of UK Ford fans. This latest model is the best RS we’ve ever produced, so it seems a fitting tribute as we approach its 50th anniversary.”

The Focus RS Edition has been developed by Ford Performance engineers and evaluated at locations across the globe to enhance the traction and responsiveness using a Quaife LSD for the front axle.

The mechanical LSD limits engine torque delivered to a wheel that has reduced traction on the road surface, and redistributes torque to the wheel with more traction to counteract the wheelspin that can hamper acceleration and stability.

By controlling the torque delivered to each front wheel, the Focus RS Edition’s Quaife LSD enables drivers to exploit the power delivered by its 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine in high-performance driving situations even more, and integrates with Focus RS driving technologies delivered as standard, including:

Ford Performance All Wheel Drive, which varies the front-to-rear torque distribution to suit the current driving situation – monitoring inputs from vehicle sensors 100 times per second and sending a maximum of 70 per cent of the drive torque to the rear axle
Dynamic Torque Vectoring – which uses electronically-controlled clutch packs on the rear axle to send up to 100 per cent of the available torque to either rear wheel, and can switch drive from one side to the other in as little as 0.06sec
Torque Vectoring Control (TVC) – which automatically applies small amounts of brake force to limit wheelspin at the front axle

Originally Posted by Rsmat

Internet forums died years ago ..

Originally Posted by Dal_

Back in the old days, an RS was special enough without these "special editions"

Diluting the brand.

Originally Posted by Adam-M

I thought they had already released one with the quaife diff or was it announced as an optional extra?

Not as bad as Subaru they used to release a ltd edition every few months and all they had was some chrome grills and a badge lol

Originally Posted by markie t

when i look at this car it just does not excite me and wish i had one, i remember the first time i saw a escort cosworth and i had to nurse a semi just at the sight of it,you knew it was really special.

Originally Posted by massivewangers

Err, Escort Monte Carlo? They did Sauber editions of the RS2000 in Europe too, so special edition RS models have been around for years.

I actually think this is a decent effort to be honest. More power, LSD, forged wheels, hardly a bad spec.

Originally Posted by RichieST

It's unlikely many will be seen on the roads. They will be snapped up by collectors and put away if the mk2 rs500 is anything to go by!

Originally Posted by cossynut2

I am a lot older than you and remember seeing the first Lotus Twin Cam MK1 Escort on the Isle of Wight and thinking how great it was!!! You knew it was something special compared to my 1500Cortina engined 105E Anglia.
This new limited edition Focus RS looks just the same as any other one apart from the colour.

Originally Posted by Dal_

True. But then there's already the Red and Blue special editions and now the Heritage as well.

There's even rumblings of a "final" edition to actually finish it off but that might not be UK bound.

Would take about £2000 fitted for me to get mine up to the Heritage spec which works out about £5000 less than that horrid orange one.. lol

Originally Posted by Glenn_

I agree. Like most old Ford's Now,these are also locked away and hardly used.

The cost of these cars and the parts are out of hand and the everyday enthusiast can't afford A the cars and B the parts.

Originally Posted by cossynut2

The twincam was lowered, had wider wheels, bigger exhaust and the distinctive quarter bumpers plus the lotus badges. It looked much more sporty than a standard MK1 Escort.
There were only a couple on the Isle of Wight and they did stand out and of course on the move the noise of the twin side draught Webers let you know it was something different!!