Ford Fiesta Will Get 38.9 mpg Combined
Ford recently released information on the gasoline engine that will power its new Fiesta compact car in Europe. While Europeans will get the choice of a number of diesel options, the only gasoline powered model will be a four-cylinder able to hit 118 mph, do 0-62 mph in 9.9 seconds and get a combined mileage of 38.9 mpg, far better than any non-hybrid on sale in the U.S.
These are impressive numbers to be sure. What’s not impressive is the Fiesta goes on sale in Europe this October, but won’t hit the states for another full year, fall 2009. We also don’t know if the same impressive gasoline engine will be available in the U.S. version. If you want to tell Ford this is the engine you want, chime in below.
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What's impressive about a car that does 0-62 in 9.9 seconds?
Impressive mpg, but 1 word of caution - in Europe, they may be using a different fuel std (Octane rating) than here in the US, hence the high mpg.
(For example, in Asia, 98 octane is the std, and no 87.)
Ford should bring this over here around the same time it gets introduced in Europe. There’s nothing wrong with having more than one econo car in their portfolio as soon as possible. Look at Toyota; they’ve got tons of them. Ford should do the smart thing and claim some bragging rights with the impressive mileage. It’ll not only improve their image (eco and stylistically), but also provide first time car buyers with something competitive.
Segfault - that 0-60 is more than acceptable for 99% of road driving. Is this cas engine a 1.4? An engine that small is doing well to propel this relatively large car so fast.
0-60 times less than 8.5 secs used to be the preserve of Hot Hatches and the like. Witht he cost of gas getting higher and higher, less performance will become the norm so you'd better get used to it.
BTW, the newest Diesel Smart has a 0-60 time of around 20 secs. Now THAT is slow...
We'll have to just wait and see. A lot can change in a year. It would be great if we could get the 1.4 trubo diesel that's in the Mazda2. It gets combined 55mpg.
Don't forget that fuel consumption figures from Europe are usually based on the Imperial gallon.
0-60 times and how fast in a 1/4 mile have never been a factor for me. Hell I'd take a 1 liter engine if they offered it. This will likely be the 1.5 or 1.6 liter that the mazda2 has in europe.
Keith,
this is a converted number. Not imperial.
So this car is getting 34 city 43 highway? Is that even possible? What kind of tech is on it? Direct-injection? VVT probably? I wonder what the auto tranny gas mileage will be and if they'll use a 6-speed automatic?
I'd buy it.
Bring it to the USA Ford! What's with the dragging the feet in putting small cars on the market in the USA? We've been watching the gas prices creep upward for 4 years now! They American auto makers are forcing us to look at other markets when they are so slow to put a low mpg car on the market. And they wonder why they've struggled financially? Hello? 30 mpg is becoming the norm, and soon we'll all be looking for 40 or 50 mpg! The auto makers need to stop hoping for a miracle at the gas pump & put the technology in the mpg area. Few people care about performance when they are spending $50-$90 to fill a tank! Wake up!
It's possible - look @ Smart. Here's my suspicion though (not too clear on my 1st post). The engine may require or recommend the use of Premium fuel in order to get that mpg. Again, premium in other countries not necessary = US's 91 octane rating, but 96 or 98, for example. If it's recommended, that you can use a lower grade fuel, but you won't be able to get that mpg.
Say, using US Nissan Altima V6 as an example. The mpg listed is based on 91 octane rating. The V6 "recommends" premium fuel (91), but u don't have to use it. However, when u use 87, mpg will drop SIGNIFICANTLY (according to various owners' report).
(Amuro Ray), the Smart is a much much smaller car. This Fiesta will theoretically get better gas mileage if the estimates are true.
I imagine when they reveal the EPA estimates for the US model it will get: 30/40 auto and 33/41 manual (not precisely of course).
Anything higher seems quite impractical (for Ford) considering its size and price.
AR,
I do know that peak power is reduced when running a lower octane fuel than what an engine is rated for but don't know what happens to efficiency. Perhaps people are compensating for the drop in power by working the engine harder and causing an increase in fuel consumption. This is only speculation. Maybe someone else knows.
I have an '03 dodge neon that already gets 35mpg.
So if anything Ford is trying to stay above par so it doesn't continue to suck total ass.
Is that the US spec 1.6L?
Kind of impressive. What tranny are they mating that to?
Was the mileage number obtained while minimizing the 0-60 time?
Again, the 38.9mpg rating is obtained from who?
Ford can't get their facilities retooled soon enough for this car to hit American roads. It needs to be here now. There are plenty of Americans who want to buy from an American company, but the products simply don't offer the value. This car could change all of that. The sooner this Ford hits the North American roads, the better.
And just for fun, Ford, please offer us an economical little panel wagon similar to the HHR...only with 53-56 Ford F100 styling cues.
The 2008 EU Fiesta 1.4 Duratec (80PS) is currently rated about 38 mpg(US) combined cycle by VCA and the 1.25 Duratec (75PS) is rated about 40 mpg(US) combined cycle.
However, the 1.6 Duratorq TDCi (diesel) is rated about 53 mpg(US) combined cycle, about 32% better FE than the best gasoline offering.
There are 2 questions!
Where are the small turbo diesels and dual clutch 6~7 speed transmissions for the US market?
Why so much delay in getting TRUE fuel economy here in the US (YOUR "HOME" country)??? OR .. is the US consumer here just to be taken advantage of???
Suggestion to Ford US ... GET BACK IN TO THE VERY HIGH MPG AUTO BUSINESS ... QUICKLY!
My current vehicle of choice from Ford is the 3,700 pound Mondeo ESTATE (wagon)1.6 Duratorq TDCi rated about 43 mpg(US) combined cycle. By the way, it can tow somewhere between 1 and 2 tons plus do 0-60 in 12.9 seconds (which is OK with me ... saves $0.10 to $0.20 per mile in fuel consumption). That should hold me until fuel exceeds $10/gallon ... probably by 2015.
Two usefull sources
http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/search
http://www.autocar.co.uk/SpecsPrices/SpecsAndPrices.aspx
@44 mpg by 2010:
The 1.6 TDCI engine is only available up to Focus level. Not in the Mondeo. I have driven the Euro Focus and a few PSA products (Peugeot 307, C4 & Peugeot 206) with this engine in both 90 and 110hp variants and it was a good engine.
I think it might be a bit to light for the Mondeo as my current 1.8TDCI 125hp is not the quickest in the world.
Cars are build as cheap as possible by manufacturers and for years the US market was driven by demand for new and big cars. Road handling and consumption were never an issue (leaf springs anyone?). It is good that this is changing from a global environmental points of view, but, and it is a very big but, fuel is still that cheap in the UK that there is not enough incentive for most of the population to want to go to smaller vehicles.
My Ford Mondeo is a big car in Europe. In the US it would be considered small, eventhough it can sit 5 people 6'5" in comfort (I am 6'6"). And bigger cars will always need more fuel.
Things are now changing in Europe to. Over here in the UK (and in other countries) all cars are now taxed on the emission of gram of CO2 per kilometer. This has led to most mainstream manufacturers including Ford, VW, Peugeot and even Hyundai if I am not mistaken, to produce cars which have even lower CO2 emissions.
I get a company car and am taxed on the benefit of having this car based on its list price and CO2 emissions. I will choose one of the lower CO2 models next time I get a new car and I know many people who have already started doing this.
As far as 0-60 times are concerned: they are for small boys. Who pulls of a sub 10 second 0-60 all the time? Where I live roads are busy and only little 21 year old boys in old cars with big spoilers care only about 0-60 times...
You have to be careful when comparing UK mileage to US mileage. The UK uses the "imperial" gallon. It equals about 1.2 US gallons.
If the UK car is rated at 38.9 MPG on a British website, you have to multiply by .83 to get the US equivalent. 38.9 times .83 equals 32.3.
These small cars can be built safer. Please see my invention at www.safersmallcars.com
@Maxwell
This car is supposed to get 50 Imperial MPG, so the Imperial to US gallons conversion has already been done.
American people want to buy American brands. I want to buy American brand car, on my next purchase (although since driving around in my current car, Dodge, is not really helping)
Ford should bring this great car (without watering it down, please!) as soon as possible.
As an American, i don't care whether it's an American brand or not. I want better fuel efficiency. The fact that Ford sells efficient cars in Europe and not America is ridiculous and explains a lot of their sales problems here. Americans are past ready for smaller, cleaner cars. Now!
I had a Ford Fiesta back in the early '80's that got up to 42 mpg. Makes me wonder why the U.S. hasn't done better at getting high mpg on our roads. If the technology is there, why aren't we driving them yet?