Review of the new Ford Focus ECOnetic

Until somebody invents a car that runs on sea water or Liquorice Allsorts, the world's car makers look destined to wrestle with the big environment issue. While men in white coats beaver away behind the scenes on next generation clean propulsion technologies, models like Ford's Focus ECOnetic attempt to push the limits of what can be achieved with the good old internal combustion engine.

The status quo was good for the world's car manufacturers. They could sell us big cars with powerful engines which we'd pump full of fossil fuels. The world kept turning and everybody was happy. Things sailed along serenely like this for a good few decades but on the horizon, trouble was brewing. The environment issue crept up on the automotive industry. Warnings were ignored, action was avoided and now it looms over the bow like an iceberg the size of India. Fuel cells, hydrogen, biofuels, hybrids, none look like providing a silver bullet for the problem, at least not yet, so manufacturers have been forced to work with what they have. Ford's Focus ECOnetic is a good example of the kinds of short term solutions that the major brands have come up with.

The original version was quite effective with a combined fuel economy figure of 65mpg and a 115g/km return of CO2 but wasn't especially hi-tech, using little more than a retuned engine, skinnier tyres and sleeker aerodynamics, one reason why it wasn't that much greener than the standard 1.6-litre TDCi diesel model upon which it was based. The much improved ECOnetic model we're looking at here is a very different proposition. There's a start/stop system to cut the engine in traffic when not needed. There's also a regenerative braking function to capture energy that would otherwise be lost under deceleration or when coasting. Plus Ford's Eco Mode system can even help you become a more efficient driver. The result of all this is a CO2 figure that can be as low as 99g/km and a possible combined fuel economy figure of as much as 74.2mpg.

There are five-door or estate bodystyle options and, as before, it's all based on the most economical engine in the Focus range. The 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine is an advanced unit that's been available to Focus buyers for some time. It features mod cons like a common-rail multipoint fuel injection system, a variable geometry turbocharger, a dual mass flywheel and a transient torque over boost function which means it's fairly close to the cutting edge for 1.6-litre 4-cylinder diesels. The Ford engineers haven't tinkered with the engine to produce the ECOnetic model so it's the same as you'd get in a less green Focus. That means a 109PS output and the eco-friendliness of a diesel particulate filter. There's a powerful 240Nm of torque at 1,750rpm that rises to 260Nm with the benefit of over boost. The 0-60mph sprint takes 10.9s and top speed is 119mph. It means there's no straight line performance penalty for the green benefits the ECOnetic delivers.

".with 74.2mpg achievable on the combined cycle and a possible 99g/km emissions, running costs are very healthy indeed"

You also get the exemplary Focus driving dynamics which go further to discredit the assertion that green cars need to be dull. The pointy steering and supple suspension have become trademarks of the Focus brand and this car manages to strike a good compromise between its sporty side and general comfort and refinement. The Focus does, however, run on 195/65R15 low rolling resistance tyres of the type that while improving efficiency, have been shown to reduce levels of grip - particularly during wet weather braking situations. Like other Focus models, it also uses a special low viscosity transmission oil developed by BP for greater efficiency and faster shifting.

So the engine is mechanically standard and there's no electronic trickery going on behind the scenes. How can the Focus ECOnetic achieve its sparkling environmental performance? The answer is partly based around aerodynamics. Ford has taken the latest Focus shape, distinguishable by its trapezoidal air intake in the front bumper and elongated headlamps, and set about making it as slippery as a Teflon coated banana skin. The car rides 10mm lower at the front and 8mm lower at the rear. The under bumper skirt is reprofiled, blanking plates are inserted at the inside edges of the air-intake and there's a rear spoiler too. These small measures help the ECOnetic achieve a drag coefficient of 0.31 meaning the engine has to work less hard to move the ECOnetic along.

All these aerodynamic appendages have the happy side-effect of making the ECOnetic quite a sporty car to look at. The skirts and spoilers are precisely the sort of thing we're used to seeing on hot hatchbacks like the Focus ST. The thin tyres give the game away a little but ECOnetic definitely enhances the looks of the conventional Focus.

As for that start/stop system, well it works like other similar set-ups used by other manufacturers, shutting down the engine when the vehicle is at idle - at a traffic light, for example - and restarting it when the driver wants to move off, saving the fuel wasted while the vehicle is stationary. Ford reckon savings of around 10% in fuel consumption are possible, but if you can do without this, you can make a small saving yourself by opting out of the stop/start system: you'll still get 104g/km of CO2 and return around 70mpg on the combined cycle. That's because you do still get the Smart Regenerative Charging system that increases the alternator output when the vehicle brakes or decelerates. This converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric energy without having to use additional fuel. There's also something called 'Low Tension FEAD' that reduces the tension on the alternator belt for improved efficiency.

Of course, improving efficiency is as much about the driver as the car. To that end, this Focus offers 'Ford Eco Mode', a software application that is added to the instrument cluster to give the driver useable and realistic eco-driving advice. This system monitors major parameters relevant for optimal fuel consumption that can actively be influenced by altering driving behaviour. These parameters include gear shifting, anticipation (driving as consistently and smoothly as possible) and motorway driving (driving with the most efficient speed on motorways and country roads). In addition the system considers the percentage of cold-engine short trips. As a result of this monitoring process, Ford Eco Mode generates a driver profile with a scoring scheme for these driving parameters, and offers information on how to improve fuel economy over time. This ongoing process can be translated into driver advice that can help make the best of the vehicle's technology.

In terms of practicality, the Focus is up with the best that the Family hatchback sector has to offer. Space for passengers in the back is plentiful and there's a large well shaped boot staring back at you when you lift the tailgate. The latest cars have upped the anti in terms of trim materials and a certain classiness resounds through the cabin. Who'd have though going green could feel this plush? The Ford Focus ECOnetic is priced from around £16,000 in five-door hatch form and the Estate is available for around £850 more.

The trick to making car buyers take the green option is to make the green option preferable. Ford's Focus ECOnetic achieves this more effectively than most of the environmental specials that have cropped up in recent times. The first version wasn't a huge improvement on the standard model but this improved car is a big step forward. The green issue is a massive one at the moment and rather than jump aboard the hybrid or fuel cell bandwagons, Ford's short term strategy is to see how much it can squeeze from the old faithful internal combustion engine. On this evidence, there's life in the old dog yet.

TOP 5 FOCUS DEALS

The results below show the top FOCUS deals on buyacar

Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 115 Titanium 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £15,908 Read Focus Reviews	Save £3,937
Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi 115 Titanium 5dr Diesel Estate
Price £16,736 Read Focus Reviews	Save £4,209
Ford Focus 1.0 125 EcoBoost Titanium X 5dr Hatchback
Price £16,185 Read Focus Reviews	Save £4,560
Ford Focus 1.0 125 EcoBoost Titanium 5dr Hatchback
Price £14,869 Read Focus Reviews	Save £4,126
Ford Focus 1.0 125 EcoBoost Titanium 5dr Estate
Price £15,696 Read Focus Reviews	Save £4,399
VIEW MORE DISCOUNT FOCUS DEALS