2014 Ford Fiesta Getting 1.0L EcoBoost Engine

Ford just announced ahead of the upcoming L.A. Auto Show that its 2014 Fiesta sub-compact will come with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine.

Critically acclaimed since its introduction in March, director of Ford global engineering Bob Fascetti pointed out that the brand’s new inline three-cylinder is actually its most powerful engine by displacement. With 123 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque, the motor already powers the European Focus. While that isn’t a lot of power, the Fiesta’s smaller size combined with the engine’s low-end turbocharged torque will offer roughly the same output as the current car with a 1.6-liter four cylinder.

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Set to go on sale next year as a 2014 model year, it will be the first North American car to get Ford’s latest and smallest EcoBoost engine. When that happens, Ford says it expects the Fiesta to get 40 mpg, making it the most fuel efficient non-hybrid car for sale in the U.S.

“Many customers would like the fuel efficiency of a modern diesel or a hybrid, but can’t stretch their budgets to cover the cost premium,” said Ford vice president of powertrain engineering Joe Bakaj. “That’s where the EcoBoost Fiesta fits in. It will offer a highly fuel-efficient alternative at a lower cost.”

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