Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce its smallest engine ever by 2013 as part of the industry's race to improve fuel economy.

Ford said Thursday it's working on a one-liter, three-cylinder engine that will be available in small cars globally. Ford didn't say which cars will get the engine.

The engine has Ford's EcoBoost technology, which uses turbocharging, direct injection and other technologies to boost performance. Ford says the EcoBoost three-cylinder will have the same power as a four-cylinder but will be much more fuel-efficient.

Three-cylinder engines are common in Europe and Asia, but the only one currently available in the U.S. is in the Smart Fortwo. The Fortwo has a 70-horsepower engine — the same as some snowmobiles — and gets 41 miles per gallon on the highway.