CleanMPG Forums - Ford’s Racing Set Talks about Fuel Economy

While EcoBoost is the show, the hybrid is the real star ;)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Ford_Fusion_Hybrid_Challenge_Vehicle_in_front_of_the_Capital_on_Tuesday_Morning.jpg

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - April 25, 2012

The Ford Fusion Hybrid Challenge in Washington – 1,447.5 miles on a single tank of fuel at 81 mpg in the 39 mpgUS rated Fusion Hybrid.

1,000 mile + weekend for charity has begun!

Ford driver Carl Edwards drives his own Fusion Hybrid when off the track and while driving upwards of 200 mph is part of his full-time job in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, when Edwards pulls off the helmet; he drives better than most on the public roads. At least I believe this to be the case ;)

According to Ford, 35 percent of near term new car purchasers are motorsports fans and 78 percent of them support NASCAR. Additionally, Ford race fans are 67 percent more likely to consider Ford products than general market consumers. Which gives Ford a reason to fully support NASCAR although with its falling attendance at recent events, you have to wonder.

Edwards who participated in the 1,000-Mile Fusion Hybrid Challenge around the streets of Washington, DC in 2009 is currently featured in a series of national television ads for the new 2013 Ford Taurus SHO equipped with its 3.56L EcoBoost engine.

Carl Edwards:

Quote:

“Everybody is in the same boat when you fill up your vehicle, but I think what Ford is doing is spectacular. I have a bunch of friends that are looking at Fiestas and to be honest, I think that’s the future of America, smaller, more fuel-efficient cars.

I’ve driven my Fusion Hybrid maybe 10,000 miles and it’s really nice to fill up your hybrid and see it read 500 miles to empty.”

Kevin Layden, director of Ford Electrification Programs and Engineering:

Quote:

“The all-new 47/44 mpg city/highway rated 2013 Fusion Hybrid will be a star in showrooms as the best example of how Ford is giving customers true power of choice for fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Ford’s other driver, Greg Biffle, is a bit more problematic with a lifestyle that possibly borders more on excess then the environmental, social or pocketbook reasons for a driving a fuel efficient vehicle or in a fuel efficient manner.

Greg Biffle:

Quote:

“Believe it or not, I’ve got hot rods and all kinds of stuff, but fuel efficiency is at the top of my mind all the time because I’ve got to pull into the gas station and buy gas at four dollars a gallon just like everybody else. I’ve got an EcoBoost Taurus and my father-in-law has an EcoBoost F-150, so our family already has fuel-efficient cars because it’s very important to us.”

Fortunately his saving grace is that he knows that staying on the gas when driving up to that intersection and then using the brakes isn’t always the best way of doing it.

While Ford was doing a full court press on the use of their EcoBoost technology, it is their hybrid and European Diesels that are the real fuel savers. We should get a taste of that in the C-MAX and Fusion Hybrids later this summer or fall.