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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg FE_goals seem a bit low but maybe its harder to Hypermile the RS w/ an MT than a 260 HP, 4WD_Acura MDX SUV w/ an AT??? (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=234165)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Focus_RS_mpg_drive.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Sept. 23, 2009

2009 Focus RS with drivers Jeremy Walton and co-driver Alyson Marlow.

Ford’s fastest-ever European production car will chase a fuel efficiency record when it enters the UK's seventh annual MPG Marathon this month.

The 2.5-litre 301 HP Ford Focus RS will target over 35mpg (Imperial or 29.1 mpgUS) during the 360-mile route.

Capable of 163mph and 0-60mph in under six seconds, the Ford Focus RS aims to demonstrate its remarkable efficiency with class honors in the leading frugal marathon.

Motoring writer Jeremy Walton and co-driver Alyson Marlow are preparing to beat the official 30.1mpg combined fuel economy of the Ford Focus RS by a margin of over 15 percent.

"I'm setting out to prove you can use an efficient high-performance car in daily driving without enormous fuel bills," said Jeremy, who has entered the Ford-supplied RS in the Warwickshire-based marathon's class for cars with CO2 emissions of 160 + g/km.

Before customer deliveries even started earlier this year, more than half of the UK's Ford Focus RS allocation had been sold. The $43,250 car continued the RS badge's acclaimed 40-year association with exciting and affordable performance cars.

David Calder, Ford's medium car product manager, said: "We launched the latest Ford Focus RS not only as the ultimate front-wheel drive performance car but also as a car you can live with every day, and wish Jeremy and Alyson a smooth and safe journey as they prove this out."

The MPG Marathon, organized by FleetWorld magazine, demonstrates real world fuel economy figures delivered by a wide range of vehicles, not just those designed for low fuel consumption. More about the event on September 30/October 1 at MPG Marathon (mpgmarathon.com).

I'd take this beast hypermiling any day over an SUV with V6 and auto.

I'm not sure what's more surprising: that they set such a low goal, or that their 2.5L engine has 301 HP. That's 1 better than my 6.6L V8 diesel.

Imagine the weight/cost/fuel/space savings of putting that little firebreathing monster of an engine in a full size pickup. Or a third of that engine in a car. It just might sound a little funny screaming along at 8k rpm...

Motoring writer Jeremy Walton and co-driver Alyson Marlow are preparing to beat the official 30.1mpg combined fuel economy of the Ford Focus RS by a margin of over 15 percent...

15%?!?

That's all they are trying for?!?

I think they need to take a look at our quarterly competitions here. http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22261

I'm not sure what's more surprising: that they set such a low goal, or that their 2.5L engine has 301 HP. That's 1 better than my 6.6L V8 diesel.

Imagine the weight/cost/fuel/space savings of putting that little firebreathing monster of an engine in a full size pickup. Or a third of that engine in a car. It just might sound a little funny screaming along at 8k rpm...

HP is one thing, but your V8 diesel has torque all day while the ford is probably pretty light in that area.

MotorTrend reports 325 lb-ft. Not sure about where in the rpm band that is, but it's likely higher than on a diesel truck.

I'd love to P&G this car. It'd be like PULSE & gliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide

Hi Andrew:

___I suspect it will perform and achieve FE similar to the 2009 Toyota Corolla XRS (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13674) we reviewed last summer. That 160 HP Camry motor was so much more than the Corolla needed and pulses lasted less than 10-seconds in most situations whereas glides were running the std. 40 seconds. Its steady state results sucked but its P&G capability added another 30% on the highway. In fact, this review was our highest above EPA combined of anything we have driven. A ton of work that only a few of us would put up with of course but the FE was fantastic!

___And to consider we easily pulled 30 + from the MDX with 6 in the 4WD SUV tells me this thing has a lot more than just 29 mpgUS available to it...

___And my expectations with the RS are similar to the Corolla with at least 45 mpgUS delivered. Rules and such may remove the ability to go advanced however and if its geared stupid low (we can almost guarantee it is), the FE numbers could be pretty poor at straight up steady state :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi All:

___Middling results unfortunately :(

Ford’s fastest-ever European production car, the Focus RS, pulled off an average fuel consumption of 32 mpgUS .

This result, one of the best in its class, was officially recorded during the UK’s seventh annual MPG Marathon, which finished this week.

This frugal driving challenge is judged by the improvement in economy over official, manufacturer-supplied figures. The 2.5L Ford Focus RS used just nine gallons of fuel to cover the competition's 360 miles, bettering the car’s quoted 25 mpgUS combined rating by 28 per cent.

At the wheel for the duration of the two-day event was automotive writer Jeremy Walton, who covered the varied route at regular road speeds, guided by co-driver Alyson Marlow. Jeremy said: “This is the fastest RS road car yet, but also the most efficient. This shows that, with a bit of restraint, you can use an efficient, high-performance car in daily driving, without enormous fuel bills.”

Ford Team RS powertrain manager, Len Urwin, led the team that developed the Focus RS engine. He said: “Focus RS was designed throughout to appeal to the heart and the head. This result shows how successful we’ve been, both in making Focus RS a practical day-to-day car – as well as continuing the 40-year RS tradition of exciting, high performance.”

More than half of the UK’s Ford Focus RS allocation has already been sold, with each priced south of $40,000 USD on the road.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

If They only Knew!

WOW.

Last week I commuted home in non-FAS mode (I had to run my lights for the whole commute because I left after sunset). My 2.5L V6 is rated at 21 MPG combined (200 hp). The path included significant road construction, and it was extraordinarily cold. To make matters worse, I was traveling at an average close to PSL.

I still managed over 37 MPG (176% of combined EPA).

Do they know how to drive?

I know I'm a bit new to the FE game, but I think there might be some educational information available on the web.



I hear there is some website called cleanmpg or something like that ....

The 2.5-litre 301 HP Ford Focus RS will target over 35mpg (Imperial or 29.1 mpgUS) during the 360-mile route.
Volvo power. This 5 cylinder engine has been in production since 1992 in both turbo and non turbo form.