ford

2015 Ford F-150: 30 MPG Magic?

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The thought of a half-ton pickup truck achieving 30 miles per gallon (MPG) with a gasoline engine was unfathomable, just a few years ago. A 30 MPG rating for the 2015 Ford F-150 would be nothing short of remarkable. While the F-150’s gas mileage ratings have not been released for 2015, engineering leaps at Ford may have put that magic thirty within reach. The savings potential is based on three core technologies: lightweighting, displacement downsizing, and aerodynamics.

2015 Ford F150 King Ranch

The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in America for years on end. A significant drop in the F150’s fuel consumption = a lot more money in F150 owners wallets and lessened need for our nation to import oil. This will do more than budge the needle. Lets take a look at how Ford made the magic happen …

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How Do Convertible Tops Affect Fuel Economy?

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There’s something about open air motoring that cannot be duplicated by a sunroof (regardless of size) or targa roof. My first car was a ragtop and I hope my last car will be as well. Needless to say, I don’t make apologies for loving convertibles.

I’ve long wondered about the effect of convertible tops on fuel economy. While I’ve never run tests on any of my own cars, I have put a number of review convertibles through highway testing loops with the top up and top down. But I haven’t had the opportunity to put a video out on the topic, until now …

The stars aligned recently, and I was able to schedule a 2013 Chrysler 200 S convertible and a 2014 Ford Mustang convertible, on back-to-back weeks. This gave me the chance to test two (of the three) American V6 convertibles available today under similar weather and traffic conditions, over an identical route.

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Ford Escape Gas Mileage: 2001 – 2013

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The Ford Escape was introduced in 2001 as Ford’s entry into the two-row mid-size SUV segment. The original model was designed in conjunction with Mazda, and shared many components with the Mazda Tribute, as well as with the Mercury Mariner.

At the time it was introduced, the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid (shown below) was billed as the most fuel efficient SUV sold in the United States, with the front wheel drive version delivering 34 city and 30 highway miles per gallon, while the four wheel drive version hauled down 29 city and 27 highway. (The non-hybrid 2008-2012 Escape was offered with either a 2.4 liter four cylinder or a 3.0 liter six.) The Escape Hybrid was offered through the 2012 model year.

The Escape is all new for 2013, with a sleek new crossover design and a choice of three different engines.

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2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Road Test to NYC

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How many gallons of gas did you use on your last trip into the big city?

In this extended video road test, I took a 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi from Central New Jersey into mid-town Manhattan. I experimented with the Energi’s EV Now and EV Later modes to see how it reacted on backroads and Interstate highways, as well as in New York City traffic. The trip started with the battery showing 18 miles of charge. The fifty-odd mile route resulted in a 61 MPG result – easily the most fuel efficient trip I’ve ever taken into NYC.

The C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid has a pure electric range of approximately twenty-one miles when fully charged. While the stated EPA mile per gallon (MPG) estimates are 108 city / 92 highway – compared to 47 / 47 for the standard C-MAX – gas mileage results will always vary, depending on route and distance. 100+ MPGs will only be seen on shorter trips.

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Global Rallycross Returns to Irwindale for X-Games 2013

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Hold onto your flat-brimmed hats. Rallycross is returning to Irwindale and it’s bringing Ken Block’s Gymkhana Grid along with it. ESPN has announced that this summer’s Global Rallycross X-Games events will be held at Irwindale Event Center, home of the very first offical Global Rallycross event back in 2011.

MPGomatic regulars know that we’ve been chasing the Rallycross story since the summer of 2010 when Rally America premiered the sport at New Jersey Motorsports Park with a three weekend series. Lots of water and money have flowed under the gap jump since that first season. Global Rallycross has grown into the antithesis of grass roots racing, with an international series that’s defied the expectations of many.

ESPN – together with the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and Irwindale Event Center – will present X Games Los Angeles 2013 on August 1 – 4, with more than 200 athletes in competition venues and event spaces in and around L.A. LIVE, STAPLES Center and – for the first time – Irwindale Speedway. ESPN and ABC will combine to offer 19 live hours of X Games Los Angeles 2013 original programming; WatchESPN will carry every event on ESPN networks; and an additional four-and-a-half hours of original content will be available across computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox in the U.S.

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