HIGH efficiency engines using stop/start technology are the cornerstone of Ford’s plans to make the new Focus lean and mean.
Available on seven of the 17 variants of the new hatchback, the eco engines will be the mainstay of the latest generation of Britain’s most popular family car.
One is a diesel tuned to give plenty of power with emissions as low as 109g/km. The other is the latest derivative of Ford’s EcoBoost petrol engine delivering 150PS.
Both engines are made in Britain – the diesel at Dagenham and the petrol at Bridgend in Wales – and we have just put both to the test in a head-to-head run off.
On an identical 60 mile route taking in everything from motorways to country lanes and town centres we tried out the new Focus 1.6-litre EcoBoost and the 1.6-litre TDCi diesel.
Both cars were in high specification Titanium trim priced from £19,745 – there is no price differential for the diesel.
Ford’s official fuel economy figures rate the petrol version at 47.1mpg on average with a CO2 output of 139g/km and the diesel at 67.3mpg.
In the EcoBoost we managed to return 45.3 to the gallon at an average speed of 35mph and in the diesel we saw 58.7 at a marginally slower 34mph.
While we failed to get near the official figures in either car both had less than 1,000 miles on the clock so the engines were on the ‘tight’ side.
Even with the Chancellor’s recent cut in fuel duty, prices at the pumps remain at record levels and with an average of £1.30 per litre for petrol and some seven pence more for diesel the outcome of our test comes down on the side of the TDCi.
Despite diesel costing more per gallon our 60 mile trip in the EcoBoost cost almost £1.50 in fuel. Taking that down to pence per mile its 10.5p in fuel for the diesel and 13p for the petrol.
With lower emissions the diesel also has the edge when it comes to taxation for private buyers although for business users both fall into the same bracket.
The lean burn diesel will be available across the new Focus range with prices starting from £17,495 for the 115PS version we drove. A lower powered 95PS model can be had from £16,995 which is a £1,000 premium over the entry level petrol powered Edge model.
On the other hand the EcoBoost engine will be fitted only to the top grade Titanium and Titanium X models.
Both of the cars we drove had six speed manual gearboxes and on the road there was no complaint from either.
The stop/start system worked well too, cutting the engine every time we came to rest – and we were running with the air conditioning switched on.
Of the two the most pleasing drive comes from the EcoBoost with its turbocharger delivering a nice turn of speed under acceleration. The diesel has mid-range punch put moving off and cruising it is not quite as rewarding.
That is reflected in the performance figures which show the EcoBoost model capable of 0 to 60 in 8.6 seconds while the diesel takes almost 11 seconds.
The EcoBoost models also have a lovely sound to them, kicking out a real growl when floored – a sensation Ford has created artificially to replace the traditional whine from a turbo engine.
Overall, the new Focus line up consists of four trim levels and a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines – the largest being a two-litre 163PS diesel which can also be had with Ford’s automatic PowerShift transmission.
Throughout the range, the emphasis is on economy – in fact the EcoBoost is the thirstiest of them all with its average of 47.1 – and even the big diesel will return figures in the mid-50s.
Couple that with impeccable dynamics – all models are fitted with something Ford calls torque vectoring control which has the effect of a limited slip differential – and the new Focus is a real driver’s car which will set new standards among mid-sized hatchbacks.