Ford has finally drawn back the covers on its eagerly-awaited Focus RS.

Due to go on sale in early 2009, the car is the second Focus to carry the RS badge.

The looks have been heavily beefed up from the standard car, and under the louvred bonnet will be 296bhp from the heavily tweaked 2.5-litre turbocharged engine also seen in the Focus ST.

Wide wheel arches, an aggressive front bumper and a venture tunnel at the rear give the new RS a real sense of performance, which the general public can see for the first time at this month’s Lon don Motor Show.

Inside, Recaro sports seats and bolstered rear seats sit alongside an RS-branded gear lever and steering wheel as well as three additional gauges from the Focus ST.

The 0-62 time has yet to be officially confirmed, but it should be comfortably under six seconds.

With power going through the front wheels, an electronic limited slip differential and a new front suspension system called a RevoKnuckle have been introduced to reduce torque steer.

• Ford’s new Fiesta makes its debut at the British Motor Show this month and coincides with figures showing increased sales of low-emission cars.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that sales of Ford’s greener models have risen by 38% in the past year and the Essex-based carmaker hopes the Fiesta’s green credentials will continue that momentum.

The new Fiesta ECOnetic, the greenest of the new small car line, promises the best CO2 emissions and fuel economy of all four-seat, four-cylinder cars on the market.

It emits 98g/km of CO2, which will exempt it from UK road fund duty.

It will be accompanied by a range of three and five-door Fiestas at the motor show.

These include the range-topping Fiesta Titanium and Fiesta Zetec, which is expected to account for a third of UK sales.