Hold onto your nuts ladies and gents, it appears a lovely dealer somewhere in Europe leaked some photoshop edits of what is to be the new Ford Focus RS.

Ford Europe did an excellent job pilfering Lamborghini’s orange as the hero colour for the Ford Focus ST so it is only fitting they borrow the raging bull’s green for the RS.

Whilst we all wait to see what the final specifications will be, there is no doubt that the RS is indeed coming with many sites such as WorldCarFans reporting numerous sitings. I may start praying today that they’ll make their way to the Australian market.

The full set of pictures in hi-res formats are available via the HHH Flickr account.

[Source: CarSpyShots.net]

Don’t look now but more Ford RS talk is afoot with a development mule running around the Nürburgring last week according to sources from Car. It is expected that the Ford RS all gussied up in it’s new Focus skin will be announced at the Geneva motor show in 2008.

The above pictures show advance electronic load-monitors measuring the car’s handling and ride characteristics. The RS team are working to ensure the volvo sourced AWD platform performs in concert with the upgraded steering, suspension and overhauled engine.

The blown 2.5L 5 cylinder engine sourced from the Ford ST is expected to receive over 300bhp (220kW) and 280lb ft of torque for true pinned to the seat performance. This performance is achieved through a new variable intake and exhaust manifold, uprated turbo with larger intercooler, larger oil cooler and reinforced con-rods.

Many a Ford ST / XR5 admirer have been waiting for some fresh clues that an AWD hero car to challenge the Evo X and Impreza STI was coming, thankfully the wait is over. The Ford RS is expected to be priced around the £28,000 upon it’s release around this time next year.

All join me in praying to the Hot Hatch Heavens that the RS enjoys worldwide distribution ensuring many fans enjoy what will be a performance bargain.

[SOURCE: Car via Autoblog]

Recently spotted taking some hot laps around the Nurburgring in Germany, the Fiat 500 Abarth looks like it’ll tickle the right areas for the retro warm hatch lovers.

Reportedly sporting a 1.4L turbocharged engine the Abarth will deliver around 150bhp, not too shabby for a car that is much smaller and lighter than it’s probable competitor the BMW Mini.  The car also sports larger rims with low profile sports tyres and will enjoy a sportier tuned suspension setup.

Fiat are on a good thing with the Abarth and given the overall positive reaction to the Punto’s hitting the market there is no doubt this warm but capable hatch will receive interest from performance houses across Europe.

[Source: Cars Online]

The fine ladies and gentleman at BMW clearly have all hot hatch fans dreams at heart when they conceived the spotted around town, BMW 135ti.

The BMW 135ti, a 3 door hot hatch to menace all others, has lovingly received the 306bhp 3L Twin Turbo from the 335ti. Send all this raw power to the rears strung over a taut BMW tuned chassis and you have developed a wrecking ball of a car and potentially the hottest little drift machine on the planet.

Sporting 50+ bhp more than the delicious VW R32, the 135ti is going to require a few pennies. Forget all that, it is clearly going to be the new hot hatch rocket for 2007.

Source: [GermanCarScene]