Vauxhall's tiny newcomer engine has only three cylinders, but thanks to a turbocharger it coughs up more power and torque than many normal 1.6-litre equivalents.

It’s set to debut in Vauxhall’s funky Adam supermini, although the new engine will be display-only when it emerges at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Vauxhall is claiming efficiency figures of 99g/km and up to 62mpg, although the fuel economy figures can be notoriously hard to match. The company has, at least, taken significant steps to make the new engine as quiet and refined as possible.

It will be linked to a new six-speed gearbox that shaves 30% off the previous version’s weight, which helps to increase efficiency.

Ford has already proved the worth of a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol with its EcoBoost unit, which has sold in the tens of thousands since its release into cars like the Fiesta, Focus and B-Max.