Archives

Detroit 3 face huge gap in fuel economy. (http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/BUSINESS01/807270531/1014)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_European_Ford_Focus1.jpgJustin Hyde - Detroit Free Press - July 27, 2008

2008 European Ford Focus 5-door (ST shown) -- 54.7mpgUS combined w/ the 1.6L TDCi turbo-diesel on the Euro NEDC - Almost double the fuel economy while achieving similar performance to our own ancient 2.0L Ford Focus.

The domestics cannot even compete with their overseas counterparts let alone the Asians as it currently stands. -- Ed.

The pledges from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. to focus their futures on smaller and more fuel-efficient cars find them playing catch-up again in a race with foes that are far ahead and will continue running hard.

By the time the first new models from Motown's campaign to get small hit a dealership in 2010, they will face fresh competition from foreign automakers, including several varieties of hybrids.

Such models are expected to account for 30% of the new vehicles Japanese automakers introduce between 2009 and 2012, according to Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy… http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/BUSINESS01/807270531/1014

imagine that car hypermiled mabey top 100mpg without electric motors

I want that car....why does it burn so bad that it's not available!? Am = the only one who feels this way.

JusBringIt, you are not alone. If car companies can load up massive sea transports with vehicles from Asia, someone in the Big 3 can certainly bring over a few from the EU. If they don't meet US standards, it's got to be less expensive to adjust the line in Germany to compensate than to completely redesign a US plant to make them. With people willing to pay a premium of $3K over list for a Prius, this should be possible.

@HYChi
Why would the big 3 want to do anything now, when they can just wait for the government to give them a hand out, and then bring the technology over.