Next Ford Focus could net over 40 MPG

By: Jeremy Korzeniewski

Even if the Lincoln Concept C from the Detroit Auto Show never makes it to production, its powertrain could find its way into FoMoCo's small cars. While the first application of Ford's new EcoBoost series of engines will be a 3.5L V6 in the 2009 Ford Flex, the technology might make the most sense in a much smaller and more efficient package. For instance, in the Lincoln Concept C, the 1.6-liter turbocharged, direct injected four-cylinder offers up 180 hp and an equal amount of torque while returning a (theoreticall) 43 mpg on the highway. This powerplant could be mated with Ford's PowerShift dual clutch gearbox in an uplevel version of the next-gen Focus subcompact that's expected to debut in 2010, offering a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency over the outgoing 2.0L four.