The automakers are doing everything they can to reduce our oil dependency and their efforts are starting to pay off, as affordable, truly fuel-efficient models are now available to consumers. A good example of this is the Ford Focus ECOnectic sipping an exemplary 3.5 litres per 100 clicks.
The Blue Oval brand equipped the car with a 1.6-litre Duratorq turbodiesel putting down 103 hp, modified somewhat to maximize fuel economy.
Extremely low rolling resistance tires, a revised axle ratio, the addition of a start/stop system, regenerative braking and exemplary aerodynamics allowing for a drag coefficient of just 0.295 do the rest.
The Focus ECOnectic will hit markets in 2012, but – and here’s the catch – only in Europe. Too bad for Ford, because diesel engines seem to be moving up in the world and one of the ECOnectic’s main rivals, the Chevrolet Cruze, will soon be offering North American buyers this very option.
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| Photo: Ford |
The Blue Oval brand equipped the car with a 1.6-litre Duratorq turbodiesel putting down 103 hp, modified somewhat to maximize fuel economy.
Extremely low rolling resistance tires, a revised axle ratio, the addition of a start/stop system, regenerative braking and exemplary aerodynamics allowing for a drag coefficient of just 0.295 do the rest.
The Focus ECOnectic will hit markets in 2012, but – and here’s the catch – only in Europe. Too bad for Ford, because diesel engines seem to be moving up in the world and one of the ECOnectic’s main rivals, the Chevrolet Cruze, will soon be offering North American buyers this very option.