British Motor Show: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, 63.5 mpg (US)!
Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Ford
Click the Fiesta ECOnetic for a high res gallery
At the British Motor Show in London, Ford has unveiled the most fuel efficient version yet of the new Fiesta, the ECOnetic model. Like the Focus and Mondeo ECOnetic models, this Fiesta has been tweaked to minimize fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In this case the car is equipped with a 1.6L diesel and the usual mix of closing off openings in the front to reduce the drag. A pair of small air deflectors on the trailing edge of the wheel wells helps to control airflow coming off the back of the car. Revised engine calibrations, a taller final drive ratio and low rolling resistance tires yield a combined mileage rating of 65.3 mpg (US) on the EU test cycle. Carbon dioxide emissions are measured at 98 g/km meaning that the Fiesta is exempted from some road taxes in the UK and elsewhere. Unfortunately we probably won't get this version when the Fiesta debuts here in about 18 months. The Ford press release is after the jump.
[Source: Ford]
Press Release
BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW, London, 22 July, 2008 – Ford's new ultra-frugal Fiesta was unveiled at the British International Motor Show today, completing the company's small, medium and large car ECOnetic line-up.
The wraps came off the 76.3mpg Ford Fiesta ECOnetic – Britain's greenest family car with CO2 emissions of 98g/km. On sale from £11,800 by the end of this year, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic joins existing Mondeo and Focus ECOnetic models.
Ford Focus ECOnetic has led a 38 per cent sales surge in the first half of this year generated by Ford's sub-120g/km CO2 vehicles – all powered by Dagenham's 1.4/1.6 TDCi engines. Earlier this month the sub-140g/km Ford Mondeo ECOnetic went on sale.
Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
The Fiesta ECOnetic becomes the most fuel efficient new five-seater family car in the UK. With CO2 emissions at under 100g/km, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is zero rated both for road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) and for the 'showroom tax' element of VED introduced for the first year of ownership in this year's Budget.
Aerodynamic body styling, lowered suspension, low resistance tyres and low friction oil all help the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic achieve ultra low CO2 emissions. Additionally a green shift indicator in the instrument cluster highlights the optimal point to change gear to maximise fuel economy.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Many drivers are prepared to be green - but still want comfort, performance and an affordable price. ECOnetic answers that demand.
"Ford's ECOnetic range, complete with new Fiesta, delivers style with a green conscience."
Fiesta ECOnetic – what's different?
- Aerodynamic rear air deflectors
- Lowered suspension
- Optimised rolling resistance tyres (175/65R14) and low friction oil
- Green shift indicator light
- Modified engine calibration
- Transmission final drive ratio changed from 3.37 to 3.05
ECOnetic technical spec
| 1.6 Fiesta TDCi |
|
Urban (mpg) |
Extra urban |
Combined |
Price |
|
3-door |
|||||
|
90PS |
|
61.4 |
88.3 |
76.3 |
£11,845 |
|
5-door |
|||||
|
90PS |
|
61.4 |
88.3 |
76.3 |
£12,445 |
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
7-23-2008 @ 9:56AM
AlexNC said...
That is great to see some American car makers pushing the envelope. Now, hopefully we can get that car here in the US as soon as possible. They would sell like crazy right now if they were available. 62 mpg for god sake. Most mopeds don't even get that!!!
Is Ford back?
Reply
9-09-2008 @ 5:56PM
Eric said...
No, Ford is not back. In fact they're stupid for only marketing this car in Europe just because they would have to make it passable for U.S. Diesel rules.
Screw Ford.
7-23-2008 @ 10:30AM
Randy said...
I wish we could get this car here also.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 11:54AM
Winsor said...
It is misleading to quote European mileage figures even when converted from metric figures. The way they test mileage there results in much higher figures than our system which is closer to real world mileage. For instance there were frequent statements about the Jetta TDI getting 60 mpg in the European test cycle, but EPA figures give it 30/41, just a little bit better than a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 11:55AM
tchamp said...
Lets start calling this blog "autoblogUK" or "autoblogEurope"
I'm honestly sick and tired of seeing all these posts for cars in the UK or Europe. Who the hell cares? What is the percentage of readers in the US vs UK/Europe? Start posting stuff that relates to your readers for crying out loud.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 1:52PM
gholland said...
1) This story is about the Ford ECOnetic; 2) The ECOnetic is a "version" of the new Ford Fiesta; 3) Ford has already confirmed that the Fiesta will hit the U.S. in 2010. Therefore, it is entirely plausible that the U.S. will get some variant of the Fiesta ECOnetic.
7-24-2008 @ 9:15AM
Mirko said...
I'm European. Is there a "Americans only" sign somwhere in this blog?
7-23-2008 @ 1:36PM
CMiller said...
tchamp,
This posts do relate to us. It shows the american people that the cars they do want exist right now. If you don't read about these cars and don't know about them, then you would think that the automakers are not capable of producing the cars that we want. The more people that know about these cars, then the more they will demand them.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 1:51PM
BlackCanary said...
Why would this version not come to the US and Canada? There is no explanation given, does anyone know? I cant imagine why Ford would pass on the opportunity to sell a nice little car that gets great MPG without the need for diesel or hybrid complications, both adding to cost.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 2:09PM
Brent said...
Emissions!?
7-23-2008 @ 1:56PM
CMiller said...
It is a diesel in this car BlackCanary.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 1:58PM
jeffzekas said...
I spent this summer in the UK and Paris. Why do European cars matter? 1. They have leading edge technology (which can't always be said for US cars) 2. The Europeans have many years of experience squeezing more miles per gallon out of their vehicles 3. Many of us CAME from the UK and Europe, and these folks are "our people" building these cars 4. The Brits, like us, LOVE cool cars! and 5. America is NOT the only country in the world (though some of us ACT like it!), and we could stand to learn a few things from cultures that are THOUSANDS of years old (Famous joke: "What's the difference between an Englishman and an American? The Brit thinks 100 miles is a long way, and the American thinks 100 years is a long time!").
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 2:00PM
Erik said...
"Unfortunately we probably won't get this version when the Fiesta debuts here in about 18 months."
Yeah, I knew that was coming when I saw the headline. I'm so sick of hearing that. I don't blame ABG, but what is up with US automobile regulations? Anything that -should- be imported apparently can't.
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 2:33PM
Mike said...
No, of course we won't get this version.
That would just be silly.
We will probably get like a 1.8 liter four with 125hp that gets like 22mpg city.
YEAH !!!
Cause, you know... that's what I want... because I am an American and all......
GO FORD !!!
I hope the big guys at Ford USA all get bonus money for the attention to detail they give our market.. and supplying what American's want.
I guess that is why sales are going so well over here since the truck market crapped the bed....
At least in the end it seems that US car makers can indeed make intelligent vehicles. It's just that US citizens would have to move overseas to buy them.
Nice...
- mike
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 2:37PM
Ken said...
I have one question: Why is this car NOT coming to the US? Why?
Reply
7-23-2008 @ 3:34PM
Derek said...
Winsor said...
It is misleading to quote European mileage figures even when converted from metric figures. The way they test mileage there results in much higher figures than our system which is closer to real world mileage. For instance there were frequent statements about the Jetta TDI getting 60 mpg in the European test cycle, but EPA figures give it 30/41, just a little bit better than a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The EPA has admitted that their fuel economy figures for many diesels are flawed. Real world users of the Jetta TDI are reporting much better mileage figures than the EPA, which corroborates the independent study that VW had conducted.
Reply
7-24-2008 @ 5:06PM
James Bowe said...
still and all, you really think minor tweaks can boost the efficiency all the way past 62mpg? the prius is built from the ground up for efficiency and can only pull high 40's. europe's measurements don't seem to apply to real world driving here in the US.
7-24-2008 @ 10:43AM
Sam Abuelsamid said...
The Euro numbers for diesels are not that far off. In my review of the MINI Cooper D, I got 47 mpg in mostly around town driving and not babying it at all. The EU rating is 50 mpg city/67mpg highway and 60 combined. Less aggressive driving of the MINI could have easily yielded numbers in the low 50s.
7-24-2008 @ 2:41AM
Phil said...
tchamp: It's that kind of isolationist, xenophobic thinking that has resulted in the US producing bloated, thirsty and technologically backward vehicles and being overly reliant on oil. Meanwhile, Europe and Japan have cars that use half the fuel.
Last time I checked, Ford is still and American company. Until it gets bought by someone in the Middle East.
You might not realise this, but most of the world's internet users are not American.
Reply
7-24-2008 @ 8:49AM
brn said...
"The EPA has admitted that their fuel economy figures for many diesels are flawed."
I've asked before, show me where. Someone did kindly refer me to a document where the EPA discussed factors that could cause their estimates to differ from real world estimates. That document did not indicate any kind of "flaw" in their estimates.
Reply