Ford can rightly stake a claim to being the world’s premier small engine developer after the 1.0-litre Focus EcoBoost set 16 World Speed Records at the XERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.
Finland’s World Rally Championship star Jari-Matti Latvala joined eight motoring journalists from France and the U.S.A to drive the standard, road-registered Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost models in the tests which were conducted under official supervision from the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile.
Ensuring the tests were pure and the vehicles were unmodified, an official steward from the FFSA (Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile) selected the cars at random from Ford’s plant in Saarlouis, Germany and supervised the running-in of the drivelines.
Not only did the fuel-frugal Ford Focus’ set standing start acceleration and top speed records, they went on to set new global benchmarks in timed sessions lasting one, six, 12 and 24 hours.
“This little engine punches way above its weight when it comes to performance,” Latvala said. “The records prove the Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost can be lots of fun – as well as a very frugal car.”
Among the new world records set by the Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost were:
Record Average Speed
Standing start 1.0km 113.522km/h
Flying start 1.0km 176.168km/h
Highest average speed over 10kms 172.053kms
