The Ford Focus has gone mild-hybrid

Ford is on a mission, like most other mainstream car manufacturers, to electrify ALL THE THINGS. Because emissions. The all-electric Mach-E is due very soon, and in the next few years we’ll see a smaller Ford EV based on the same ‘MEB’ platform as Volkswagen’s ID3.

But in the meantime, we’re getting ‘electrified’ versions of existing models. So far the Transit, Puma, Kuga and Fiesta are all available with an electrified powertrain of some description.

Next comes the Focus. Ford has announced it’ll get the mild-hybrid 1.0-litre ‘EcoBoost’ motor already available in the Puma and Fiesta. The turbocharged three-cylinder uses a belt-driven integrated starter/generator (instead of a conventional alternator), which is linked to a small lithium-ion battery hidden under the front seats.

Said battery stores energy harvested from braking and coasting, then uses it to run the car’s systems and boost torque from the 1.0-litre (by up to 50 per cent at low rpms, or 15lb ft at full-load).

The mild-hybrid 1.0-litre has cylinder deactivation, as well as a bigger turbocharger and lower compression ratio than the standard engine. It comes with either 123 or 153bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox. The former starts at £23,355, and the latter £23,675. Both emit 116g/km of CO2 and claim 51.4mpg. Of course you can still get the 1.0-litre without all the mild-hybrid stuff, plus 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesels.

Besides the new engine, Ford has given the Focus a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and “FordPass Connect modem”, which receives and relays information about hazards on your journey, and lets you tap into your car with a special app.

We’ll let you know whether the mild-hybrid is any good just as soon as we get a go. In the meantime, click here to read our existing review of the Ford Focus.