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" LONDON \u2014 Even though the 2008 Ford Focus sitting at your local dealership is wearing relatively recent clothes, it&amp;#039;s actually quite old underneath those snazzy threads. In Europe, the Focus rides on Ford&amp;#039;s newer, more advanced C1 architecture shared with Volvo and Mazda. In the U.S., the platform dates back to the very first Focus\u2014it&amp;#039;s going on nine years old now. Still, thanks to high gas prices, Focus sales back in the States remain strong.   Model sales for Ford here across the pond, meanwhile, would best be described as heroic. Over the last decade, through the two generations and over 5 million units moved, the Ford Focus has been the greatest family hatchback this continent has ever seen. And it still is. Rivals might equal the Focus in individual qualities, but none offer the same combination of ride, handling, sheer convenience and value.   Part of this family chariot&amp;#039;s success is its Zelig-like trick of adapting to changing times. Now, as Europe has started to count the cost of each gram of carbon dioxide, Ford has launched the carbon-counting Focus ECOnetic. Equipped with a 1.6-liter diesel and a particulate filter, the Econetic is capable of an astounding 52.2 mpg in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) combined. In a week of mixed motoring\u2014including two 200-mile journeys and a daily London commute\u2014the Focus returned an overall consumption of 42.8 mpg. Whoa.  The Specs  Unlike its eco rivals such as the VW Golf BlueMotion (with which we hit 46 mpg), the Focus ECOnetic has followed a conservative route under the close watch of Ford. Eschewing long-geared differentials and taller transmission ratios, Ford has restricted itself to optimizing the 108-hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque engine for economy. Engineers have also fitted low-rolling-resistance tires and lowered the ride height to improve aerodynamics. The result helps this Focus top out at 115 mph and cover 60 mph in 10.9 seconds. Oh yeah, it also produces just 115 grams of CO\u00B2 per kilometer (about 0.6 miles).   Why worry so much about carbon emissions? Well, aside from the obvious, there&amp;#039;s a range of increasingly punitive carbon taxes here in the UK. This eco-friendly Focus will pay just \u00A335 ($70) of annual road tax compared to the \u00A3155 a year demanded of its identically specified but conventional sister. There are also very lucrative benefits for this fuel-sipping Focus if you run its costs through your company&amp;#039;s books, not to mention the savings on the eye-watering cost of diesel over here\u2014about $5.1 per gallon.  The Drive  One advantage of Ford&amp;#039;s conservative approach is that there is little in terms of over-the-top &amp;quot;green&amp;quot; glitz and gimickry to identify the ECOnetic Focus. No blanked-off grilles or garish fuel-miser stickers\u2014just a discreet badge on the hatchback. Inside, too, there&amp;#039;s the standard Focus interior\u2014comfortable seats covered in tasteful fabrics. The instruments are clear, concise and only slightly overstyled compared to the German opposition from VW. There&amp;#039;s space in the trunk and in the rear seats, plus plenty of cubbyholes and the almost de rigueur requirements of air conditioning, aluminium wheels and, of course, power to the locks, steering, mirrors and front window lifts\u2014all as standard equipment.   Start the engine, and there&amp;#039;s a muted, rattling idle as the exhaust-gas recirculation system tries to choke the engine. The Focus ECOnetic is no worse than its rivals in this respect\u2014in fact, it&amp;#039;s quite noisy at first. One touch we find charming is the instant economy digital readout on the dashboard, which switches from miles per gallon to grams of fuel per hour when the vehicle is idling.   While first gear is no different from a conventional Focus, the 1.6-liter diesel hasn&amp;#039;t got a lot of flywheel effect, and you need to get some revs on the clock before moving off\u2014or else it&amp;#039;s easy to stall. Once underway, however, the little engine is a revelation. Fast and responsive\u2014especially at high speeds\u2014it&amp;#039;s hard to believe this is an economy car. With only five rather than six forward gears, it looks as though the Focus has been the victim of the cold dead hands of Ford&amp;#039;s accountants. But in reality, the little oil burner is more than capable of accelerating hard from 1500 rpm in each gear, including fifth.   Like all Focuses in Europe, the handling is exemplary, even on these low-rolling-resistance tires. Turn-in proved pin-sharp on our extended drive, with a communication to the driver that inspires enormous trust and confidence. The ride is wonderfully compliant, thanks to the independent rear suspension, without being overly harsh or bumpy. You notice it most on roads that have been damaged by frost and snow, where the Focus traverses the bumps and lumps with noticeably more aplomb that its rivals.  The Bottom Line  With a published price of \u00A316,845 ($33,000) with the particulate filter, the ECOnetic Focus is officially about \u00A3500 cheaper than its more conventional Focus counterparts. But oversupply and discounting of more conventional Focus models means you can get into a standard-issue Focus over here for about \u00A32000 less than the price of the ECOnetic.   Even in high-gas-price Europe, the sums don&amp;#039;t add up, and there isn&amp;#039;t enough fuel consumption\u2014or tax benefit\u2014to justify buying the ECOnetic-badged car. Still, this Focus does deliver exemplary fuel economy, and it&amp;#039;s actually fun to drive. Same can&amp;#039;t really be said about the Prius, now can it? "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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