By day it is a mild-mannered, best-selling family hatchback, but by night Ford’s Focus transforms into something rather more exciting. Yes, the RS is back!

For those who find Ford’s critically acclaimed Focus ST just isn’t focused enough, the RS returns to assume its role as the motoring equivalent of Jekyll and Hyde.

Although an RS version of the latest Focus has been in the pipeline for some years, it has taken a while for the model to get the green-light from bosses who were worried about making it profitable. However, with the Focus doing so well in the World Rally Championship, the RS merely serves to celebrate that.

Taking inspiration from the iconic Escort RS Cosworth, the Focus RS is considerably more muscular than the ST, with its deep chin spoiler, lowered suspension and distinctive rear-wing, giving the impression it really is a rally car for the road.

Set to go head-to-head with the recently launched Mitsubishi Evo X and Subaru Impreza WRC, the RS gets an uprated version of the ST’s 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine. The first time an RS has received a five-cylinder engine, this model has been tuned to provide 296bhp – a 74bhp hike over the ST.

Set to reach a limited 155mph top speed and hit 60mph in less than six seconds, the RS will certainly have the pace to match its looks, but perhaps the most surprising feature of the new car is the fact that it will remain front-wheel drive.

Although the previous Focus RS, which was on sale for a limited time in 2002, was also front-wheel drive, it was generally criticised for having far too much torque steer, a common problem with cars that have too much power going to the front-wheels only.

While the ST – which is more powerful than the previous RS – has managed to get around this relatively well, having 296bhp being sent to just two wheels is an entirely new challenge for the Ford engineers.

Nonetheless, Ford claim to have gotten round this with an intricate suspension set-up – masterminded by specialists Quaife – that has been designed to eradicate torque steer using a limited slip differential. While some may mourn the passing of a wheel-spinning fast Ford, the signature of previous models, Ford have decided this is the way to go in order to keep weight down overall.

The RS will go on sale later this year after it gets its first public unveiling at the British Motor Show, with a price tag that is set to undercut that of the more technologically-advanced Evo X.