The FINANCIAL -- The Ford Focus powered by the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine began rolling off the assembly line this week in Saarlouis, Germany, setting a new benchmark as Ford’s most fuel efficient petrol-powered vehicle ever.

According to Ford Motor Company, the Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost 100PS offers class-leading economy of 4.8l/100km alongside CO2 emissions of 109g/km. The turbocharged, direct injection engine also is available on the Focus in a 125PS version that returns 5l/100km with CO2 of 114g/km.

The Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost achieves diesel engine standards of performance thanks to a steady engine torque of 170Nm between 1,400rpm and 4,500rpm.

The new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine is produced at Ford’s engine plant in Cologne, Germany. . Ford invested €134 million ($200 million) to develop a special high-tech line at the Cologne Engine Plant to build the engine. Later this year, production of the engine also will begin in Craiova, Romania. European production capacity could eventually reach 700,000 engines per year. 

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost illustrates just how much Ford and the entire auto industry have been able to continually improve the internal combustion engine, a technology that has been around well over a century.

For example, the 2.9-liter engine that powered the iconic Model T delivered fuel economy 11.3l/100km, while cranking out 20PS – numbers that were impressive in their time.

The first generation Ford Fiesta’s 957cc engine from 1976 was roughly the same displacement as the 1.0-liter EcoBoost.  The EcoBoost, however, delivers 64 percent more power and 38 percent lower fuel consumption

The 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine was developed by Ford experts across Europe, including engineers at Ford’s European Research and Advanced Engineering Centre in Aachen, Germany, and the Dunton Technical Centre, UK.

Related Stories

• OPEC spare capacity in the first quarter of 2012 at lowest level since 2008
• Scion tC Receives Autobytel and AutoPacific 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Award
• Two new board members in Hydro