Monday, July 28, 2008

The Final Answer Is....

So far for those who voted Car B is the clear winner. Why did every one, on gut reaction, pick B?……Because it looks better, and it also runs better.

Ok here’s the deal:

BOTH of these vehicles are the:

2008 Ford Focus

Car A is available in the USA,



Car B is available in Europe.



Now why I ask does Ford insist on giving us the uglier car? Why haven’t they bothered to update the US version to increase sales? (They are currently moving 6 European models to the US, this Focus is one of them.) Apparently they enjoy losing money, and having us spend more money, to drive an inferior car.

Car A is available with a :
Duratec 20 16V I4
Engine electronics EEC-V
Displacement 2.0L (121 cu. in.)
Horsepower (SAE net@rpm) 140 @ 6000
Torque (lb. ft. @ rpm) 136 @ 4250
Recommended fuel Unleaded Regular Unleaded Regular
Fuel economy EPA est. mpg: 24 City/35 Highway
Transmission type 5-Speed Manual Overdrive Transaxle;

Car B is available with a number of different engines (most of which run better and have better fuel economy than what is available here) :

Gasoline versions run from 1.4-litre to 2.0-litre.
The 1.4 goes from 0-60 mph in 13.6 seconds
Fuel consumption: 42 miles per gallon
CO2 emissions: 157 g/km

There are three diesel units - a 1.6-litre, 1.8-litre and a 2.0 litre.
“The 1.6-litre TDCi with 110 bhp is the most popular - it pulls sweetly and has plenty of punch for effortless overtaking. All models come with a five-speed gearbox except the 2.0 TDCi, which is a six-speeder” (Wikipedia)

The stats on the 1.6 TDCI - Hatchback (this is a diesel)
0-60 mph: 12.2 seconds
Fuel consumption: 60 miles per gallon
CO2 emissions: 124 g/km


A green ECOnetic model joined the range in early 2008. This has a 1.6-litre TDCi engine, making it the cleanest Focus ever.
Stats
0-60 mph: 12.2 seconds
Fuel consumption: 65 miles per gallon
CO2 emissions: 114 g/km

Now I realize diesel engines have lost some appeal in the US, but why weren’t we even offered the option? I am hurt that the Ford Motor Company would leave us out of the loop. Ford is a US company. We should be the cutting edge. We should have the best and newest technology, not Europe or anywhere else. I feel abandoned by a company that was built and helped build the United States.
(Diesel engines are being fazed out in California, Vermont, New York and many other places because the CO2 emissions are generally higher than that of a gasoline engine, but look at the grams per kilometer of the three European engines, the diesel engines are letting out less CO2 than the gasoline engine.)

2 comments:

Dan and Janet said...

Perhaps we should talk of something less contentious, like politics...
I think it is "Time for Some Campaignin'"
www.jibjab.com

Anonymous said...

Very interesting, maybe things will change, maybe they won't. Don't let it get to you.
Mom