AFF Technical Resources - Ford Triumphs at Global Green Challenge

October 30 2009

Ford's Fiesta ECOnetic has cemented its position as the most fuel efficient vehicle in Australia, using only 98 litres of fuel to travel 3147km from Darwin to Adelaide during the Global Green Challenge.

The result easily places the Fiesta ECOnetic as the most fuel efficient of all entrants in the Green Challenge, achieving the overall best fuel economy over the course of the entire event.

With an average fuel economy figure of only 3.1L/100km, the Fiesta was the only vehicle in the Challenge to use less than 100 litres of fuel. During one leg of the event, the Fiesta went even one step further, cracking through the sub-3.0 litre mark, with a 2.9L/100km fuel figure for the Alice Springs to Cooper Pedy nine-hour drive.

The Fiesta also achieved a CO2 emissions rating of only 84.47g/km – placing it ahead of the leading petrol/electric hybrid in the real world.

Ford’s Team Manager Justin Lacy reinforced the importance of achieving the overall lowest fuel number.

“There are many different category winners in this event and the Fiesta ECOnetic is one of them, winning the diesel light car class,” he said.

“However, only one vehicle can claim to have used the least fuel overall and to officially achieve the best fuel economy of any vehicle in the Challenge. Fiesta ECOnetic has done just that through a combination of clever engineering and appropriate driving styles.

“With a driveaway price of only $24,990, the Fiesta ECOnetic proves that it is possible to have a vehicle that leads the industry in terms of fuel economy but is also affordable, while also offering a full range of technology benefits and creature comforts, such as Voice Control, Bluetooth, and iPod connectivity.”

Ford's other team entrant, the Falcon XR6 Turbo, also continued to showcase just how easily outstanding fuel economy can be matched to outstanding performance.

More usually known for its performance characteristics, the Falcon XR6T won its class in the Global Green Challenge, reaching an average fuel consumption of only 7.0L/100km – a staggering 39.8 per cent improvement over its official ADR fuel number.

“The Falcon’s result disproves the notion that large performance cars can’t be economical too,” said Lacy.

“Its final fuel figure is on a par with many smaller, 4-cylinder cars - which proves that you really can have your cake and eat it too.”