Efficiency without sacrifices
TONY VERDON
Ford Australia says the latest 2.4- litre EcoBoost- engined Mustang can travel at least 27.3 kilometres on one litre of fuel.
The car was driven on a flat Sydney drag strip at 100km/ h in one direction, and 80km/ h in the other, to show that economy doesn’t mean sacrificing driveability.
A Sydney dragway may be an odd venue to roll out tips about extracting maximum economy from your driving but Ford believes its technology provides efficiency and performance.
To demonstrate, it laid on two four- cylinder 2.3- litre Mustangs, two 2- litre Mondeos and two 1.5- litre Focus hatchbacks to drive through suburban streets, to the drag strip beside the Sydney Motorsport Park, at Eastern Creek.
The street cred of all three models is well- established. In our market, the EcoBoost technology sits on most models, from the small Fiesta to the Mustang.
However, some surprising results from an online survey conducted by the company This Mustang drove for 27.3km on one litre of fuel; Ford fuels the Mustang for the economy run. indicate many drivers lack even fundamental knowledge about how to drive their vehicle in the most economical fashion.
Just over 9500 consumers were surveyed across 11 markets, including Australia and New Zealand, and the results showed that while four in five Australian drivers say they know how to drive their car for maximum fuel efficiency, only one in three was aware that harsh accelerating and braking affect their car’s fuel economy. Only three in 10 used cruise control to maintain a steady speed to help save fuel.
On the positive side, 80 per cent said they made an effort to drive efficiently every day, and four in five said they knew how to drive for maximum fuel efficiency.
World champion economy run title- holders, Helen and John Taylor, explained how thinking ahead and driving smoothly without stabbing the accelerator or brakes contributed to a more economical trip. They said drivers do not need to compromise speed for fuel efficiency.
Instead it was possible to drive, smoothly, at the legal speed limit, and achieve good fuel economy with modern engines.
EcoBoost employs lightweight construction turbocharging, variable valve timing and direct fuel injection along with reduced displacement to deliver economy without sacrificing vehicle performance.
The Ford engines use a proprietary algorithm that works to ensure the engine’s key technologies, direct injection, turbocharging and variable valve timing, offer the power the driver wants and the mileage they need.
Many of the tips would come as no surprise, such as ensuring the vehicle is as light as possible by not carrying needless items, and maintaining consistent speeds.
The experts say that accelerating gradually when moving off from a standstill uses less fuel than fast starts, and driving at a moderate, steady pace requires relatively little energy.
Replacing the fuel cap as soon as you have filled up reduces evaporation, while filling the tank rather than repeatedly topping up with smaller amounts also helps ensure minimal loss.
“In an automatic vehicle, accelerate gently and your transmission will get into the highest gear sooner, keeping your engine speed — and fuel consumption — lower,” says Ford.
The company says braking harshly or taking off too quickly, wastes fuel. Many drivers believe keeping the engine running while idling will save fuel but “turning the engine off and restarting it again is more fuel- efficient, as proven by start- stop technology in the Focus and Escape.”
Helen Taylor said driving smoothly was a key to achieving good economy. “Wethink that EcoBoost is good because it has the economy and the power when you need it, there is no compromising of performance.”