[plastic penguin]

My brother has just purchased this car. With such a tiny engine I expected it to be a little underpowered. Not so. This 1.0 ltr, 3-cylinder turbo engine packs a surprising punch.

He reckons it's nearly as fast as his old Audi 1.8 cabriolet, and after driving both the little Focus comes close.

Tax on the Focus is sub-£100 and insurance is dirt cheap. It drives beautifully... win win win based on my short test drive.

Highly recommended.

 

[Brooking10]

It's a properly clever little engine that. 123bhp from a 1 litre is something that only a few years ago would have been unthinkable in a run of the mill production car.


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[Nickhoughton567]

I do wonder what the lifespan of the little 3 pot turbo charged engines will be.

 

[keithyboy]

How does it sound? I ask because my only experience of 3-pot is in small crap French cars and Daewoo's, both of which sounded, felt and performed like there was a plug lead off.

 

[TheGrimJeeper]

Is this really anything new?
The Japanese were putting 3 pot turbos
in cars since the mid 80s.

Okay, the power output has been increased
but that's after 30 years of development.

KERS powered turbos are another add-on.
Does Ecoboost use that?

KB is right about the sound. Thus in a Mustang: Meh!

 

[plastic penguin]

How does it sound? I ask because my only experience of 3-pot is in small crap French cars and Daewoo's, both of which sounded, felt and performed like there was a plug lead off.

As you can imagine KB, it sounds like a very small engine. That said it doesn't sound like a washing machine. Once you're inside you don't really notice. In isolation it sounds really good.

 

[plastic penguin]

It's a properly clever little engine that. 123bhp from a 1 litre is something that only a few years ago would have been unthinkable in a run of the mill production car.


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Indeed. It's a proper car that does 60-odd miles to the gallon (or litre).

 

[cue2]

There's a 150hp in the Focus. Even better.

 

[plastic penguin]

There's a 150hp in the Focus. Even better.

Not in my brothers. Certainly doesn't feel or sound like 150hp. Not sure of the engine spec but it's a 2013 plate. Very impressive nonetheless.

 

[symon]

My dad has a 1.6 Ecoboost Fiest ST, and it is great.

No where near the official MPG figures though in normal driving.

 

[Pud237]

I do wonder what the lifespan of the little 3 pot turbo charged engines will be.

Probably 'warranty period plus 25-50%'.

 

[alfabeat]

Isn't there a thread on Piston Heads about them going pop early on in their lives?

 

[cue2]

Just did a search on there and it doesn't seem so.
More discussion about torque curves and power per litre.

 

[Giorget2]

Those engines do not get anywhere near their claimed fuel consumption figures.

The 1.6 specifically has been bursting into flames in South Africa, due to oil leaks from the head.

 

[cue2]

The 1.6 petrol Kuga is very rare here but I haven't heard of them bursting into flames here in Europe.

 

[Giorget2]

It's not only the Kuga/Escape. It's been extended to the Fiesta ST as well now, and possibly others and other engine sizes.

Even if they have not been bursting into flames in Europe, I'd still be concerned about the fact (confirmed by Ford) that the engine fires are the result of oil leaking from cracks in the cylinder head. A cylinder head that cracks as a result of slight overheating (not warned about by the car's instrumentation) is not good!

 

[cue2]

Not aware of them either. Is the spec different and/or is it the climatic difference?

 

[Giorget2]

Somewhat old article, but illustrates the point. Nearly all "official" consumption figures are nonsense, but the smaller the engine, the larger the disparity between "official" and real-world consumption.

Smallest cars 'worse for fuel economy' - Telegraph

 

[Giorget2]

I see Ford in the USA has recently recalled all the 1.6 litre EcoBoosts as well, and some in Europe. Ford Recalls: Engines Can Catch Fire, Doors May Fly Open « CBS Boston

Australia as well. Ford Kuga 1.6 finally recalled over engine fires, Fiesta ST also affected

The head of Ford South Africa was replaced as a result of their poor response to this issue.

 

[Giorget2]

Indeed. It's a proper car that does 60-odd miles to the gallon (or litre).

These guys only got about 37 mpg when they tested the 123 bhp Focus EcoBoost in the real world. EQUA Fuel Economy Index | EQUA INDEX | Emissions Data Products

Very close to the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 petrol with 197 bhp, which got nearly 35 mpg.

I know which one would be nicer to drive! And they don't lie to you as much about fuel efficiency.