Next-generation Ford Focus could top 40 mpg with 4-cylinder EcoBoost

Some of you may have liked the new Lincoln C Concept and some of you may have thought that it’s just plain weird looking. However, besides hinting at a new segment that Lincoln may compete in sometime in the near future, the Lincoln C Concept signals at a new powertrain for the next-generation Ford Focus that could boost fuel-economy by as much as 23 percent.

The current U.S. Ford Focus is powered by a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine that allows for a fuel-economy of up to 35 mpg. The Lincoln C is powered by a 180-hp, 1.6L, 4-cylinder EcoBoost that will return an estimated 43 mpg on the highway when mated to a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The Lincoln C is built on the Focus’s next-generation platform. According to Automotive News, while Ford has yet to comment on the fuel-economy of the next Focus, executives say that they have serious intent to use the powertrain from the Lincoln C.

The next-generation Ford Focus will arrive in late 2010.

Lincoln C Concept: