The motoring landscape is changing rapidly. Not long ago, you wouldn't dare think of a 1-litre, three-cylinder engine in anything other than a pint-sized city car.
Now the European market is getting such an engine in its Ford Focus.
It's a trend called downsizing and it's the easiest way of reducing fuel consumption on the relatively unrealistic test cycle that determines emissions taxes and compliance with ever-stricter legislation.
According to these tests the new Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost models consume as little as 4.9 l/100km in a mixed cycle, translating into CO2 emissions of just 109g/km - remarkable for a petrol-engined car that size.
Luckily there doesn't seem to be a performance penalty, the high-output version of the engine matching the current 1.6-litre engine it replaces with 92kW on tap and 170Nm between 1400 and 4500rpm (or 200Nm on 'overboost').
You can thank turbocharging for that, although that consumption will inevitably rise when you use that boost.
Ford is also offering a lower-output 1-litre Ecoboost, which still offers a respectable output of 74kW.
At this stage, however, Ford South Africa has no plans to introduce the 1.0 Focus to South Africans, although its spokesperson did admit that we'll be able to sample the engine when the new Ecoboost mini-SUV hits our shores.
Ford's UK managing director, Mark Ovenden, is not fazed by potential customer reaction to such a small engine in a Focus: “Gone are the days when the number of cylinders dictates performance.
“This highly efficient, technically advanced powertrain is not only great fun to drive, but it delivers fuel economy improvements and ultra-low CO2 emissions which lead to real world cost savings for our customers.”