The first production ready Ford Focus RS has rolled of the company’s factory line in Germany.

With a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine developing 300bhp, the RS is the hottest ever Ford Focus and boasts blistering performance – accelerating from 0-62mph in less than six seconds before hitting a top speed of 160mph.

All this power is channelled through the front wheels with the Focus RS getting a clever limited slip differential to channel power to the wheel with most grip through the corners – reducing understeer.

While the RS will be a hardcore version of the Focus, it will still have the everyday luxuries of Britain’s biggest selling car such as air-conditioning, Sony CD player with six-CD autochanger, keyless start, Quickclear heated windscreen and Ford’s Easy Fill which prevents putting diesel in the car.

When it goes on sale in March, the Ford Focus RS will cost from £24,995 – the same as the Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

The RS will also have a hot new Vauxhall Astra to contend with after full details of the VXR-R by Thorney Motorsport were announced.

Thorney Motorsport has upped the standard VXR’s power to 300bhp and fitted a limited slip differential and uprated brakes and suspension.

The result is an Astra which will accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and hit 170mph – the same as the Vauxhall VXR8 super-saloon.

Official pictures for the £26,295 VXR-R will be released in the next few weeks.