Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost sets 16 world speed records

The new Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost has set 16 world speed records in two days of testing at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine.

Who’d have thought that a little 3-cylinder engine in a Ford Focus could ever be an appealing prospect?

But it’s become very clear that Ford’s little boosted 3-pot is quite the star and, for almost anyone who does a normal mileage, by far the choice over a diesel-engined Focus.

Now Ford has rammed that point home over two days of testing at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France, where the 1.0 litre EcoBoost Focus took an astonishing 16 world speed records in the sub-1.0-litre class.

Ford used three bog-standard Focus straight off the production line at Saarlouis and the whole operation was overseen by an official from the FFSA  (Fédération Française du Sport Automobile). Sensibly, Ford also enlisted the services of WRC driver Jari-Matti Latvala as well as eight journalists from France and the US to get a ‘balanced’ drive.

Records the 125 PS Focus beat included a whole heap of standing start records and highest average speed records for anything from 10 Km to 1,000 miles. The full list is:

So remember when you’re off to order your new Focus that unless you’re doing at least 15-20k miles a year you’re much better off with the zesty little 3-pot and its 16 world speed records and 56.5mpg than you are with a turbo diesel.

Or you could just throw caution to the wind and buy a new Focus ST.

By Cars UK