Gas Mileage Ace » Cars

2012 Cars with the Best Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 05:57:41 +0000

Below is a list of the best gas mileage cars for the 2012 model year. As you can see Hybrids dominate the list. But the first 2 positions are taken up by electric vehicles. The EPA still gives these 2 MPG ratings based on energy usage but its apples and oranges. Really the Toyota Prius Hybrid is the 2012 car with the best gas mileage.

	1) Nisan Leaf - MPG: 106 City/92 Highway Price: $28,340 – While a True Electric car and thus should not be part of this list, the EPA still gave a Gas Equevalent rating based on energy use.
	2) Chevrolet Volt - MPG: 95 City/93 Highway Price: $28,340 – When running on full electricity the Volt nears the Energy Equivalent usage as the Leaf. When running the gasoline generator the mileage really drops to below that of a normal hybrid car.
	3) Toyota Prius Hybrid - MPG: 51 City/48 Highway Price: $28,340 – Still the best performing hybrid available on the market. And with the plug-in version due out soon, these race for the first 100 MPG hybrid will be over.
	4) Lexus CT200h Hybrid - MPG: 43 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – This little Lexus borrows the technology from its big brother the Prius. It does everything right and is sure to be a hot seller.
	5) Honda Civic Hybrid - MPG: 44 City/44 Highway Price: $28,340 – It should come as no surprise that the Civic Hybrid is near the top of the MPG list. The Civic does everything well and when paired with a hybrid power plant, it kicks butt. What makes the Civic Hybrid stand apart from the crowd is the CVT (continuously variable transmission) and the Start-Stop System.
	6) Honda Insight Hybrid - MPG: 41City/44 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Insight is marketed as the Honda’s Answer to the Prius. Well the Insight shares the similar Wedge Design but cannot match the Fuel Efficiency of the Toyota Prius.
	7) Ford Fusion Hybrid - MPG: 41 City/36 Highway Price: $28,340 – All 3 cars (Fusion, Milan, MKZ) share the same power plant and thus have the same fuel economy numbers. The Fusion Hybrid gets such good gas mileage thanks to the Atkinson Cycle Engine and CVT Transmission.
	Honda CR-Z Hybrid - MPG: 35 City/39 HighwayPrice: $28,340 – The Honda CR-Z is small and packed full of technology. It’s a real shame that this is the best Fuel Economy it can muster.
	9) Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - MPG: 39 Combined = 41 City/36 HighwayPrice: $28,340 – The new kid on the block is the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The Sonata Hybrid has a Parallel HEV that allows the car to run on Full Electric Power. This is a major benefit to Gas Mileage.
	10) Smart Fortwo - MPG: 39 Combined = 41 City/36 HighwayPrice: $28,340 – The best Mileage Non-Hybrid on the list. Take a very lightweight small car, add a small engine, and you have the recipe for a fuel efficient car. This has long been the formula and many cars prior to the Smart fortwo have been designed tat way.
	11) Lexus HS250h - MPG: 35 City/34 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Lexus HS 250h has the best from Toyota in that there is an Atkinson Cycle engine, Parallel Hybrid System, and CVT Transmission. Yet the added weight of all the luxury features and options really hinder the Fuel Economy of this car.
	12) Volkswagen Jetta Diesel - MPG: 30 City/42 Highway Price: $28,340 - For some reason American’s think Diesel’s are high polluting gas guzzlers. When in fact the opposite is true. The TDI diesel engine line from Volkswagen (Turbo Direct Injected) get great gas mileage when paired with a tall sixth-gear. These cars have also won Green Car of the Year Awards.
	13) Nissan Altima Hybrid - MPG: 33 City/33 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Nissan Altima is quickly falling off the Top Fuel Economy List as more modern hybrids with newer technology take its place. But the Altima Hybrid still performs very well and sacrifices nothing. But Did You Know that the Hybrid Powerplant is all Toyota?
	14) Chevrolet Cruze Eco - MPG: 28 City/42 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Chevy Cruze Eco utilizes Technoloy and not Hybrid power to get such good gas mileage. The turbo is integrated into the exhaust manifold for better fuel efficiency. The transmission has overdrive in both 5th and 6th gears. And there are Aerodynamics that change at higher speeds to increase fuel economy.
	15) Hyundai Elantra - MPG: 29 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Hyundai Elantra is another non-hybrid car that employs a very efficient engine combined with a body design that nets a very low drag coefficient. This allows the Elantra to get great highway fuel economy.
	16) Ford Fiesta SFE - MPG: 29 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – Ford has stepped up its game with a fuel efficient engine that employs Twin-Independent Variable Cam Timing, a Dry Clutch Transmission, and Electric Power Steering to reach its 40 MPG highway fuel economy rating.
	17) Toyota Camry Hybrid - MPG:43 City/39 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Toyota Camry Hybrid uses a hybrid power train that is more than half a decade old and therefore the fuel economy ratings have not progressed with the times. But the Camry Hybrid does get 27% better fuel economy than the non-hybrid version.
	18) Ford Escape Hybrid - MPG: 34 City/31 Highway Price: $28,340 – The SUV with the best Fuel Economy. The Ford Escape Hybrid has also been around for 5+ years but is still the undisputed SUV MPG king. The wonderful figures are thanks to a small 4 cylinder engine and CVT transmission. But the Escape can also run on full electric power alone which is a big help.
	19) Toyota Yaris - MPG: 30 City/38 Highway Price: $28,340 – The Toyota Yaris is a sub-compact and everything about it is small. The engine is only 1.5 liters and barely cranks out 105 horsepower. But combined with a manual transmission the lightweight Yaris gets over 32 MPG combined.
	20) Mazda 2 - MPG: 29 City/35 Highway Price: $28,340 – A relatively new-comer to the Subcompact world, Mazda’s contribution follows the same formula. Take a small, lightweight car and shove a fuel efficient engine under the hood. Combine with a manual transmission and the result is a nicely rounded car. Look to the Mazda2 to get better gas mileage as the model gets refined.
	21) Honda Fit - MPG: 28 City/35 Highway Price: $28,340 – The name says it all. The Honda Fit is indeed fit to get good gas mileage. What sets the Fit apart from the other subcompacts is its sporty dive appeal. No other subcompact provides as much fun as the Fit. Although if Fuel Economy is your thing, you will not be participating in spirited driving any ways.
	22) Kia Rio - MPG: 30 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – Kia has been the kicking stone of the Automotive world for a long time. They feel cheap. But Kia is on the rise and the Rio shows its true colors with its 30 pus MPG rating. Yet the Rio is old and outdated. Kia seems to be concentrating on the Mid-sized level cars as evident with the upcoming release of the Optima Hybrid.
	23) Lexus RX450h - MPG: 32 City/28 Highway Price: $28,340 – Incredibly the Lexus RX450h Hybrid has been on this list for years. Even though it’s the most expensive of the group, the RX Hybrid is on the top of every Hybrid SUV owners wish list. How can you go wrong with Ultra Luxury combined with Technology powered by a hybrid power plant?
	24) Chevrolet Sonic - MPG: 29 City/40 Highway Price: $28,340 – Unfortunately the Aveo suffers from the Cheap car syndrome the same as the Rio. Yes it gets good MPG but would you really want to own one? There are better Subcompacts out there and Chevy will have to kill or update this car if it wants to compete with the Ford Fiesta which is years ahead of the Aveo.
	25) Nissan Versa MPG: 30 City/38 Highway Price: $28,340 – What one Japanese car maker does the others must follow suite. Thus you have the Nissan versa subcompact. Built to compete with the other, the Versa has the lowest mileage thanks to its larger more powerful engine. And the portly curb weight. Still it breaks the 30 MPG barrier.

Buick Lacrosse eAssist Hybrid Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:42:13 +0000

The Buick Lacrosse was redesigned in 2010 and with it came a new motor that promised better gas mileage; the EcoTec direct injection engine. The premium model has an MSRP price of just under $38k. That buys you a 3.6 liter V-6 engine that has over 300 Horsepower. Bummer is that car is more expensive by $8k and the engine is less fuel efficient. The larger V-6 can only manage 17 MPG in the City and 27 MPG on the Highway. Nothing too exciting. This car is built with quality and luxury in mind. But what is even more impressive is that a hybrid model of this car is out on the market. The new 2012 Buick Lacrosse eAssist hybrid has a smaller 2.4 liter EcoTec 4-cylinder engine. Mated to the powertrain is a small electric motor that is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This electric motor adds power and fuel efficiency up to 25%. The Hybrid with e-assist gets 25 MPG in the City and 36 MPG on the highway. The hybrid only has 182 HP but torque is ample at 172 ft-lbs. Oh and the hybrid starts at about $30k.

Buick Lacrosse eAssist Hybrid

The Buick Lacrosse uses a Belt Alternator Starter Hybrid System like the short lived Malibu Hybrid. Regenerative brakes charge the batteries and a start-stop system turns off the motor when the car is idle. All these features stack up to create a luxury hybrid that has a relatively cheap price for the amount of luxury you get.

Image via http://www.sandyblogs.com/techconnect/index.html

Toyota Prius V Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:52:32 +0000

Toyota Prius V Gas Mileage

Did you know that Toyota has sold over 1 million Prius hybrids here in the U.S. over the past decade? Go ahead and up that number to 2 million worldwide. So with such great success why not create a whole family of automobiles around the Prius. There is still no match for the Prius when talking hybrid gas mileage figures. Sure the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are out there, but these cars not only cost thousands more, they are inconvient for most of the population. So the Prius remains the old standby and has grown larger with the release of the 2012 Prius V in an effort to attract more buyers. But Gas Mileage has gone down from 50 MPG combined for the standard model to 42 MPG for the Prius V.

With 50% more cargo room than the standard Toyota Prius, the V stands for Versatile. But while the PriusV has grown, the fuel economy has shrunk. Earlier in the year when the Lexus CT 200h, I could not figure out why a car with the same drivetrain as the Prius gets much lower gas mileage. It’s the same conundrum for the Toyota Prius V. The car has the same shape and the exact same drivetrain as the standard Prius but the gas mileage is lower by 15%. Let’s take a look into the reasons for the loss in fuel economy.

1) Weight – the Prius 5 weighs over 230 pounds more than the standard Prius. This may not seem like much but coupled with the other changes; weight does play a role in Gas Mileage loss.

2) Size – the Prius V is 6 inches longer and 3 inches taller than the standard Prius. The wheelbase is a tad longer and by stretching the Prius V out, much was changed in the Prius V suspension to make the car more like a nice sedan.

3) Drag Coefficient – the 2011 Toyota Prius has a Drag Coefficient of 0.25 while the changes to the exterior of the Prius V have caused the Drag Coefficient to drop to 0.29.

While these changes may seem minor, they reduce the gas mileage on the Prius 5 by 15%. Estimated figures put the Prius V gas mileage figures at 44 on the Highway and 40 in the City. The standard Prius gets 52/48 respectively. This goes to show that the Prius is so perfectly engineered for getting the best fuel economy possible that even a few little tweaks can drastically reduce those figures. Good news is the Prius V will only cost a bit more but will offer you 50% more cargo room and should be a great buy for those looking to increase gas mileage without losing utility.

I crunched the numbers and if you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year; it will only cost you $200 more to drive the Prius V over the standard Prius (with gas costing $3.50). This actually seems like a drop in the bucket considering how much more interior space you get.

Did you know that Toyota has sold over 1 million Prius hybrids here in the U.S. over the past decade? Go ahead and up that number to 2 million worldwide. So with such great success why not create a whole family of automobiles around the Prius. There is still no match for the Prius when talking hybrid gas mileage figures. Sure the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are out there, but these cars not only cost thousands more, they are inconvenient for most of the population. So the Prius remains the old standby and has grown larger with the release of the 2012 Prius V in an effort to attract more buyers. But Gas Mileage has gone down from 50 MPG combined for the standard model to 42 MPG for the Prius V.

Weight – the Prius 5 weighs over 230 pounds more than the standard Prius. This may not seem like much but coupled with the other changes; weight does play a role in Gas Mileage loss.
Size – the Prius V is 6 inches longer and 3 inches taller than the standard Prius. The wheelbase is a tad longer and by stretching the Prius V out, much was changed in the Prius V suspension to make the car more like a nice sedan.
Drag Coefficient – the 2011 Toyota Prius has a Drag Coefficient of 0.25 while the changes to the exterior of the Prius V have caused the Drag Coefficient to drop to 0.29.

Lexus CT 200h Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:57:35 +0000

I love the new Lexus CT 200h and think it’s a really great little car. It not only has the lowest MSRP price of any Lexus at $29,120; but it also gets the best gas mileage of the Lexus family of cars. Moreover, the fact that the Lexus CT 200h gas mileage ratings are the best in the Luxury Car Segments cements the fact that Lexus is the Hybrid Luxury car king. They finally got it right after the poor fuel economy of the Lexus HS 250h. The Lexus CT 200h gas mileage figures are 43 MPG in the city and 40 MPG on the highway. But after researching the Lexus CT 200h and realizing the car has the exact same powertrain as the Toyota Prius; I can’t help but wonder why the Prius gets almost 8 MPG more than the Lexus CT 200h.

The Lexus CT 200h thankfully skips the ugly wedge shape design that is common with the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrid cars. Instead the Lexus CT 200h is a hatchback and still musters an ultra low drag coefficient of 0.29 which is necessary to get good gas mileage numbers. For comparison the current Toyota Prius has a drag coefficient rating of 0.25. Pretty similar and definitely not enough of a difference to explain the gap in MPG numbers.

Both the Lexus CT 200h and the 2011 Toyota Prius are powered by the same 1.8 Liter 4-cylinder Atkinson Cycle Engine. This engine is ultra efficient and makes 98 horsepower and 105 lb-ft. of torque. What makes the Lexus CT 200h a hybrid is the electric motor and battery assist. This electric motor adds more horsepower and torque bringing the total up to 134 HP. The Lexus CT 200h also has the same CVT transmission as the Prius which allows for optimum gear selection. And being a parallel hybrid, the Lexus CT 200h can drive on gas, electric, or a combination of both.

Another great feature about the Lexus CT 200h is the fact that the battery pack is placed with cargo space in mind. The battery pack is a 38-module Nickel Metal Hydride unit weighing only 118 lbs. And do not worry about the longjevity of the battery pack as all new Lexus CT 200h hybrid cars come with a 8-year 100k mile warranty on the batteries.

Regenerative Braking is pretty common and the Lexus CT 200h uses this method to recharge the batteries. When you stop, the braking energy is converted into electricity. This efficient system also powers the electric water pump and the electric power steering components. Since these units are not driven by belts on the engine, the Lexus CT 200h sees gas mileage improvements.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive on the Lexus CT 200h allows the driver to choose between 4 modes: EV, ECO, Normal, and Sport.

• EV Mode – EV stands for electric vehicle and the Lexus CT 200h is equipped to run up to 25 MPH on pure electricity alone. This is great for stop and go traffic and really helps with the gas mileage. Also while in EV mode the car produces Zero emissions
• ECO Mode – With the Lexus CT 200h in ECO mode you can expect the best gas mileage but you also get the worst performance in terms of acceleration.
• Normal Mode – This mode increases throttle response and is good for normal driving situations.
• Sport Mode – Sport offers the best acceleration and adjust the steering, traction, and stability control settings. You also get the worst gas mileage while in Sport mode.

So in conclusion the Lexus CT 200h has all the same operating systems as the Toyota Prius yet net a far lower fuel economy rating. The Lexus CT 200h Gas Mileage is 43 MPG city, 40 MPG highway, and 42 MPG combined. While the Prius enjoys 51 MPG city, 48 MPG highway, and 50 MPG combined. Drag coefficient cannot be the cause of the variation in gas mileage and the Lexus CT 200h only weighs 100 more lbs. than the Prius. And both cars sport low rolling resistance tires. What Gives?

Photo Credits : http://www.lexus.com/models/CTh/

Fastest Electric Cars

Car Dude — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 21:42:45 +0000

Many Electric Vehicles have come and gone over the past decade or so. And there are very few companies who are actually still around (Tesla). But of course every large can manufacturer says they are working to produce an electric car but here we are 15 years after the GM EV-1 and you still cannot buy an Electric car from one of the major companies. Yes I know the Leaf and Volt are coming out! Anyways see my little list of the fastest electric cars.

Wrightspeed X1

I guess this can qualify as an Electric car even though its not really in production. Anyways the Wrightspeed X1 is based off the Ariel Atom platform but is powered by an electric motor. The Ariel is already fast due to its lightweight and the Wrightspeed is incredibly fast at 0-60 in 2.9 seconds.

Tesla Roadster

The Tesla has had the market cornered for many years now. And here we are still talking about this electric car. It does hold the title of fastest electric car you can buy. Simply because it is practically the only car on the market. Sure there may be other examples but those target the bottom of the car price range where the Tesla is quite expensive. 0-60 MPH times are 3.7 seconds.

Ultimate Aero EV

The Ultimate Aero from Shelby Supercars is on par with the biggest names in the automotive world like Bugatti, Pagani, and Saleen. And recently they have made a big claim. They have threatened to build a high horsepower Electric version of the Ultimate Aero that will be the undisputed king of the world’s fastest electric cars. So all we have right now though is a claim!

AC Propulsion tzero

This little electric car debuted in 1997 and was gone by 2003. Based on a kit car the tzero had an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries. It was lightweight and had 200 HP. This allowed the car to run from 0-60 MPH in 3.6 seconds. But alas it is long gone!

Mini E

The Mini E is based on the Mini Cooper from BMW. This little car is one that everyone recognizes so why not make an electric powered model. There are currently some examples running around the U.S. and there is a nice list if you want to lease one. Horsepower and torque are over 200 but the Mini E is built for commuting so performance is a mute point. 0-60 MPH times are 8.5 seconds.

Fastest Electric Cars	0-60	1/4 mile	Top speed
Tesla Roadster	3.7	12.6	125

Pre-Production	0-60	1/4 mile	Top speed
Ultimate Aero EV	2.5	n/a	208
Wrightspeed X1	3	11.5	112
Mini E	8.5	n/a	95

Not in Production	0-60	1/4 mile	Top speed
AC Propulsion’s tzero roadster	3.6	13.24	140

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Gas Mileage

Car Dude — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:36:49 +0000

While the 2011 Hyundai Sonata has not bee officially released, the company still has listed the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Gas Mileage on their website. According to Hyundai USA, the Sonata Hybrid will get 37 MPG in the City and 39 MPG on the highway. Consider the Ford Fusion Hybrid gets 41 MPG in the City and 36 MPG on the highway. Now why does the Ford Fusion Hybrid get better gas mileage than the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid in the city? Well read on to find out.

Hyundai took a different road when designing the Sonata Hybrid. Where most hybrid cars are currently based off the same system or technology, the engineers at Hyundai have gone a different route. A study by the Society of Automotive Engineers found that hybrid owners use their car for highway driving mostly. And most hybrid cars have a CVT transmission to help with gas mileage in the city. Well the Hyundai Sonata uses a regular 6-speed automatic transmission which is more efficient on the highway thus the Sonata Hybrid gets better gas mileage.

Hyundai engineers have also made the Sonata Hybrid more aerodynamic and they also employ systems to help reduce wind resistance at higher speeds. The Sonata Hybrid is powered by a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 169 horsepower. There is a 40 HP electric motor on hand for the extra umph! The Sonata Hybrid also has a polymer battery pack which further reduces the curb weight. Look for the Hyundai to be about 300 lbs. lighter than the Fusion Hybrid.

The base price should also be much less than its competitors. So the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid not only gets great gas mileage, it weighs less, and should be cheaper than any of its competitors. What is not to like about that!

Here Comes The Ford Focus EV

Car Dude — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:26:06 +0000

For the environmentally conscious customers, plug-in electric cars are the next big frontier. Hybrids seem like the big thing right now but it’s only a trend. Hybrids can’t be charged from a wall current. But an Electric Vehicle like the Ford EV can be charged from home and then driven all day using ZERO gasoline. During the Detroit Auto Show in January, Ford announced they would be offering a fully electric plug-in Focus in 2011.

The Focus EV is still in the development stage although they have launched a prototype “mule”. The prototype version is a product of Ford supplier Magna. Magna will also be responsible for the production version that will be in dealerships. Development vehicles are known to have certain faults, but the EV has no thuds or bumps and is solidly constructed. Refinement and noise-vibration-harshness (NVH) have been particularly focused in the Focus EV to ensure no ambient sounds. The braking system switches between regenerative (for battery) and regular braking.

The EV Focus will have an auxiliary engine. The battery system will charge completely in 6 hours with a 220Volt setup or 12 hours with a 110Volt supply. A fully charged battery allows a driving range of about 100 miles. The gauge system in the EV exchanges the battery meter in place of a tachometer and a small charge meter, although changes in the gauge system might change as production goes through. Although the Ford Focus EV is still a few years away, the prototype version looks pretty developed and almost as if it could hit the streets today.

Adding an electric version of the Focus to the New Ford Vehicle line-up will only add to Ford’s sales and give Ford their first compact electric vehicle in the states.

Nissan Altima Hybrid Race Car

Car Dude — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:49:34 +0000

Yes it’s an Oxymoron; a hybrid race car. Hybrid cars are supposed to be the picture of fuel economy while saving the environment with less emissions being produced. While race car are supposed to burn fuel at an ungodly rate and expel all kinds of harmful gasses. Well the Nissan Altima built by Braille Battery shows you can have 440 HP while saving the environment.

The idea was spawned by Nissan North America who wanted a “forward thinking race car” and Braille Battery was a company on the cutting edge of battery technology since they make super cool carbon fiber batteries for professional race teams spanning everything from NASCAR to Le Mans. The car was put together by University Technical Institute. This car has competed in the Redline Time Attack Series and the One Lap of America race.

So how do you get over 440 horsepower out of a New Nissan Altima Hybrid car that can click off 12.9 second quarter mile times? Well first a bit of hybrid car education. Hybrid cars have a small gasoline engine and an attached electric motor that either powers the car at low speeds or adds power to the car as speeds increase. So the Braille Battery Hybrid car is powered by the stock 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine. Of course this engine has been reworked and now runs on E85 fuel. But the real horsepower comes from a Vortech Electric Supercharger. Other racing parts include a full BC Coilover Suspension kit, Wilwood Brake kit, and full array of Sparco safety enhancements. Light weight Enkei LF-10 rims wrapped in Yokohama Neova tires hold this hybrid to the road. Other racing upgrades include an APR carbon fiber splitter, VIS Racing Carbon Fiber Hood, Stillen Body kit, and custom exhaust featuring a “green leaf” exhaust tip.

This car not only has an eco-friendly engine with a cool carbon fiber battery pack; but it also features a couple other forward thinking modifications. The paint is from DuPont and is called low VOC paint that is much better for the environment. The Sparco seats are made from waste materials. The tires are low rolling resistance and finally there are solar panels that help recharge the battery system.

This cool hybrid car represents the next logical step in racing. At 440 horsepower with a 57% better fuel economy rate over non-hybrid race Altima cars, the Braille Battery ride is the real deal.

Source: http://www.braillebattery.com/index.php/events/view/braille_battery_debuts_north_americas_first_hybrid_race_car_at_sema

The Ford Fiesta – Coming to America?

Car Dude — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:45:06 +0000

If ever there was a car made for the times and the going green trend, this would seem to be it: the new Ford Fiesta. It’s a sporty compact with the seating capability of five and gets about 65mpg. It seems like the perfect car the only negative thing is, it’s not sold in the US.

Despite the Fiesta ECOnetic’s definite potential to compete with the other US manufactures, Ford has only sold the recent generations of the Fiesta in Europe. The America Ford President reportedly stated that there were business reasons as to why they can’t sell it to the US and left it at that.

The main reason for the selective selling is that the Fiesta runs on diesel fuel and the US remains to detest the fuel. America’s opposition to diesel fuel is because it still often reminds us of a loud and stinky truck or trailer pouring out black junk, smog, and smoke into our environment.

Diesel fueled cars are now introduced in the market with pollution fighting technology that is as clean as or even cleaner than gasoline with 30% more fuel efficiency. So why can’t the US have this 65mpg car on our market? Ford doesn’t think that North and South America would buy any diesel cars. The Fiesta ECOnetic is comparable to European diesels but Ford can’t make a business case for bringing the car to the US.

In addition, the Fiesta is made in Britain and importing the car to the US would cost too much money without a profit and Ford doesn’t believe they can charge enough to make any money. With that said, the main question is: will the US ever embrace diesel fuel to allow automakers and manufactures to achieve sufficient scale to make money on those vehicles? All Ford needs to do it look towards Volkswagen and their TDi Jetta. The Jetta costs about what the Fiesta would cost, gets only 41 MPG on the highway as compared to the Fiesta’s 65 MPG, and finally the Jetta has received numerous accolades for being an ultra green car. Ford is missing out on all this publicity the Jetta is enjoying.

But wait! It seems that ford will bring the Fiesta over tho the US sor the model year 2011. Wonder what this car will consist of. Stay tuned for more information.

41 MPG for only $21k! From a Diesel No Less

Car Dude — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:53:05 +0000

I am going to ruin the rest of the weekend for everyone reading this who owns a hybrid. The Jetta gets 41 MPG on the highway! And that’s just the EPA rating! Real world figures are right at the 50 MPG mark. Well your Prius gets that too right? Maybe, but is you Prius turbocharged? Does it put down over 236lb.-ft of torque? No your Prius is an underpowered mouse.

Diesel cars have been running around town getting incredible gas mileage for over a decade. These cars are not the over-polluters of yesteryear. Today’s Diesel cars get low the emission seal of approval.

The Volkswagen Jetta TDI is one of these amazing diesel cars that breaks the mold and stereotype of diesels. The TDI gets an estimated 41 miles to the gallon and was named “Green Car of the Year” by Green Car Journal at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Green Car of the year award given to the Jetta TDI makes it the first clean- diesel vehicle to win. A diesel car finally getting the award gives people the signal that clean diesels have arrived and are effective. It also shows that clean- diesels are an alternative to hybrids because it brings fuel consumption down and is environmentally friendly.

The Jetta TDI has a diesel turbocharged direct-injection engine that features a rail fuel injection system instead of the traditional mechanical system. While diesel vehicle have been widely popular in Europe for decades, they have been slow in the US market. Part of the popularity gap is due to tough emission requirements and typical diesel stereotypes of times past.

As for emissions in this diesel car, the TDI will be the first car to meet the world’s most stringent emission control standards in all 50 states. The Jetta TDI uses NOx storage catalyst like a filter to temporarily hold noxious emissions until they can be burned off during an engine cycle. This emission control permits higher injection pressures that atomize fuel and make it easier for pollution control.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the new Jetta TDI is estimated at around $21,990 while a Sport Wagon package is available for about $23,590. The Jetta TDI is a top choice for economy conscious customers who don’t want to sacrifice premium performance.