Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 vs Ford Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125 : which one is faster?
0-100 km/h, 400 m, 1000 m, top speed — physics simulation calibrated on 7 measures.
Simulation de performance
Race simulation at real speed
CONFIDENCE 91%Calibrated physics simulation: SCx via VMax, power curves, Crr via WLTP, drivetrain losses. Manufacturer 0-100 is the calibration target. Confidence 91 %.
Leaf 40kWh ZE1 vs Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125: chronicle of a drag race at 194 km/h
The launch: 0 to 100 km/h
Off the line, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 hits 100 km/h in 8.05 s versus 10.23 s for the Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125. The instant torque of 320 Nm from the electric motor makes the difference. At this point, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 leads by 2.18 s and sits roughly 20 m ahead.
From 100 km/h to 400 metres
At 200 metres, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 is doing 116 km/h against 106 km/h for the Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125. The gap is 1.00 s. The challenger starts to claw back ground.
At 400 metres standing start, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 crosses the line in 16.03 s versus 17.47 s. The 1.43 s gap represents roughly 51 m of track — a gap visible to the naked eye.
Beyond 400 metres: top speed comes into play
Past 400 metres, the gap narrows. The Leaf 40kWh ZE1 maxes out at 144 km/h while the Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125 keeps accelerating towards 194 km/h. At 600 metres, the gap is down to 1.60 s from 1.43 s at 400 metres.
At 1,000 metres, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 finishes in 31.05 s versus 31.88 s, with just 0.84 s to spare. The Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125 fails to fully close the launch gap.
What the numbers don’t tell you
Electronically capped at 144 km/h, the Leaf 40kWh ZE1 never reaches its natural aerodynamic ceiling in this duel. That’s not a physical limit of the motor — it’s a deliberate manufacturer decision, typically tied to standard-fit tyre ratings or model-range positioning.
Instant electric torque gives an advantage off the line. The higher top speed of the combustion engine gives an advantage over longer distances. The distance at which one catches the other depends on the top speed differential.
In European road use (130 km/h max), both vehicles reach the legal speed limit in under 17.18 seconds. The 2.18 s difference in 0 to 100 km/h is mostly felt in motorway merging and overtaking.
Nissan Leaf 40kWh ZE1 has a clear edge over the Ford Focus EcoBoost MHEV 125 to 100 km/h. This difference is clearly noticeable in spirited driving and widens on standing starts.