Ecomental

“Business Reasons” are why you can’t have it.

December 2nd, 2008

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By Paul Crossley

I give you exhibit ‘A’ :

: Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

This attractive, economical car is a 2009 Ford. This sporty new design seats five, offers a GPS navigation system, and will give you an incredible 65 miles per gallon (about 3.7L/100km).

A diesel powerplant provides the stunning fuel economy, but therein lies the rub: Due to the little car’s use of diesel, it will not be made available to North American users. “We know it’s an awesome vehicle,” says Ford America President Mark Fields. “But there are business reasons why we can’t sell it in the U.S.” The ‘business reason’ is used here as code-language for saying, “because it runs on diesel.”

Diesel fuel is regarded as a relatively old technology while North Americans flock to the various hybrid technologies, forsaking all others.

This Fiesta has been tweaked to minimize fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In this case the car is equipped with a 1.6L diesel and the usual mix of closing off openings in the front to reduce the drag. A pair of small air deflectors on the trailing edge of the wheel wells helps to control airflow coming off the back of the car. Revised engine calibrations, a taller final drive ratio and low rolling resistance tires yield a combined mileage rating of 65.3 mpg (US) on the EU test cycle. Carbon dioxide emissions are measured at 98 g/km.

This and similar stances are a prime example of North American auto manufacturers’ ecomentality. There is a rumour that the Fiesta ECOnetic, or a variant of it, may be available in North America sometime in 2010…only time will tell.