Ford has unveiled the new Ford Focus ECONetic compact car ahead of its debut at the Amsterdam Motor Show next week. This compact car’s claim to fame is its efficiency: at 80 miles per gallon, the ECONetic has the best fuel mileage of any compact car available in Europe. Ford also expects the car to be certified at a low 95 g/km of CO2 emissions. How did they achieve such high mileage with a traditional engine?
To reach 80 mpg, Ford used a combination of a turbo-charged diesel engine with a new injection system, aerodynamic body design, low-resistance tires, and technologies such as Ford’s Auto-Start-Stop, Eco Mode, and Smart Regenerative Charging to glean every ounce of efficiency they could from the little car.
The ECONetic will be available in 2012 in four-door and wagon styles.
Even if were gas or diesel it’s a good car and a good bargain. The Toyota Prius gets 48 mpg highway; while a Ford Focus gets 40 mpg highway but is Seven-thousand dollars cheaper than the Prius. That much money will add up to enough gas to drive around the world over 2 times. On a cost per gallon of fuel or per mile basis, the Focus is better than the Prius.
Respectfully–
Diesel may cost more, but you’re getting eighty miles a gallon. Eighty. That’s more than double what the average current fuel efficiency is in America, so it’s significantly more cost effective.
30mpg at 2.50 per gallon, on a ten gallon tank= $25 for 300 miles
80mpg at 3.00 per gallon, on a ten gallon tank= $30 for 800 miles
So, if my math is correct, you’re looking at .08$ per mile versus .03$ per mile, minimum.
But surely Americans would not buy this car because diesel fuel costs 30 cents more per gallon, right? Give me a break.
Now, when can we get them here in the US?
Why aren’t things like this available in the US?