► Focus RS Limited Edition

► Limited-slip front differential

► Europe gets 'Option Pack' instead

This is the swansong for Ford’s hyper hatch in the North American market: the Ford Focus RS Limited Edition. Just 1500 will be made; 1000 for the USA and 500 for Canada.

The headline news is the addition of a Quaife limited-slip differential bolted to the front wheels, which RS fans have been calling out for since the car’s launch. That means more grip for the front wheels under hard cornering and that the drivetrain is ‘capable of wringing every drop of performance from the engine’, according to chief engineer, Jamal Hameedi.

There are a few choice visual details too. Black trim is the order of the day, for the roof, spoiler and door mirror caps. You can also get your Limited Edition in a unique colour – Race Red – along with the classic (and, lets be honest, frankly mandatory) Nitrous Blue.

Interior tweaks are minor, save for some choice carbon trim. Equipment from the ‘RS2’ spec is standard, so US buyers are treated to luxuries like a SYNC 3 infotainment system, leather Recaro seats and a heated steering wheel.

Ford pored over enthusiast websites, blogs and even looked at Photoshop renders on forums to take inspiration for its slightly more amped-up final send-off model.

While it may be a North American send-off for the Focus RS, in Europe, buyers will be able to spec the aptly-named 'Option Pack' which features all of the above, but the Race Red paintwork is US market only.

Find out what happened when a Focus RS took on a Golf R in our hyper hatch twin test