Ford Focus RS Equipped With Drift Mode; Hot Hatchback’s Newly Revealed Setting ‘Allows Controlled Oversteer Maneuvers'

The Ford Focus RS is anticipated to be a high-performance road car. This third generation of RS cars will be equipped with a very techy setting.

According to carthrottle.com, it has been confirmed in a presentation on Monday night that this hot hatchback will have the Drift Mode. This newly publicized setting "allows controlled oversteer maneuvers." 

Carmagazine.co.uk noted that this setting lets drivers act like a "rear-wheel drive oversteer specialist."

With the Ford Focus RS' all-wheel drive system teamed with its powerful 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine rated in excess of 320 bhp, drift mode can "shuffle torque front to rear but also - crucially - from left to right at the rear axle" enabling the adjustability of the new hatchback.

Aside from Drift Mode, drivers can also choose from Normal and Track settings that adjust the electronic control unit according to the option that the user chose.

Since the Ford Focus RS is slated for a global release for the very first time, some countries won't be getting the Drift mode enabled to adhere to the laws being implemented in certain territories.

"In Australia, for instance, they have hooligan laws on the road which means we will have to turn off Drift Mode to stay legal," Dave Pericak, director of Global Ford Performance said. "It's a simple enough thing to do."

Aside from having these techy settings, the Focus RS as part of a new line-up of performance Fords will offer technologies new to the RS label.

"The all-new Focus RS is a serious machine with high-performance technology and innovative engineering that sets a new benchmark for driving exhilaration on the road and track," Raj Nair, Ford Motor Company's group vice president of Global Product Development, said.

According to stuff.co.nz, this advancement includes Ford SYNC connectivity. Ford will start building the Focus RS in Saarlouis, Germany for all markets later this year.