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NASCAR Star Drives Ford Fusion Hybrid Slowly, Gets 1,445.7 Miles On Single Gas Tank
Detroit, 9:34 PM
Fri Nov 27
4 posts in the last 24 hours
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NASCAR Star Drives Ford Fusion Hybrid Slowly, Gets 1,445.7 Miles On Single Gas Tank |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
04/28/09
04/28/09
"Certainly, the Fusion Hybrid is a decent car, and it is not bad for its price, but in order to achieve said mileage, Ford must have used super-low-rolling-resistance tires that are unavailable on the road car, as well as quantum transmission fluids and flux engine oils to reduce transmission power loss, neither of which can be bought commercially at a good price."
04/28/09
We used no a/c or radio (take pity on the drivers as it was 95 degrees on Sunday) and limited all other electrical loads. Other than that, no tricks.
The whole intention was to show that anyone could take a Fusion Hybrid and do this, although having a few mates to help out would be an advantage as 69 hours of driving is a little wearing!!
Kind regards,
Jay Ward
Ford Motor Company
04/28/09
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04/28/09
For my little excursion last week in Kansas we rented a brand new 2009 Fusion. I really have to say that I am impressed with what Ford has done with that car. Between the stylish updated looks on the outside and the quality materials used on the inside I couldn't even tell it was a Ford. It actually drove nicer and quieter than my 03 Acura TL does. Although not quite as sporty it still got the job done. At that price-point it's a bargain. Ours came with the V6, leather, moon roof, sync, and the upgraded Sony sound system (I hate Sony speakers but these didn't sound too bad at all). All of my friends who were there for the wedding, all car guys, had the exact same reaction to it; that's a Ford?
I'm thinking we averaged about 27mpg throughout the trip and we weren't exactly being nice to it.
Dear god, I'm starting to sound like a Ford commercial.
04/28/09
04/28/09
To be honest I have no idea. It was an SEL I think. As far as I could tell it was loaded. How would I have told if it had the sport package?
04/28/09
It would have had a subtle spoiler and a "sport" badge on the upper right-hand corner of the trunk. The only reason I ask is that in reading reviews about the Fusion, that is supposed to make a big enough difference to be justifiable to buy.
04/28/09
Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle's kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed.....Seems like a good way to get rearended by another car.
04/28/09
However, I find that the best way to safe fuel is to not drive like an over-agressive, over-compensating douchebag. It's not dangerous to fail to drive like a jackass. It IS dangerous to cause high speed collisions by driving too damn fast and not paying attention to traffic, as you just admitted to.
04/28/09
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04/28/09
Start Time: Saturday April 25th 8:15am
1,000 mile time: Monday April 27th 9:08am
Total Time: 48.88hours (48hours 53 minutes)
Distance Travelled: 1,000 miles
Average Speed: 1000miles/48.88hours
20.46mph
The post I made below was wrong. I thought the 47hours was for the 1445mile distance (but it wasnt)
04/28/09
Now, back to the real world.
04/28/09
04/28/09
04/28/09
* Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
* Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
This would be possible if people knew how to frickin' drive!
* Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
We should all do that anyway.
* Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
What? Red lights aren't opportunities to practice my digital driving methods?
* Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
* Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
And wear lots of deodorant.
* Applying the "Pulse and Glide" technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
* Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle's kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
I was behind someone this morning that would speed up then slam on their brakes. Is that "Pulse and Make engineerd pissed"?
* Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum
Ummm...someone should tell the State of Michigan that they can help with energy independence if they would just FIX THE FUCKING ROADS!
04/28/09
You mean fixing the roads makes a difference? Quick, someone call Sacramento! With all of our "green" policies, we apparently haven't figured that one out yet,
04/28/09
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04/28/09
Granted, I haven't been to Virginia for about 8 years, but I'd be damned impressed if he could manage that on some of those Virginia roads.
04/28/09
It's all about momentum, really. With a large head of steam built up, you can skim across the top of them like a rock skipping across water.
Irony can't begin to compete with the fact that I twice got a flat from hitting a asteroid-sized pothole directly in front of VDOT headquarters.
04/28/09
My personal favorite was getting a ticket shortly after I pulled out of traffic school.
04/28/09
In a Saturn, what was the charge?
04/28/09
I pulled into a left-turn queue about 40ft early., and about two hundred feet behind me, there was another vehicle in the center median waiting to make a left.
Yeah. Talk about bullshit.
04/28/09