2013 Ford Focus ST Achieves Class-Leading 32 MPG Highway

[atlaw4u]

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" 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...

[CRT1]

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.

[PaleMelanesian]

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

[RichXKU]

Originally Posted by CRT1

Is there any reason on God's green earth you need 240hp/270ftlb in a Focus?

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

[Jay]

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.

[WriConsult]

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.

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

Is there any reason on God's green earth you need 240hp/270ftlb in a Focus?

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........"

[aca2983]

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

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

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

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.

[xcel]

Originally Posted by aca2983

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

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