Ford’s Euro-legal 1.0-liter EcoBoost racer is faster around the ‘Ring than a Ferrari Enzo?

By Nick Jaynes Published March 22, 2013

Ford FF1 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Whoa Nelly! Ford has done it again and built another great car we’ll probably never see in the U.S.

It’s called the FF1. It’s powered by the 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine and it’s street legal – well, at least in Europe.

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The version Ford will sell the European public will have 123 horsepower. Ford has a 202 horsepower version it’s been testing though. This highly tuned FF1 will round the Nurburgring in seven minutes and 22 seconds. That’s faster than the Pagani Zonda and the Ferrari Enzo.

Try not to get too excited, though. The FF1 doesn’t meet U.S. airbag safety standards, as it has none. So it’s unlikely the little track day car will make it Stateside, unless sold exclusively for the track like the Mustang Cobra Jet.

We’d love to see it in North America, though. Ford says if drivers can keep their foot out of the throttle, the FF1 is capable of 80 miles-per-gallon, which would make it green car by anyone’s standards.

We’re disappointed Ford has no U.S. plans for the little FF1. With the new “One Ford” global mission, we figured the days of European-only performance models were over.

Check back closer to Goodwood’s July kick-off for info on the FF1 and more. Here’s a photo we snapped at Ford’s CES display in January:

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Former Automotive Editor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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