The 2015 Ford Mustang will be loaded up with a number of high-tech gadgets and gizmos to help this pony car gallop into the 21st century. But Ford is working hard on a number of other technologies that Mustang buyers may not be so interested in, like hybrid drivetrains. But some of the projects Ford is involved in are pretty damn cool, and could mean keeping more money in your wallet when it comes to fill up.

Jay Leno recently hosted a 2009 Ford Focus fitted with an experimental hybrid system built by tech company Ricardo. The low-cost HyBoost hybrid system allows for the use of a smaller engine, with just as much power, coupled with an electronic turbocharger. Sounds pretty sweet, but what’s it all mean?

Ricardo used one of Ford’s 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engines in place of the 2.0 liter four-banger the Focus came with. Though a potent little engine, the EcoBoost engine was still down about 20% on power compared to the engine it replaced. Ricardo makes up for that lack of power by using electricity to spool the turbocharger while the small engine is still building momentum. This all but eliminates turbo-lag, and drastically improves fuel economy as well.

Just how much better is the fuel economy? According to Ricardo, the Focus that was once good for 32 MPG on the highway can now manage a Prius-rivaling 55 MPG, without sacrificing any performance. Beyond better fuel economy though, this technology could give Ford’s EcoBoost engines an advantage over other competitors.

Turbocharged engines are all the rage, this technology could eventually work its way into the Mustang as a means of improving fuel economy and performance, and without much added cost. Ricardo reps say the system would add just $1,100 to the cost of a new car. We’re not mathematicians, but we’re pretty sure the gas you saved would pay for the extra cost pretty quickly.