MPG-o-Matic 2012 Ford Focus Review Summary:
When you compare the 2012 Ford Focus to the previous year’s model, the differences are remarkable. Remove their badges and you wouldn’t guess the two cars share the same name. The 2012 Focus looks, feels and drives like a European car that just happens to be built at a Michigan Assembly Plant … because, in fact, it is. While it falls a wee bit short of the fuel economy claims of its rivals, the new Focus is truly world class.
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BMW 5-Series Gas Mileage
While the BMW 5-Series might not come to mind when gas mileage is a prime consideration, a look at the numbers can be an eye-opener. Over the years, the six-cylinder equipped 5-Series’ peak highway mile per gallon (MPG) ratings have hovered in the high twenties to low thirties. It’s about to get better …
Jeep Wrangler Gas Mileage Improvement – SEMA (Part 2)
Our Jeep Wrangler gas mileage improvement project is proceeding, albeit slowly. We headed out to SEMA last month to see what the aftermarket options exist to help squeak an extra mile or two out of a gallon of gas. Lo and behold, we quickly tripped into two very cool alternatives that offer a peek into a domestic energy-independent future.
One thing’s for sure. If you’re serious about improving the fuel economy of your Jeep and have serious money to spend the options are out there. The first article in this series mentioned the HPA Motorsports TDI diesel engine swap. We found another cool diesel swap option while scouring the aisles of SEMA’s off-road exhibit hall at the Bruiser Off-Road booth.
2012 Fiat 500 Sport Review
MPG-o-Matic 2012 Fiat 500 Review Summary: While the 2012 Fiat 500 is available in entry-level Pop trim at an enticingly low price, it’s the mid-level Sport model that hits the mark.
The 500 Sport manual proves that fuel-efficient cars can be exceptionally fun to drive. If you’re ready to learn how to drive a stick shift, the 500’s easy-to-drive gearbox is the ideal place to start. Ciao Bella!
New Gas Mileage Standard:
54.5 MPG by 2025
Hold onto your hats. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have finally pulled the curtain on their proposed rule for the Obama Administration’s new gas mileage standard. An average of 54.5 miles per gallon (MPG) by 2025 may seem like a huge leap in a short time, but the numbers are not what they appear.
The 54.5 MPG figure is the EPA number for passenger vehicles, not what you’ll see on the window sticker. It’s a fudge factory powered by greenhouse gas emissions. The automakers will be able to use a range of technology incentives in one place to offset their numbers in another, including flex fuel, hybrid, and electric power trains. In real world terms, we might expect a sticker average of 40 MPG for cars that run on liquid fuel. That’s not all that extraordinary, considering all the cars with gas mileage ratings around 40 MPG highway that we can buy today.
And they wonder why so many Americans are so skeptical of what goes on in Washington.