​COLOGNE, Germany – The Focus powered by the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine began rolling off the assembly line this week in Saarlouis, Germany.

The Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost 100PS offers class-leading economy of 4.8l/100km (58.9mpg) 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 (56.5mpg) with CO2 of 114g/km.

“Production of the first Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost is an important milestone for Ford,” said Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO Stephen Odell. “Developing an engine this small and fuel efficient that still delivers good power and driving fun in a Focus-sized car would have seemed impossible just a few years ago.”

The new 1.0-litre 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-litre EcoBoost illustrates just how much Ford and the entire auto industry have been able to continually improve the internal combustion engine. The first generation Fiesta’s 957cc engine from 1976 was roughly the same displacement as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost.  The EcoBoost, however, delivers 64 per cent more power and 38 per cent lower fuel consumption.

The 1.0-litre 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.