Ford’s European arm has announced that it will offer its new 1.0 turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine in the Focus lineup starting in the next few months.
The gasoline-burning 1.0 will replace the normally aspirated 1.6 four-cylinder engine currently found in the entry-level Focus. It will be available with either 100 horsepower, or 125 horsepower, about the same amount as the engine it is replacing.
Ford says that the EcoBoost gets much better gas mileage than its predecessor. The 100 horsepower unit is rated at 49 miles per gallon, while the more powerful offering reportedly logs 47 miles per gallon. Both were tested in a mixed European cycle.
“This 1.0-litre EcoBoost signals a new era of downsized, super frugal engines for the sub-130-horsepower segment. During development our UK engineers focused on improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction of the engine’s internal moving parts, especially during warm-up,” said Graham Hoare, Ford Europe’s powertrain director.
The EcoBoost-powered Focus is expected to be a little more expensive than the 1.6 model it is replacing. However, thanks to the lower amount of CO2 that comes out of its tailpipe, it will be eligible for tax and/or purchase credits in most major European countries, cancelling out the price difference.
Ford is not the only European manufacturer turning to three-cylinders engines. The Peugeot 107/Citroën C1/ Toyota Aygo trio has used three-bangers for years, the 2012 Peugeot 208′s entry-level engine will have three spark plugs, and there are rumors that the fourth-generation of the Clio will fire on three when it is revealed next fall.
