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The Ford Focus ST has been topping the Focus range (in Europe that is) since 2005 but a successor is on its way, the rally-inspired road-going pocket-rocket Ford Focus RS.

These photos show some very recent prototypes of the 3.0 liter, in-line 6 cylinder 300 bhp engined RS and can mainly be recognized by the larger air intakes in the front, the big alloy wheels and a rear wing. All that power could not possibly go through just the front wheels, so expect an all-wheel-drive system, most probably borrowed from Volvo (just like the engine) but heavily adjusted by the UK based Prodrive team.

The European Ford Focus RS is expected to reach customers in 2008 after a Geneva Motor Show launch in March and will be a rival to the new Mitsubishi Evo X and Subaru Impreza Sti.