Ford Bringing 1.0L, 3-Cylinder Engine to U.S. In 2014 Fiesta

Today, Ford confirmed what insiders have been predicting for months, that their 1.0L three-cylinder EcoBoost engine will finally come to the United States next year.

Ford had hinted that the small, efficient engine would be available in the 2014 Focus, but on Monday announced that it will instead be inside the smaller 2014 Fiesta for about $15,200. EcoBoost engines combine direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging with small displacement to return both power and efficiency.

Engines this small just simply don’t make their way stateside, but in the never-ending search for fuel economy, Ford feels the time is right. And they may be rewarded with an industry first.

With a small engine equipped in such a small car, Ford says they expect the 1.0L Fiesta to achieve the best non-hybrid MPG rating in America. Currently, the most efficient non-hybrid available is the Scion iQ with a 36/37 MPG rating. The current Ford Fiesta achieves 29/39 MPG, so could the 1.0L Fiesta reach the 40 MPG plateau?

That doesn’t mean the 1.0L Fiesta will suffer to pick up speed. Journalists that tested the 1.0L EcoBoost in a European Focus have reported impressive pickup for such a small powerplant, and a downright fun driving experience. The 2014 Fiesta should be no exception, equipped with 123 horsepower and 148 lb.-ft of torque.

Ford has been pushing its EcoBoost engines for several years as the heat increased on American automakers to produce more efficient cars. Ford has sold more than 520,000 EcoBoost engines globally, and the 1.0L EcoBoost is growing increasingly popular. The B-MA, C-MAX and Mondeo all use it around the world and the three-cylinder may find its way into more U.S. models soon as the company sprints toward the 54.5 fleetwide MPG CAFE standards by 2025.

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