One gas guzzling behemoth for America, one fuel sipping Ford 65 mpg car for England, one ...
Credit: Gracey | ©Morguefile.com/Gracey
Ford Doesn't Want Americans to Buy 2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, the Rumored Ford 65 MPG Car
Why Americans Should Ready Their Pitchforks and Demand Answers - from Congress!
Part and parcel of the Ford ECOnetic line, the Fiesta ECOnetic is a Ford 65 mpg car. Ford Motor Company refers to the 2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic as one of the "most fuel efficient" cars that will be for sale in the United Kingdom. The Fiesta ECOonetic operates on a 1.6 liter, four cylinder, 89 hp, turbo diesel engine. It delicately sips fuel, making other cars look more like debauched behemoths at the pump.It is not surprising that there is a stink in the air when Americans groaning at the gas pumps found out that the 2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic would be a hot seller during the Christmas season in Europe only, leaving the American market to its competitors, like the Toyota Yaris. Unlike the Fiesta ECOonetic with its 51 mpg in the city and 74 mpg on the freeway, the Toyota Yaris - according to AOL Autos -- weighs in with just 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the freeway.
What gives? Why would Ford not take the opportunity to sell this new wonder of technology in the United States? One word: diesel. Top Speed reports that Ford's main concerns rest in the higher cost of diesel than average gasoline. In addition, the company holds that consumers have been conditioned to see diesel as the fuel of the past, stereotyped forever by smelly, black cloud belching trucks and buses.
In addition to the uphill battle Ford envisions with respect to image, there is the cost of labor. Sure, it already operates a plant in Mexico where labor is markedly cheaper, but even so the cost of manufacturing diesel engines versus gasoline engines is not sufficiently profitable to those in power at the company. Oh, okay.
But wait, there is more! The Huffington Post quotes Mark Fields - the same Mark Fields who offered Top Speed the tidbit about there being "business reasons" why the wondrously fuel efficient 2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic with its 65 mpg could not be sold in the U.S. - as labeling his lobbying efforts in search of United States governmental loan guarantees a matter of "benefitting Main Street." That's right, the average Joe.
Comments
Fred
(Guest)
(Guest)
12/07/2008
At this time, Detroit has as a real opportunity for change. They could pull together, share some of their technology, and a build a real world class car superior to the offerings of any other country, be it performance or energy usage.
The problem? I don't think they are capable of "real change", just some superficial arm flapping to get the governments financial support. I honestly feel the "pick-up truck mentality" still prevails (i.e. this thread) and because of this they should be allowed to fail
ScottinVA
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/19/2008
"In addition, the company holds that consumers have been conditioned to see diesel as the fuel of the past, stereotyped forever by smelly, black cloud belching trucks and buses."
Consumers in the information age are more educated about the products they buy. It seems to me that the Ford executives making the decisions are the only thing "of the past". Losing market share to competitors is a glaring truth for Ford and without some bold moves they may find the decisions they make today will shape the future or demise of this auto maker.
The only new cars I have bought in my life were Fords. My last in 99' which I still drive to this day. If they produce and make available a competitive product I would buy it. However if they want my next purchase they better bank on the competitiveness of their product. With all the information available on the internet I doubt there are many brand loyalists who would buy an inferior product with their hard earned money.
Larry
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/14/2008
Looks like a Diesel Jetta TDI for me (although it is a bit too large for my tastes, but so be it). Wish I could buy this Ford instead.
mike mike
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/03/2008
i was raised on fords with several members of my family working for them over the years, most notably my father and grandfather, each with 25 years of service. i own 2 fords right now. one gets ok fuel mileage, ford ranger, the other gets awful fuel mileage, mercury mountaineer. i have to say that i am very disappointed to hear the car will not be offered here in the states. i also heard that the biggest reason for this was again our great epa. emission standards have gotten down right rediculous on diesel engines. i have been in the diesel engine repair field for 11 years, and i have to say that i have seen regulations go from bad to worse. i have also heard that the epa is starting to regulate lawn mower exhaust for the upcoming year models. all this and we can still go to the local nascar track and drag races where there is hardly and exhaust system on the cars much less any regulations on emissions. i am a little biased on my decision, but i say take it elsewhere. as long as our go
Interesting article. Since Ford continues to hemmorage money, one would think no PROFIT would be too low. Thanks.
Fred
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/22/2008
I am sure Ford's business model (for the US existing models) also assumes a high profit on future repairs. A car like this, with a very reliable engine that can probably go 250K or more without major service, will not generate much post sale revenue, a hard sell with the idiots that have gotten Ford into the position they are in.
Pat
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/22/2008
Ford won't sell it here because it will have to cost a certain amount, say 25k, and not enough Americans will buy it. Americans are the most uninformed car buyers in the world and the US auto industry loves to perpetuate our ignorance.
We're so stupid that we'd buy 6000 lb trucks with leather seats (called SUVs) for $50,000 and think we got a good deal with the crappy fuel economy and 1750s technology leaf spring suspensions (think stage coach suspensions). And US Auto benefited with the largest profit margin in their history for these large SUV models - because they were just cheap trucks with leather seats for 50k. US Auto soaked in their cash for the last 15 years with these SUVs and now they're losing money because they don't have infrastructure to make anything new for the US market.
perf
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/22/2008
This is not an informative article. Research the subject completely first. This article nit-picks the facts to form it's anti-establishment bend. There are many more facts to this story than what's presented here. Ford is a problem in itself but so are many many more things.
me
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/22/2008
Diesel in the US costs more than gasoline because it is taxed higher for the commercial trucking industry. You could argue that diesel is taxed too high or gasoline is taxed too little. Also, in Europe, diesel is made more cleanly. Other than California I'm not sure if any other state produces "clean" diesel fuel.
Rickedd
(Guest)
(Guest)
09/17/2008
Ford's attitude shows how the fat pigs at the top think about us americans.
" We can't profit from this, let 'em drive V8s and V6s that suck as much as a V8"
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