Ford has announced that it is to be launching Europe's first ever petrol powered family car with emissions below 100g/km in the early part of 2014 with the latest version of the Focus. This particular model is fitted with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine that gives an emissions figure of just 99g/km of CO¬2.
For those who know their Fords well, you are correct in thinking that the company does indeed already produce the Focus with the EcoBoost engine; however this one has been tweaked to provide lower emissions and better fuel economy. To help save fuel, Ford's ECOnetic Technology has been applied, which includes ultra-low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic tweaks underneath and altered gear ratios. All these efforts result in a combined economy figure of 67.5mpg - Ford's most fuel-efficient, petrol-powered family car to date.
The enormity of the success here can be measured by looking at an equivalent Focus made just 10 years ago. In 2003, the 1.6-litre Focus produced the same 100hp as today's EcoBoost unit, but pumped out almost 90 per cent more CO2 than the car offered today.
"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," said Barb Samardzich, Vice President of Product Development, Ford of Europe. "The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has a habit of taking expectations of what a petrol engine can deliver and turning them upside down."
The EcoBoost unit uses a direct-injection, three-cylinder petrol engine bolted to a low pressure turbocharger to create its efficiency figures. This is aided by Ford ECOnetic measures including start-stop, Smart Regenerative Charging, Active Grille Shutter to aid aerodynamics and EcoMode, which encourages fuel-efficient driving. As well as the Focus, this engine can be had in the Fiesta, B-Max, C-Max and Grand C-Max; with the Transit, Tourneo and all-new Mondeo coming on board in the near future.
Anything else?
In addition to the Focus EcoBoost, the range will shortly include the zero-emissions Focus Electric and the diesel-powered Focus ECOnetic - delivering 83mpg and emitting just 88g/km of CO¬2.