# The 65 mpg Ford the U.S. Can't Have **URL:** \ **Category:** PittSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [October 2, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935 "2008-10-02T06:30:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![starboy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/starboy/32/5985_2.png) [@starboy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/starboy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/1 "2008-10-02T06:30:05Z")
Ford’s Fiesta ECOnetic gets an astonishing 65 mpg, but the carmaker can’t afford to sell it in the U.S. > by David Kiley > > If ever there was a car made for the times, this would seem to be it: a sporty subcompact that seats five, offers a navigation system, and gets a whopping 65 miles to the gallon. Oh yes, and the car is made by Ford Motor (F), known widely for lumbering gas hogs. > > Ford’s 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic goes on sale in November. But here’s the catch: Despite the car’s potential to transform Ford’s image and help it compete with Toyota Motor ™ and Honda Motor (HMC) in its home market, the company will sell the little fuel sipper only in Europe. “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 main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel. > > Automakers such as Volkswagen (VLKAY) and Mercedes-Benz (DAI) have predicted for years that a technology called “clean diesel” would overcome many Americans’ antipathy to a fuel still often thought of as the smelly stuff that powers tractor trailers. Diesel vehicles now hitting the market with pollution-fighting technology are as clean or cleaner than gasoline and at least 30% more fuel-efficient. > > Yet while half of all cars sold in Europe last year ran on diesel, the U.S. market remains relatively unfriendly to the fuel. Taxes aimed at commercial trucks mean diesel costs anywhere from 40 cents to $1 more per gallon than gasoline. Add to this the success of the Toyota Prius, and you can see why only 3% of cars in the U.S. use diesel. “Americans see hybrids as the darling,” says Global Insight auto analyst Philip Gott, “and diesel as old-tech.” > > None of this is stopping European and Japanese automakers, which are betting they can jump-start the U.S. market with new diesel models. Mercedes-Benz by next year will have three cars it markets as “BlueTec.” Even Nissan (NSANY) and Honda, which long opposed building diesel cars in Europe, plan to introduce them in the U.S. in 2010. But Ford, whose Fiesta ECOnetic compares favorably with European diesels, can’t make a business case for bringing the car to the U.S. > TOO PRICEY TO IMPORT > > First of all, the engines are built in Britain, so labor costs are high. Plus the pound remains stronger than the greenback. At prevailing exchange rates, the Fiesta ECOnetic would sell for about $25,700 in the U.S. By contrast, the Prius typically goes for about $24,000. A $1,300 tax deduction available to buyers of new diesel cars could bring the price of the Fiesta to around $24,400. But Ford doesn’t believe it could charge enough to make money on an imported ECOnetic. > > Ford plans to make a gas-powered version of the Fiesta in Mexico for the U.S. So why not manufacture diesel engines there, too? Building a plant would cost at least $350 million at a time when Ford has been burning through more than $1 billion a month in cash reserves. Besides, the automaker would have to produce at least 350,000 engines a year to make such a venture profitable. “We just don’t think North and South America would buy that many diesel cars,” says Fields. > > The question, of course, is whether the U.S. ever will embrace diesel fuel and allow automakers to achieve sufficient scale to make money on such vehicles. California certified VW and Mercedes diesel cars earlier this year, after a four-year ban. James N. Hall, of auto researcher 293 Analysts, says that bellwether state and the Northeast remain “hostile to diesel.” But the risk to Ford is that the fuel takes off, and the carmaker finds itself playing catch-up—despite having a serious diesel contender in its arsenal. [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08\_37/b4099060491065.htm?chan=rss\_topStories\_ssi\_5](http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_37/b4099060491065.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5) ---
**Author:** ![tegSimple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d6d6ee/32.png) [@tegSimple](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tegSimple)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/2 "2008-10-02T06:33:31Z")
that back seat would be cramped as hell seating 5. ---
**Author:** ![stinkbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@stinkbox](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stinkbox)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/3 "2008-10-02T10:39:43Z")
I saw the write up in car and driver and we are supposed to get a version with a 1.6 dohc gas engine that makes like 110 hp. hopefully they will have a turbo one or something else as an option. its about time we get a 2200lb hatchback back in the us lineup though instead of say a compact car like the mini that still weighs 2600lbs. ---
**Author:** ![imported\_gearhead](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/imported_gearhead/32/5957_2.png) [@imported\_gearhead](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_gearhead)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 10:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/4 "2008-10-02T10:50:24Z")
lets see… pay x amount for prius thats small and shitty, or pay the same amount for a better, almost twice as fuel efficient SPORT compact. im such a f’king dumb ass american, i dont know what to do. fking a$$hole america. …sorry, i never swear but this kinda blind eyed crap makes me angry. ---
**Author:** ![S10Blazed\_Si](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/s10blazed_si/32/5983_2.png) [@S10Blazed\_Si](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/S10Blazed_Si)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/5 "2008-10-02T11:06:54Z")
I actually like the looks of it somewhat too. Aside from the Blue Oval anyways. I am rather partial to the sport compact hatchback though. Only negative thing is that it is much harder to find diesel pumps around where I live. ---
**Author:** ![Zack01GC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zack01GC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Zack01GC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 12:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/6 "2008-10-02T12:02:29Z")
Looks half decent. Just another thing this country will miss out on. ---
**Author:** ![imported\_showtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@imported\_showtime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_showtime)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/7 "2008-10-02T12:10:05Z")
we are definitely getting the 1.6L one in as a 2010 model. I read a few articles on it & it been nothing but really good comments. heard its as good as any other b segment car on the market if not better. by 2011 we should most of not all of the Euro fords here in the States. its about time…the Euro Ford stuff is WAYYYY better then the US stuff. if people can get past the bad stigma ford has brought upon it self, they should do well…i bet their stock will climb. ---
**Author:** ![obi-1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@obi-1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/obi-1)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 5:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/8 "2008-10-03T05:22:36Z")
I rented a Ford Focus diesel in Ireland. It was impressive when it came to fuel economy. I was able to drive from one end of the country to the other and back, with sightseeing, on a tank of diesel. ---
**Author:** ![imported\_showtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@imported\_showtime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/imported_showtime)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 7:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/9 "2008-10-03T07:25:28Z")
> [@What Does This Mean To You?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-does-this-mean-to-you/38116/14): > > I rented a Ford Focus diesel in Ireland. It was impressive when it came to fuel economy. I was able to drive from one end of the country to the other and back, with sightseeing, on a tank of diesel. the euro focus is nice…WAY nice then the US one. & the Focus RS…:eek3: The mondeo is a nice car too ---
**Author:** ![flyinglow57](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/flyinglow57/32/5978_2.png) [@flyinglow57](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/flyinglow57)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 12:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/10 "2008-10-03T12:31:19Z")
i like it… but i like the astra better even though its alot bigger ---
**Author:** ![JettaDriverX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f4b2a3/32.png) [@JettaDriverX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JettaDriverX)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/11 "2008-10-03T18:19:59Z")
Ford has some really nice cars in europe. I work with guy who loves the Focus, but I wouldn’t touch one. However, the European version is better in every way, power, looks, and options. In the 80’s they had the Ford Seirra, and it was a cool car, but we got the American version: Murkur XR4Ti. The Ford version was a nice car, and quick in Cosworth trim. ---
**Author:** ![Sinner6.0L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sinner6.0l/32/6016_2.png) [@Sinner6.0L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sinner6.0L)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/12 "2008-10-03T20:47:56Z")
what ever you do don’t forget it is a ford ---
**Author:** ![beat90tsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@beat90tsi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/beat90tsi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 10:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/13 "2008-10-04T10:31:54Z")
I’d rock one of those. One thing I didn’t see mentioned in that article is how ridiculous the EPA has made emissions restrictions on passenger vehicle diesels. Mercedes was the only company able to get one through in one of the recent years, I forget if it was 07 or 08. Fortunately the EPA has done us a lot of good attempting to protect us from pollution by blocking all of the efficient diesel passenger cars from being imported, but the wonderful EPA has not messed with the ability of pickup truck owners to puff assloads of black smoke at will. It’s just one more example of an Executive Agency acting outside of the scope of the Constitution and screwing over the American people. ---
**Author:** ![ShalerPunk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/shalerpunk/32/5976_2.png) [@ShalerPunk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ShalerPunk)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 10:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/14 "2008-10-04T10:48:25Z")
the version of this car we’re getting will have four doors, a trunk, and get 40 mpg. Americans are too fucking fat and too used to a comfortable car for a real econobox to succeed. i’ll be buying this in a year, and getting 60+ mpg. ![http://www.zcars.com.au/images/toyota-iq1.jpg](http://www.zcars.com.au/images/toyota-iq1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sinner6.0L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sinner6.0l/32/6016_2.png) [@Sinner6.0L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Sinner6.0L)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/the-65-mpg-ford-the-u-s-cant-have/199935/15 "2008-10-04T16:09:17Z")
fuck the EPA, useless pieces of shit