The New Ford Fiesta coming out this summer, borrows some fuel-saving tech from Prius

I wouldn't say any off that was Prius tech. The electric power steering has been on other cars. The Malibu Maxx came out in 2004, and had it.

Deceleration fuel cut off (DFCO) has been around for awhile. Nearly every car, automatic and manual, on the road today does it. Some makes and models might only do it under certain conditions. I have to downshift or have been at highway speeds for the HHR to do it. Others are more aggressive at it. The Fiesta likely does it as soon as you remove your foot from the accelerator.

The fuel economy package was listed as an option on the US site. Some are annoyed that it is only available with the automatic.

 

There is, in fact, almost nothing specifically Prius-like about
any of that.
.
_H*

 

40mpg highway, mid to high 20's city? Good, but not jaw-dropping!

 

Come on people.

The Fiesta has good fuel economy...for an ICE.

Of course it's not going to compare to the levels a Prius offers. But those are pretty good numbers for a Hatchback that doesn't have a battery.

 

emissions rating? why just focus on MPG?

 

True enough, I'm sure, but the engine has to have been designed to provide the necessary hp & torque at those lowered gear ratios. Otherwise, everybody's vehicles would be hitting 40 mpg on the road.

 

I think the Fiesta is going to do very well against the current crop of small cars being sold in the US now (Versa, Fit, Yaris etc). The content is amazing for the price point. It even has keyless push button start. Too bad the city mileage isn't a little better.

 

I can't understand why a subcompact can't seem to break that 30mpg city barrier by this point! Is it really that difficult to wring a couple more mpg's out of these cars?

 

If I'm not mistaken with all the features and excellent fuel economy the pricing of the new Fiesta ( Yaris, Fit, Aveo, Versa competitor ) will jump over the price of the mainstream trim levels of the next segment up the line ( Corolla, Civic, Focus, Sentra, Mazda3 ). This will be a tough sell.

Howeve if the new Focus due out soon is also as good content-wise if not as fuel efficient then maybe Ford can push the pricing points of these segments up $2000 to $3000 each.

Right now the subcompacts normally should sell for about $14 - $16,000. The compacts at $17 - $19,000. The midsizers at $20 - $23,000 and up.




I see Ford trying to push each of these levels up by $2 - $3000 each!!! The other auto makers obviously would be fully in favor of this and would gladly join in.

• Will the market accept to pay $18 - $21000 for a Yaris or Fit or Fiesta?
• Will all the compacts increase content dramatically so that they are more 'european' in features and in pricing ( Corolla at $20 - $25000? )?
• With all this content at the entry level and the midsizers bumping up against max size restraints how much more can be added into a Fusion or Sonata or Accord to make it 'worth' $25000 for the basic model?

If Corollas actually do sell for $20000 each does that put the pricing level of the future Prius' starting at $25000 each for an equivalent PII? This would be good if you own one now.

 

Easy answer. It is so difficult that it may require total change in layout. An ICE in town is off-way inefficient! New layout means "hybridization", as simple as that.
Any time you hit the brakes, any time you travel in a "wrong" rpm/throttle position, you're increasing the gap towards an hybrid solution.

 

Kind of misleading when you see that list of 21 are full size cars and luxury boats, and probably includes every failed hybrid GM has put out.