Ford Focus Ecoboost 1.0T

[FB.]

On our recent car-buying adventures, we encountered a new generation of cars with small engines around 1.0L with a turbocharger.

Apparently the idea is that the engine achieves low road tax and good fuel economy at low speeds, but uses a turbocharger for bursts of up to 30 seconds in order to accelerate quickly.

Apparently these 1.0T engines can deliver the torque and horsepower of roughly a 1.6 engine, although to do so the turbo will be increasing the fuel consumption well above that of a regular 1.0 engine.

I notice the new Renualt Captur uses a similar idea, with a 0.9T engine.

I'm a bit old-fashioned and sceptical at the moment (the technology has only been in use for a couple of years) but if they're proven to be reliable and economical when we next need a car I will consider them - but I'll let others take the lead for now.

So what do you make of these engines - or do you have a car with one of these engines and have any comments to make?

[Veggielot]

They do sound great and to be to good to be true. However if the likes of Ford and Renault are selling them then they must be pretty sure about the technology. However I am like you still have some doubts and look forward to see how they work in every day use.

[FB.]

if the likes of Ford and Renault are selling them then they must be pretty sure about the technology.

I thought Honda were supposed to be the engine and reliability experts nowadays, but the Japanese and the Germans don't offer many Eco options at the moment.
So have the American and French car industries grabbed a valuable technological advantage, or have the Japanese and Germans made a wise move by letting someone else try it and take the risk first?

If I had to bet on the skills of American+French engineers or Japanese+German engineers, I'd go with the Japanese and Germans.

[Glutton4...]

I'd go with an old Landy and used chip fat! The only downside, is that you keep getting the urge to eat chips when you smell the exhaust!

[The Cobra]

My step-sister has just bought one of the 1.0T Focus. The car is stunning. If it saves money on road tax and fuel (and insurance) it would be good enough for me

[arpoet]

I got my daughter-in-law a skoda Octavia estate TSI (11 plate) with a 1.2 turbo petrol engine. It goes like manure off a shovel and for a big car give good mpg round town. lots of spec and bags of room.

[FB.]

I'd go with an old Landy and used chip fat! The only downside, is that you keep getting the urge to eat chips when you smell the exhaust!

Add a bit of animal fat and it'll smell like a kebab van. Or a bit of fish oil and it'll smell like a chipshop.

You'll have to keep stopping at service stations for a snack because smelling the emissions will make you feel hungry all the time.