Ford reveals ultra-eco Focus EcoBoost

Ford has revealed Europe’s first petrol-powered five-door family car to dip beneath the 100g/km CO2 mark with the launch of a 99g/km CO2 Focus EcoBoost.

The new 100hp 1.0-litre variant will launch next year and, at 67.5mpg, become its most fuel-efficient petrol-engined family car ever.

Ford Focus EcoBoost Superchips review (2012 onwards)

Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost review (2012 onwards)

It means Ford will be able to offer both diesel and petrol versions of road tax exempt Focus – something no other brand is currently able to do.

As Barb Samardzich, vice president of Product Development at Ford of Europe said: “The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has a habit of taking expectations of what a petrol engine can deliver and turning them upside down.

“Even just a couple of years ago few people would have thought it possible that a medium-sized petrol car could break the 100g/km CO2 barrier.”

Ford’s made the three-cylinder turbo petrol motor so fuel-efficient by fitting revised gearing, bespoke underbody aerodynamics and special low rolling resistance tyres. Otherwise, though, changes are surprising minimal: showing just how efficiency-optimised the little EcoBoost engine is.

Ford also points out that a MkI 1.6-litre focus of a decade ago produced less power while emitting 47 per cent more CO2…

Now Ford has thrown down the petrol-powered low CO2 gauntlet, who will be next to bolster their sub-100g/km CO2 diesel car range with an ultra-clean petrol car too? Our money’s on Volkswagen – surely a low CO2 version of the new 1.2 TSI Golf can’t be far away..?

By motoringresearch.com