SWEET P... ZEV; 2.3-liter Focus brings more driving fun to an already enjoyable lineup.

Not often do you get something for nothing or even almost nothing. But the 2004 Ford Focus is an exception. We lauded the car when Ford launched it in the United States for the 2000 model year, and we've continued to do so since. The Focus' combination of cost, steering and handling makes it one of our favorite compact cars this side of factory pocket rockets from Honda, Volkswagen and Ford's own SVT division. But since day one, we often wished for a more pow- erful, smoother engine option. Neither the 110-hp SPI base engine nor the 130-hp Zetec managed to keep pace (at least not the pace we wanted) with the car's fun, rewarding chassis.

Four years after launch, Ford stepped up to the plate. For a measly $115 (like we said, almost nothing) more than the cost of a 2.0-liter Zetec-equipped Focus, you can specify your car with Ford's Duratec version of the 2.3-liter I4 also available in Mazda's 6 and 3, as well as the revised 2005 Ford Escape. The Mazda engine produces more power and torque through variable cam timing, though. If you reside in one of the so-called green states (California, Maine, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont), the Duratec is the only available engine. Besides producing 15 extra horsepower and an additional 14 lb-ft of torque (peaking 250 rpm sooner) over the Zetec's 130-hp, 135-lb-ft engine, the Focus' 2.3 qualifies the car as a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle. (The Mazdas and Escape use non-PZEV-rated engines.) This means the car's emissions are equal to or less than the total powerplant emissions produced in order to recharge an electric car. Based on our track test results and owner input, the Duratec recharges our already strong enthusiasm for the entire Focus lineup.

"This is an incredibly smooth and powerful four-cylinder that emits a satisfy-ing growl from the engine bay when you punch it,'' says one owner.

Others agree. Several describe the engine as "a real jewel,'' and one driver was flat-out surprised by its performance. "I expected dull response, but found anything but,'' he said. "It really jumps out when you boot it, especially over 3000 rpm.''

Our track test results confirm such seat-of-the-pants impressions. With 3000 rpm on the tach, we drop-clutch launched our ZX3 hatchback test car from 0 to 60 mph in 8.52 seconds, 0.62 second quicker than we managed with the Zetec-powered hatch (AW, April 3, 2000). We also bettered our previous quarter-mile run, even though strong winds hampered our full-drag-strip blasts. Our best time of 16.68 seconds at 86.2 mph ...