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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg 'Yeah, my eight-year-old son criticizes my driving from the back seat if I’m not showing enough green leaves.' (http://auto.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090507.whVaughan0507/GAStory/specialGlobeAuto/home)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Ford_s_-_Way_Forward.jpgMichael Vaughan - The Globe and Mail (http://auto.theglobeandmail.com) - May 7, 2009

Go Ford! --Ed.

Back when Ford only cared about the big profits available in monster SUVs and pickup trucks, Toyota began rolling out gas-electric hybrids and built a reputation as the Earth-friendly car maker. Now with more than a million Toyota Prius models sold, Ford is getting serious about its hybrids with an advanced second-generation powertrain.

Knowing that Toyota basically owns the segment today, Ford has to come up with some technology demonstrations (i.e. publicity stunts) to show what their hybrids can do. Last week, a team of specially trained drivers went to see how far they could go on a single tank of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

They drove all around Washington, D.C. until the tank ran dry — after a little more than 69 hours, they had covered 1,445.7 miles (about 2,300 km) averaging an amazing 81.5 mpg (about 2.88 litres/100 km).

These were specially trained drivers, but the Fusion Hybrid was a stock model right off the showroom floor. The drivers, called hypermilers, were expert at gradual acceleration and smooth stops and averaged a little over 30 km/h for the whole trip, but this hybrid can do 75 km/h in pure electric mode.

The point was made and Ford now claims the Fusion Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient mid-size car in North America. Expect a similar stunt from Toyota soon.

Jim Buvalic is a hybrid transmission systems engineer at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Mich., who worked on the... http://auto.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090507.whVaughan0507/GAStory/specialGlobeAuto/home

Actually, Ford only claims the Fusion is th most fuel-efficient SEDAN in N America, right?

The Prius [edit: Insight is not mid-sized] is a hatchback. Prius can beat the 81.5. No minimum on average speed; that's Prius country.

The midsized adjective excludes the Insight, but yes -- it has to be specified as a sedan because the Prius will pass it up (though it is definitely a smaller vehicle).

Hi Ksstathead:

___A US equipped Prius would be hard pressed to punch out 1445 miles however. Call it a tank cap, total miles on a single tank or a cu. ft. number, one is bigger than the other and thus the attractiveness of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I'll grant you range, but I'd have to pee anyway...

You mean you can't hold it for 60+ hours? :p

I'll grant you range, but I'd have to pee anyway...

As long as you pee quickly, you will only loss a tenth or two of SOC while you are in their ;)

That is almost double the range of the FEH! I would love to be able to go 40-50 days between fill-ups!

Just as the Volt lacks sufficient AER for some yet is more AER than I need or am willing to pay for, so is the range of any fuel efficient car more than adequate for me. I have a short commute and low total miles, and like to fill up after trips or segments to confirm fuel consumption.

I really like the FFH, but the tank range stopped adding to its attractiveness a while back. Of course, the 700ish mile range at highway speeds seems more normal. Anyway, it is fuel efficiency, not range, that attracts me to both the FFH and Prius. The Prius being cheaper and a bit more fuel efficient will likely be our choice, unless the wife wants a sedan, then it is easy choice for FFH.