2009 Ford Focus stages RS comeback

With a colour normally reserved for the shrinking violet supercar forms of the Homer Simpson yellow Lamborghini Gallardo, tangoed Porsche 911 and the cornea-crumbling pink of a Ferrari Enzo, even the vomit-inducing lurid green exterior scenery afforded the new Ford Focus RS seems somewhat tame.

Besides, when it goes zipping past you in the opposite direction at a denture-unsettling D.A.F.Tmph, you won’t be able to tell what colour the blur is anyway. Or make out any of its features, so it could be finished in polka dots for all you’ll be aware.

Burberry check excepting, the brand new Focus RS unrobed at the British Motor Show today could have been in just about any hue and saturation and the reaction from the crowd of journo's would have been the same.

Taking pride of place at Ford’s stand, the new 300bhp Ford Focus RS is as hot as it’s painted. But like one of those jalapeno peppers you know you shouldn’t touch, you just can’t help it, only to pay the price afterwards.

Alesha Dixon – her of Celebrity Strictly Come Dancing fame – did some swift ankle turns and co-ordinated limb-flailing by way of introducing onlookers to the nimblest RS we’ve had the pleasure of clapping our eyes on in years.

The front wheel driven – that should be hair-raising – turbocharged 2.5-litre head scare brings on 62mph in less than six seconds, however Ford are staying tight-lipped about what it gives full tilt. Apart from the driver a different perception of time possibly.

On the bit car fans will recruit enough time to see – the inside – the Recaro sports seats are colour-matched to the RS green paintflake. Which will make those that suffer from travel sickness very happy. The centre console has a carbon effect finish, whilst the air vents, door handles, switchgear and gearshift surround benefit from a daubing of metallic.

Ford would like to stress that what you see today, might not be exactly what UK drivers will get tomorrow. Or next spring any road. The men employed by the blue oval car manufacturer are set to subject the Focus RS to some definitive design fiddling betwixt now and then.

Final pricing, like judgement on whether the lurid green realises production, remains scantily addressed.

Early 2009 is when the Focus RS is set to trip the light fantastic on UK roads though, so for the time being you’ll just have to gaze longingly.