[jmk]

Finnish 'start' program tested 1.6TDci Econetic Fiesta against the Fords incredible claims of reaching 3.2l/100km (~73mpg) on highway. While the reached result of 4.0l/100km (~59mpg) is very good, it's still quite far from the promised one. They averaged 84km/h and got 1001km range, stopping only once during the drive.

IS Video - Miten pitkälle eko-Fiesta kulkee?

 

[Mark Kleis]

Saw this on Facebook and thought it would be good to share...


"This red herring keeps popping up. We continue to address it and leave comments, but with 209 pages of comments on the BusinessWeek article, it keeps getting buried. Here are the facts:

1. The UK measures in Imperial gallons (larger).
2. The EPA cycle we measure on here in the U.S. is vastly different than the cycle measured in Europe.
3. The actual apples-to-apples comparison is more like 42-43 mpg.... Read More
4. The current demand for diesel fuel is low, yet prices are about in line with unleaded gasoline; if we drive up demand for diesel, it naturally follows that prices increase. When you add to that the factor of a more expensive engine (thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars to retool a plant or plants), you're adding to the cost of the vehicle.

So if you combine the notion of a more expensive car, more expensive fuel, and only a modest improvement in fuel economy, it's not likely that we'd be able to sell these profitably.

Scott Monty
Global Digital Communications
Ford Motor Company"

 

[jmk]

Saw this on Facebook and thought it would be good to share...
1. The UK measures in Imperial gallons (larger).
2. The EPA cycle we measure on here in the U.S. is vastly different than the cycle measured in Europe.
3. The actual apples-to-apples comparison is more like 42-43 mpg.... Read More

Humm, that was me roughly calculating the l/100km to mpg conversion using US gallons. Plus the 59mpg figure is from the test these guys performed; it's not any official test. IMHO differences between 'official' tests are well known, but I'd still bet this thing could get 44-48mpg EPA hwy rating.

 

[jmk]

Come to think of it, I would not be surprised if it could reach EPA 50mpg on the highway. It does better than Prius on the hwy and new Prius did reach 50.

 

[golf strom]

I too think that as typical estimates by European mfrs is on the very conservative side, and I also believe that around 50 mpg (USA) is not impossible.


Just last year Ford commented in the USA Today paper that it WAS going to build the ecodiesel engine alongside the gas engine in Mexico. I still believe that this will happen.

I hate hybrids for many reasons as they are far more complicated to produce (TWO ENGINES) and all the accessories that need to be used with it. ALSO HYBRIDS ONLY GET THE KIND OF HIGH MPGs WHEN DRIVEN IN AROUND TOWN CONDITIONS!!!!!!! While a DIESEL has SUPERIOR economy at all except flat out use of the gas pedal.

NO QUESTION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE DIESEL IS THE WAY TO GO....not the hybrid!!!!!

 

[FlashBastd]

The petrol engines are good engines, but aren't especially great on gas, the TDCi engines are much, much better. I drove a Focus wagon with a 1.6 TDCi engine, and it was great to drive and still returned around 47 MPG (imperial) in real world driving. I drove a similar Focus wagon in Germany with the 1.6 (non-VCT) gas engine and it was not only hard work, but also only achieved around 33 MPG (imperial).

 

[jmk]

I too think that as typical estimates by European mfrs is on the very conservative side, and I also believe that around 50 mpg (USA) is not impossible.

Why is that? As I said, Prius did get 50. This really does better than that hwy wise. Above mentioned Finnish guy also reached 59mpg (us), so EPA 50 can't be that far off.

 

[BTWaid]

I'd be willing to spend extra to get a TDi Fiesta. As it is, I've been hearing about a 49mpg Golf TDi in 2010. If Ford can't bring the diesel to the US, I may be buying a VW. I need the high mileage due to a longer than desired commute. We're not going to have sub $3 gas forever.

BTWaid

 

[golf strom]

I think Ford is using a poker face on this subject. Because I remember reading in USA Today about a year ago or so that a DIESEL engine would be built alongside the gas engine at the Mexican plant for US Fiesta consumption.


I would bet that the Diesel WILL show up in the USA. Not saying that it will be at exactly the same time as the gas engine but it won't be far behind, especially if gas prices climb near the time of launch.

 

[Marc]

Not saying that it will be at exactly the same time as the gas engine but it won't be far behind, especially if gas prices climb near the time of launch.

Little by little ...

 

[jmk]

I would bet that the Diesel WILL show up in the USA. Not saying that it will be at exactly the same time as the gas engine but it won't be far behind, especially if gas prices climb near the time of launch.

Possible, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting. Currently they seem to be doing everything they can to belittle the benefits of the diesel for the US market.

But hey, with a little luck I'm getting mine on Friday. 1.6TDci Titanium with most of the good stuff in.