Ford Fiesta ST Concept
A Ford exec has revealed that the automaker’s latest three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which displaces just 1.0 liter, could be tuned to deliver as much as 177 horsepower.
The tiny three-cylinder engine will debut in the Fiesta and Focus models in Europe later this year, before finally reaching the U.S. sometime next year, though only with 123 horsepower.
But according to Gunnar Herrmann, the vehicle line director for the Focus, up to 177 horsepower was possible.
Autocar reports that Ford is testing the engine with a small electric supercharger working in conjunction with a turbocharger. The British magazine also reports that this 177-horsepower variant could be used in a sporty version of the Focus to bridge the gap between the base model and the 250-horsepower Focus ST.
Eventually, Ford hopes to replace its entire naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter engine range with the smaller 1.0-liter EcoBoost, and now it appears some turbo four-cylinders may be replaced as well.
