Ford’s new 165mph Focus RS superhatch is speeding its way to sales success, with 2,300 orders taken by dealerships ahead of its spring delivery.

Buyers have been contacting dealerships and selecting options packs for the 345bhp, four-wheel drive performance car ever since its £29,995 price was announced in September.

Some 89% of buyers have specified the optional Luxury Pack, including power-fold door mirrors, rear parking sensors, Ford KeyFree System, cruise control and privacy glass, with 89% also opting for Ford SYNC2 navigation and premium sound system.

Most popular of the five different colour finishes is Nitrous Blue, chosen by 61% of buyers, with Frozen White attracting 15% and Shadow Black 10 per cent.

Around 85% have also ordered the optional blue-painted brake callipers and 19in black forged alloy wheels.

Andy Barratt, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: “Care and attention is being given by Focus RS buyers to make sure their car has exactly the desired specification.

“More than half of buyers want the most expensive item on the extras list – Recaro RS shell front seats. Most are owners of previous RS models, which were all similarly personalised.”

The all-new Ford Focus RS will feature a 2.3-litre turbocharged engine Ford Performance All-Wheel Drive with Dynamic Torque Vectoring and Launch Control technology which will equip it with the traction to record 4.7sec dash to 62mph.

It has a long list of standard equipment including 19in multi-spoke alloy wheels, 350mm ventilated front disc brakes, RS rear spoiler, twin-pipe high-performance exhaust, Bi-Xenon headlamps, Recaro front seats, dual-zone electronic temperature control, heated windscreen and washer jets and  Thatcham Category 1 alarm.