WELCOME TO THE AUGUST ISSUE!

Cast your mind back 10 years, do you remember the launch of the Mk2 Focus RS? Much was made of the 300bhp and lack of 4x4 transmission to distribute that power to the ground. Haters and so-called 'experts' professed that 300bhp was 'too much' for a FWD car, and the Mk2 RS would be all but undriveable. Hmmm, not quite...

We quickly started to see tuners and eager owners enter something of an arms race to see who could coax the most power from the formidable five-cylinder. I remember the first batch of cars to crack the 500bhp target, but this quickly lead to 600, 700, and before too long even 800bhp! But even then, I have to admit I never thought we'd see the day where there are multiple Focus RSs producing more than 1000bhp! That's absurd. That's like an RS500 Touring car, an Escort Cosworth Group A rally car, and a Fiesta ST road car all rolled into one – in a FWD Ford Focus!

But even more impressively, the cars can handle this insane amount of power incredibly well. Pulling big numbers on a dyno is one thing, but putting them to the road in a user-friendly package on a

day-to-day basis is quite another.

And for me, that's perhaps the most striking thing about Steve Johns' RS in this issue. Not only is it one of, if not the most powerful Focus RS currently in the UK with an astonishing 1036bhp, it's also a fantastic all-rounder. Stunning paint, an interior to die for, and a comprehensive sound system to boot; this is definitely no one-trick pony.

Also in the issue, we've got another crazy-power machine in the shape of Ben Dunn's 850bhp supercharged Mustang. Fast Fords just seem to love being tuned to produce immense bhp.

But it's not always all about big bhp. Thomas Ross' S1 RS Turbo simply doesn't need crazy power figures to provide a frightfully enjoyable driving experience – although the periodcorrect tiger stripes do add a dollop of retro coolness. And Ed Spencer's Mk5 Fiestas don't boast headline-grabbing numbers, but the engineering talent involved with fitting the FRP running gear and a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine simply has to be applauded.

We've got a cracking selection of features this month, and I hope you enjoy the

issue!