This family hatchback has a three-cylinder engine which produces 123bhp, apparently the Dagenham and Dunton Ford plants have given this model a turbocharger and direct fuel injection to allow it to offer the performance of a 1.6-litre engine, whilst still managing to deliver the low fuel expenses associated with a smaller engine.

We are told that the 1.0-litre Ford Focus EcoBoost will give you 56.5mpg and produce just 114g/km of CO2, there’s also another model on the horizon which delivers 99bhp, 58.9mpg and 109g/km of CO2.

In terms of pricing we’re not too sure whether you will be won-over by the 1.0-litre Focus, prices will start at £16,245, which seems high, but if you take into consideration the savings in road tax and fuel it may be a worthy purchase – you can find out a little more about the money you will save over at Telegraph.co.uk.

If you like the sound of this efficient engine we can reveal that it is also coming to the Ford C-Max, Grand C-Max and new B-Max in the near future, so don’t feel like you have to rush out and buy the new Focus for all the gas-guzzling benefits.

On one hand the savings in fuel and road tax suggest that buying this 1.0-litre Focus will be a wise investment, however on the other hand we are a little put off by the relatively high starting price. Some comments we have read suggest that the low engine size could result in the vehicle being highly stressed in certain conditions, which will in turn affect reliability and longevity, whilst others believe it won’t deliver anything near the 56.5mpg in day-to-day life.

What are your feelings towards the 1.0-litre Ford Focus? Let us know in the comments section below…

Ford had not announced which models will get the new 3-cylinder engine, but The Detroit Free Press believes that the Fiesta and the Focus are the most likely candidates. However, it seems that it will only be available for the U.S. models for now; at least it is good to see the country slowly moving away from those huge engines that drink the fuel like it was going out of fashion.

Having said that, the three-cylinder engine has been in the European market for sometime – although not any by Ford. We can still expect this new engine to be available throughout the world in the coming years, and it will be expected to produce as much power as a standard 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. What makes this so special is that it will not only be more fuel-efficient but also lighter as well.

It is not only down to weight though; the 8-speed transmission also helps to improve efficiency, as each gear change is done with almost seamless shifts. It does seem as though Ford still has a few tricks up its sleeves to offer an alternative to the hybrid.

James R. Healey from USA Today made a valid point when he said, “Europe is five years” ahead when it comes to most aspects of a vehicle. What he means by this is not putting an emphasis on big powerful engines, but rather how a car looks and offering greater fuel-efficiency. The 2011 Detroit Auto Show is proof of that.

One auto company leading the way is Ford, they have certainly taken the fight to their rivals by offering U.S. drivers what the Europeans have had for some time. Two cars that come to mind is the Fiesta and the Focus; yes the latter has been available to the U.S. for some time, but the design was very different to the European version.

All that has changed now, as the current U.S. spec Fiesta has the same look and feel of the one that those in the UK have been driving, and the new Focus will be released in North America and Europe at the same time, which is a first. Other American carmakers have slowly started to do the same, but it is only GM who is able to use their European franchise for design flairs, as they still own Opel and Vauxhall.

Do you prefer European styling over U.S.?

According to an article over on Autoblog written by Steven J. Ewing, the starting price for the base model is said to be $16,270, the $725 destination charge will need to be added to that price though.

The pricing details were found by some hard work looking around the Ford website, prices for all models were found on there; all expect the upcoming Focus ST. The top of the range Titanium Premium Package will end up costing $24,060 before other charges.

You can clearly see that prices have increased a bit over the current version, but this was to be expected. The worrying thing for Ford is that there are better value offers from the likes of Mazda and Toyota, we just hope that Ford have done enough to make the increase worth it.

Even though the new model is carrying a few extra pounds, there is an increase of 14 percent when driving on the highway. Do not think that it is all about fuel-efficient, along with a host of new features; it is a much quieter and smoother ride.

Keith Naughton from Bloomberg explains that the extra weight is due to not only touch- screen technology, but also extra insulation to deaden the sound of road noise. The new model is said to be larger in width and length to the current U.S. version, so will put it a lot closer to the Mondeo.

Ford hopes that by 2012 they will be able to shift at least 2 million Focus models this is certainly possible, as people are now more conscious on the amount of fuel that they use. Keep visiting, as we will have more cars from the 2010 Paris Motor Show throughout the day.

For those of you who plan to attended the show, then here is some information on maps for the event.

The long awaited 345 horsepower 2.5-liter five-cylinder RS500 produces a big hit of power over the current 305 horsepower RS, which itself is no slouch. Even with the Quaife limited-slip differential and Ford’s RevoKnuckle front suspension, that sort of power is going to be difficult to tame in front-wheel-drive. The standard RS Focus has a top speed of 162 mph and hits 62 of that in fewer than six seconds, so this RS500 should be a force to reckoned with although Ford is yet to release full spec details.

With a production range of 500, depicted by the serialized dashboard plaques, you will be lucky to see one. They will be deposited over Europe through 2011 with the UK getting the largest amount at 101 units. So if you want a piece of the action you’d better get on to your local dealer and place your order now, and if it’s just more information you desire then Ford is due to release it on Wednesday so check this space.

Source: Ford