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.

Sensibly, the Ford Focus ECOnetic takes the most economical engine in the Focus range as its starting point. 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. There's a choice of power outputs so buyers pick either the 89bhp version or get 108bhp and a diesel particulate filter. With the 108bhp model, you still get 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 117mph. It means there's no straight line performance penalty for the green benefits the ECOnetic delivers.

"?with 65mpg achievable on the combined cycle and 115g/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 largely 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.

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 £15,795 in five-door hatch form and the Estate is available for £850 more. It costs £500 to upgrade from the 89bhp 1.6-litre TDCi model to the 108bhp derivative and all models come with a five-speed manual gearbox. The ECOnetic is, therefore, around £500 cheaper than equivalent Zetec models so Ford isn't charging the earth for its eco-warrior.

There are those who would point out that the ECOnetic is hardly a major environmental breakthrough and charging the earth (so to speak) for a few bits of plastic wouldn't really be on. It's true that the Focus ECOnetic isn't going to save the planet single-handed but it's emblematic of a trend in the wider industry for manufacturers aiming to get the best environmental performance out of the internal combustion engine until a better solution presents itself. Ford's ECOnetic, Volkswagen's BlueMotion and BMW's EfficientDynamics programmes all take this holistic approach to improving economy and emissions. Crucially, they offer customers real world financial savings with no tangible penalty in terms of performance or practicality. Car buyers are far more likely to take up the environmental baton if the downsides are minimised in this way.

The modifications present on the Focus ECOnetic boil down to combined fuel economy of 65mpg for the 108bhp car, accompanied by emissions of 115g/km. These figures are competitive with some of the most environmentally-friendly cars on the market including petrol/electric hybrids. Not bad for a Focus with a body kit.

The 1.6-litre TDCi engine was very efficient to begin with. Conventional Focus models using the 108bhp unit are capable of 59mpg combined economy and 117g/km emissions, so you could argue that ECOnetic trim doesn't actually add a huge amount. The thing is that it doesn't take very much away either. You loose none of the practicality of the Focus and driving dynamics suffer only marginally. The ECOnetic body kit arguably makes the car look better too. If you thought going green meant making sacrifices, it might be time to think again.

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. Aerodynamic modifications give the car a lower, sportier stance while also having the desired effect on fuel economy. The best qualities of the Focus hatch, such as its interior space and sharp handling, are retained but with 65mpg achievable on the combined cycle and 115g/km emissions, running costs are very healthy indeed.

In terms of economy, the difference between a Focus ECOnetic and a standard Focus model using the same 1.6-litre TDCi engine isn't huge. This means that if you're unsure about the looks or the less grippy tyres on the ECOnetic, a standard car will make more sense. Ford has priced the ECOnetic competitively, however, and this, along with its lower running costs, makes it a compelling option in the Focus line-up. 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 4 FOCUS DEALS

The results below show the top FOCUS deals on buyacar

	Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic 5dr Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £210	Saving £3,446	Price £12,599
	Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic 5dr [110] [DPF] Hatchback
	ETR	Mthly £218	Saving £3,560	Price £12,985
	Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic 5dr [110] [DPF] Estate
	ETR	Mthly £229	Saving £3,753	Price £13,642
	Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Econetic 5dr Estate
	ETR	Mthly £222	Saving £3,639	Price £13,256

typical 10.66% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000