The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

Baack · **^ Top** #1 09.06.2008

Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic gets an astonishing 65 mpg, but the carmaker can't afford to sell it in the U.S

Quote:

If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system, and gets a whopping 65 miles to the gallon. Oh yes, and the car is made by Ford Motor , known widely for lumbering gas hogs.
Ford's 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here's the catch: Despite the car's potential to transform Ford's image and help it compete with Toyota Motor and Honda Motor in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe. "We know it's an awesome vehicle," says Ford America President Mark Fields. "But there are business reasons why we can't sell it in the U.S." The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine...ge_top+stories

danc694u · **^ Top** #2 09.06.2008

And this is why the Big 3 suk...and it's why they will be toppled by imports.

Absolutely no forward vision. Sell your stocks..they're gonna be worthless in another year or so. As if they could fall much lower.

Peanut Butter · **^ Top** #3 09.06.2008

So it runs on deisel.. so does a lot of volkswagens that were sold here in the united states. Doesnt mean ford cant sell them here just because it runs on deisel. unless our wonderful government and the fuel companies wont let them, even chevy had a deisel chevette car 4 cylinder,, and mercedes,, so what does it matter for ford to have a deisel car,, just cause it gets 65 mpg they cant sell it here,, what a bunch of BS.

RickG · **^ Top** #4 09.07.2008

Meeting 2010 emissions would make the price too high for a subcompact . The SmartCar has a diesel available in Canada but not the U.S. . The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel has urea injection . Watch for that in future diesels . The VW Touareg the Grand Cherokee diesel , and the Mercedes ML320 CDI were the top 3 polluters in Forbes Auto's list of top 10 polluters .
The higher price of diesel also discourages buyers . We had a Jeep Liberty diesel and slightly better mpg didn't make up for the higher fuel cost . We got rid of it after 5 recalls and lousy dealer service .

Rationalist · **^ Top** #5 09.08.2008

It's a shame that Ford isn't willing to even try, especially when everyone in America is just now starting to understand what fuel prices are like in Europe. $4 a gallon gas has been diffuicult on pretty mcuh everyone.

As for the emissions, it's a very reasonable concern. Still, it seems the new Fiesta has that under control:

Quote:

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.

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I believe that 98g/kg is quite low compared to many gas vehicles.

I'd certainly give one a shot.

WiseOne · **^ Top** #6 09.09.2008

This wouldn't be bad IF diesel weren't ridiculously high compared to gasoline when it should be opposite!

Rationalist · **^ Top** #7 09.09.2008

The cost of diesel to gas is about 10:9, right? That still makes 65 mpg a really good deal.

Joe Dirt · **^ Top** #8 09.09.2008

Does anyone believe- honestly- that Ford wouldn't bring this car here in a heartbeat if it made economic sense, especially knowing the current condition of their marketshare? Come on, people.

RickG · **^ Top** #9 09.09.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rationalist

The cost of diesel to gas is about 10:9, right? That still makes 65 mpg a really good deal.

That ratio is pretty close . There are a couple of other factors . The mpg given is using an imperial gallon which equals 1.2 U.S. gallons . The additional cost of diesel particulate filters and likely urea injection will further increase the cost over gas models . We aren't missing out on much .

kaiwren986 · **^ Top** #10 09.09.2008

Theres an article on Popular Mechanics website about bringing it here. Seems they're going to do it, but it will be a Fiesta, looks pretty nice actually

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