Ford Focus Econetic driven

Ford’s gone green with the Focus Econetic, so you can put that order for a Toyota Prius on hold. Stick a pair of sill extensions and narrow tyres on a Focus, lower it, and you get a drag factor of 0.31 and a class-leading carbon output of 115g/km. It even comes with a natty little Econetic badge on the bootlid, too.

Class-leading CO2 figures for this Ford Focus Econteic? Tell me more.

This Focus makes no pretence at being a hot hatch. Ford’s after an entirely different sector of the market – although maybe not that different. Clearly it’s after people who want to show off, just in a different way.

You see, you could save yourself £250 and buy a Focus Style with the same engine: a particulate-filtered 109bhp diesel. You’d pump out slightly more CO2 (119g/km) and be slightly less frugal (62.7mpg rather than 65.6mpg) but you’d do so without feeling as self-conscious as the gawky-looking Econetic makes you feel.

So it’s no catwalk model then.

You’re right. Ford’s facelifted Focus looks a bit stuffy in the company of its S-Max and forthcoming Fiesta. And the skinny tyres, hubcaps and sill extensions only make this one look all the nerdier.

Click 'Next' below to read the rest of our Ford Focus Econetic first drive