Hottest of Ford’s hatchbacks Focus RS

If a new report is to be believed, the hottest of Ford’s hatchbacks – the upcoming Focus RS – will boast an all-wheel-drive system and be sold in the United States.

Citing an anonymous Blue Oval source, Road & Track claims that the new-generation RS will rely on an all-wheel-drive system to put power from its turbocharged 2.3-liter “EcoBoost” four-cylinder to the pavement while avoiding the prodigious torque steer a front-wheel-drive configuration would almost certainly entail.

A variation of the mill used in the Lincoln MKC and 2015 Ford Mustang, the 2.3-liter will likely be mated to a six-speed manual transmission in this application. Output figures haven’t yet been finalized, but numbers similar to the Mustang’s 310 horsepower and 320 lb-ft are possible.

While few other details are available, an even more aggressive body kit than that of the Focus ST is expected, along with upsized wheels, bigger brakes and a stiffer suspension.

A pricetag in the neighborhood of $30,000 is likely when the Focus RS launches next year as a 2016 model.