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Focus RS Impresses In Motor Magazine's Annual Performance Car Cup Award


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SYDNEY – January 21, 2011: The answer: a Ford Focus RS according to Motor magazine, Australia's premier performance car publication.

Ford's high performance hot hatch has scored an impressive fourth place finish in Motor's annual Performance Car Cup award, beaten only by two Porsches and a Lamborghini – all high-priced sports coupes/convertibles priced from $150,000 to well in excess of $400,000.

The Focus RS outshone eight of the best performance cars money can buy with its "great steering and excellent balance" as well as its astounding "in-gear thrust", despite most of the competition being more expensive and more powerful.

Motor praised the Focus RS as an impressive vehicle that "punches well above its weight, and performs above any reasonable expectation we might've had about a relatively humble front-driven hot hatch."

It also clearly had the Focus RS in mind when it said: "An underdog competitor punching above its weight makes for high achievement. And quite often a lofty placing in the overall standings can be just as heroic as taking out the PCC crown."

The Focus RS is widely regarded as one of the best performance cars ever produced by Ford, but the Motor Performance Car Cup 2010 judges went one step further, calling it "…the world's hottest hatch right here and now."

Even V8 Supercar driver and Motor magazine hot-lap specialist, Warren Luff, was in awe of the Focus RS, commenting, "It's just so great for a front-driver" after lapping the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit.

Ford launched the Focus RS in Australia in September 2010 following its widespread success around the world. Just 315 examples were secured for the local market, with most quickly snapped up by eager customers keen to own one of the exclusive rally-bred machines.

But for those wanting to share in the excitement, a small number of cars are still available and with a Manufacturer's List Price (MLP) of just $59,990* they are the performance buy of the year – even Motor magazine agrees.