2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Highly efficient new 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine helps the 154-mph Ford Focus ST achieve 32 mpg highway.

Reid Stewart - CleanMPG - July 13, 2012

The 2013 Ford Focus ST isn’t just fast, it’s frugal ;)

The Focus ST’s new 2.0L EcoBoost I4 is now certified at 32 mpg highway and in a Ford slight, better than its manual-equipped competition in the Volkswagen GTI and MazdaSpeed3.

Compared with the anemic previous-generation Focus, which last made 140 horsepower and 136 lb.-ft. of torque, the Focus ST gives up "only" :rolleyes: just 3 mpg on the highway but gains 112 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque for a total of 252 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft.

As another comparison, the base Focus' direct injected 2.0L engine makes 160 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque, but achieves as much as 40 mpg on the highway (SFE spec of course ;)).

EcoBoost rising

While Focus ST is the first I4 performance based EcoBoost engine, fuel-efficient EcoBoost powertrains are now a mainstay in Ford’s north american lineup in particular. Ford’s annual EcoBoost production will grow to nearly 1.6 million engines globally by 2013.

On the other end of the spectrum from the Focus ST’s 2.0L EcoBoost is the 1.0L EcoBoost currtently shod in the European Focus – Ford’s smallest, quietest engine ever – that arrives in one of the company’s U.S. small cars next year. Fiersta we hope?

Additional 1.6-, 2.0- and 3.5L EcoBoost engines are already available on Escape, Explorer, Edge, F-150, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor sedan and utility vehicles, and Taurus. EcoBoost offers up to a 15 percent reduction in CO2 versus larger-displacement, non-turbocharged engines.


Enjoy the eye-candy...

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Is there any reason on God's green earth you need 240hp/270ftlb in a Focus? Unless you are hitting the race track, I can't see why. The 1.6 Ecoboost seems like it would be in power/efficiency sweet spot for most drivers. I'd take the 1.0 of course. :D

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Well, you'd get a very nice pulse n gliiiiiiiiiiiiide from it. :D

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Same reason you need 305hp/300tq in an Impreza. Because Race Car!

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

I don't know about the 240hp, but I understand the appeal of a turbocharger if you live at high altitudes or cross high mountain passes. The altitude will suck the power right out of NA engines.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Last month I drove a rented Focus (base 160hp engine) on an 1100 mile trip over 15 mountain passes, topping out over 7000' and climbing a total of 35000'.

Obviously I didn't drive it hard most of the time or I wouldn't have averaged 42.1mpg, but I did put the hammer down a few times and it seemed quite fast to me, even up in the mountains.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

None whatsoever. But Gawd, what fun ! And as a guy that would hypermile it 97% of the time , it wouldn't be a TOTAL FSP. And of course , you can almost justify it by saying ,"Well,they don't give us the 1.0 Ecoboost or the diesel , so........"

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Wayne used the term "hot hatch" a few weeks ago when referring to the Elantra GT. This more befits the label.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Yeah , I wouldn't call the Elantra GT a "hot hatch". I would call it a "damned fine hatch", though. But I don't think it is in the same league as a highly-refined fwd European hatch like this (or any) Focus , from a pure performance standpoint.
If you actually "need" the perfomance, that is.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Heyyyy ... Any hatch that can reach 60 in < 15-seconds, can be driven down a mountain in a FAS at the PSL (or triple digits if need be), and looks as good as the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT does is a "Hot hatch" in my book ;)

Wayne

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

The v6 mustang :
31 mpg
50 more hp
5 seconds to 60 mph (vs focus st 6)
Regular gas instead of premium
Sans turbocharger
About $3,000 less


ADD:
The mustang is 300 lbs heavier, most likely has more drag


Soooo...

If you were to put 2.0 ecoboost in a Mustang, I'm thinking you'd get substantially worse performance and almost no difference in fuel economy.
AND it'd probably cost more to purchase AND more to operate (with premium fuel and turbocharger maintenance)

Ecoboost continues to un-impress me.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Where does it say the ST needs premium?

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

I don't have an official (Ford) source on the premium fuel, just various magazine articles. Likely it will be premium fuel "recommended" for best performance. My guess is that premium will have a bigger effect on power than mpg.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

Also worth noting ..

"Ecoboosting" a 2.0 gets you -6 to -8 mpg hwy (vs the 2.0 NA Focus)
"Ecoboosting" a 2.0 gets you -5 mpg city (vs the 2.0 NA Focus)

Maintenance wise you get the increased liability of
-- high rpm turbocharger
-- more delicate/ critical fuel injection
-- intercooler
-- high pressure fuel system
-- more heat under the hood

Basically, a lot more parts/plumbing operating under higher stress (pressure, heat), so a small leak (air/fuel) will likely show up in a bigger way vs a normally aspirated engine, and reduced options for finding independent shops to work on these as the vehicles age and problems arise. You'll almost have to go to the stealership with any engine problems.

Re: 2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway
 

The Taurus also achieves 32mpg hwy with the 2.0L Ecoboost, I think 250hp is plenty.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/2013-fo...2-mpg-highway/

"Ford has revealed EPA fuel-economy ratings for its refreshed Taurus equipped with the new-for-2013 turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. The big sedan nails a solid 32 mpg on the highway; in the city, the EcoBoost Taurus is rated for 22 mpg. Both city and highway figures are higher than the 19/29 earned by the front-wheel-drive V-6 Taurus. The sporty Taurus SHO also gets EcoBoost power, but in the form of a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 with 365 hp. That model is good for 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway.

The four-cylinder EcoBoost Taurus bests not only its six-cylinder siblings, but also several other cars in its class. Namely, the 2012 Chevrolet Impala—which tops out at 30 mpg highway—and the fuel-thriftiest Chrysler 300, which ekes out 31 mpg on the open road. The EcoBoost is the only Taurus that gets active grille shutters that close automatically at higher speeds to enhance the car’s aerodynamics."