The Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost

If someone said to you that you could soon buy a Ford Focus with 1.0 litre engine, you would probably wonder if they were mad.

But the Ford Focus 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine makes a lot of financial sense, especially when you consider the cost of diesel over petrol (8-10p a litre difference).

The 125ps unit offers the same power output as the 1.6 naturally aspirated engine, yet it delivers a combined fuel figure of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions are 114g/km. There is a 100ps version that delivers a combined fuel figure of 58.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km.

The 100PS and 125PS version will both qualify for zero vehicle excise duty in the first year and then £20 (100PS) and £30 (125PS) per annum thereafter.  Compared with the current 1.6-litre 105PS and 125PS engines, this represents savings of £115 in year one and £95 and £85 respectively in subsequent years.

Company car drivers will see benefit-in-kind rates of only 13 per cent in 2012/2013 equating to savings on a Focus Zetec of up to £32 per month at the 40 per cent tax level versus the current 1.6-litre 105 and 125PS engines.