Ford's mid-size Focus Hatchback has been around in Europe since it replaced the Escort in 1998, and arrived in North America during 1999, next month Ford are due to release a radical new power-plant for the Focus.
The 1 Litre eco-boost is a 3 cylinder direct injection turbo-charged engine with variable valve timing and is available in 99 (109g/km) & 123 BHP (114g/km) formats, delivering 58 & 55 MPG respectively, and to top off a very acceptable 125lb/ft of torque available as low as 1400 RPM mean the Focus has lots of grunt low down.
The technical team at Ford have had their futuristic hovering thinking caps on with this little gem of an engine, only a few years ago it would have been unthinkable to put a 1 litre engine in a mid-size saloon, features such as a cam belt which runs in the engine oil and lasts the life of the engine, weight saving has been a key to the efficiency gains of this new engine, which is a full 40KG lighter than the 1.6 diesel, and because that weight would have been over the steering wheels, this makes a big difference in the way the car handles - a win/win.
Company car drivers are also winning as the benefit-in-kind tax will be reduced. The 1.0 Litre eco-boost will be available first in the Hatchback and estate Focus models, later to be rolled out across the full range.
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