The Focus RS is here and its Teutonic rivals from Audi and Volkswagen want first blood. The RS boasts a 350-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and wonderfully advanced all-wheel drive system. Can the all new Focus hold off the Golf R and Audi RS3? The rally-esque pops and bangs of the Focus drown out the smooth artificially enhanced rumble of the Golf R's 2.0-liter turbo-four and ward off the 2.5-liter five-cylinder powerhouse in the Audi. This is the first real comparison test of the newest Ford RS model, folks.

It certainly seems to live up to the lineage, besting both higher-cost rivals and sending the German engineers back to the drawing board. Now the real challenge is for the mighty mouse Focus RS to take down zillamouse, aka the Honda Civic Type R.