In A World… Where Fuel Is Running Out… One Car Takes A Stand…

by Jack Baruth

Published: February 25th, 2011

in a world where fuel is running out one car takes a stand

“Am I the only one,” one of my Twitter friends-I’ve-never-really-met wrote, “who looks at Gadaffi and sees Renee Zellweger in ten years?” I used to get Renee Zellweger and Joey Lauren Adams confused, at least until “Mallrats” when it was revealed that Ms. Adams was closer to Twiggy than Sophia Loren. Ms. Zellweger, on the other hand, had that fabulous scene in “Bridget Jones’ Diary” where she was “deliberately chunky”, possibly a size 8 instead of a 4.

Where was I? Oh yes. Ford’s announced that the EPA will certify the Focus SFE PowerShift at 40 highway MPG. That means that if you are looking for an automatic-transmission car in this segment capable of hitting the magic mark, you now have two choices: this, and Hyundai’s Elantra.

Jack Baruth

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6 of 38 comments

Mach on Feb 25, 2011

Jack, have you forgotten about the Jetta TDI? It certainly slots well in this class, and get 42 MPG highway with an automatic. I'd rather have one of these over an Elantra any day, but I would be tempted to hold my breath for the new Focus. If I needed to buy a new car in this segment today however, I'd get the TDI.

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- Acubra on Feb 25, 2011
  
  But do not forget about a turbodiesel's higher maintanance costs and that famous VWs build quality.
  
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Srogers on Feb 25, 2011

Talk about rampant "Get off my lawn"-ism!! Why would anyone get their shirt in a knot because a compact car gets good fuel mileage? I am astounded. Personally, I'd rather that combined mileage was promoted since that reflects my driving conditions, but I'm not getting mad that 40mpg highway is possible.

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SCE to AUX on Feb 25, 2011

The world is not running out of fuel.

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- George B on Feb 25, 2011
  
  The problem is the price of fuel. At some price oil is just too expensive to use as fuel. Still cost effective for making plastic, but too expensive to burn. Interesting to watch supplies of unconventional natural gas increase separate from oil. Not sure how natural gas gets converted into mobility, but pretty sure it will be part of our near-term future. Already have dual-fuel LNG/diesel trucks, CNG cars, gas-to-liquids synthetic fuels, and natural gas fueled electric power for electric cars present in the marketplace.
  
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Mikemannn on Feb 25, 2011

phff, in Canada we rate our cars' MPG in imperial gallons.. well the less-than-scrupulous dealers do anyhow. We've already got whole lots full of midsize cars that get 40MPG!

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