DETROIT (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. will bring a tiny gas-stingy engine to the U.S. from Europe next year, challenging the fuel economy of current hybrid cars, a company official said Thursday.
The one-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine will be an option on at least one of the company's small cars, Joseph Bakaj, the company's vice president of powertrain engineering, said in an interview.
About half the size of the motor in the Focus now sold in the U.S., the engine could put pressure on hybrid and electric car sales because it competes with them on mileage but comes with a far lower price tag.
Ford would not say how much the new engine would cost when it becomes available next summer.
