Dollar-saver diesel Fiesta
June 22, 2009
Kiwis may well soon count themselves among customers for a Fiesta derivative that could gun for the title of New Zealand's most fuel-efficient car.
uckland-headquartered Ford New Zealand has confirmed that the decision to add the ECOnetic derivative to the Fiesta lineup in Australia from late this year makes it much more certain that the ultra frugal diesel will also show here, potentially within the same timeframe.
"We are still looking into the business case for the ECOnetic but with Ford of Australia confirming its launch, it does make it a more viable option for us," Ford New Zealand communications and Government affairs manager Brie Elder told Yahoo!Xtra.
The model is shaping up to be the most expensive Fiesta in the showroom, though it also provides potential to be the best dollar-saver in regard to running costs.
Powered by a tweaked 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine, the ECOnetic features aerodynamic changes, lower ride height, lower rolling resistance tyres (and no spare) and even special low friction engine lubricants.
Available as a manual model only, it also gets a taller final drive ratio and the driver is assisted via economy and gear change indicators.
With 66kW, it provides less power than the 71kW 1.4 and 88kW 1.6-litre petrols already on sale here, but rather more torque - 200Nm, against 128Nm and 152Nm.
The special treatments pay off with superb economy. Ford promises just 3.7L/100km - against 6.1/6.9 from the petrols - and CO2 emissions of 98g/km.
Such stats would beat Mini's Cooper D (3.9L/100km) and also better Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic hybrids.
It also presents a challenge to the country's most frugal diesel, the Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion whose thrift-optimised three-cylinder achieves 3.8 litres per 100km in the same economy regime the Fiesta meets.
The VW exceeded that official overall economy, and went furthest on the least fuel, with a 3.6L/100km overall burn during the EnergyWise Economy Rally back at the start of the year. (Due to quirky nature of the rules, it did not win, the supreme award instead going to a Civic hybrid that averaged 4.7L/100km). Driven to the same light-footed regime, the Fiesta might be expected to at least match the Polo.
Ford Australia's boss, Martin Burela, reckons the Fiesta ECOnetic has potential to become a major player, and not only with fleet businesses looking to cut back on running expenses.
The major issue will be pricing. In Europe the ECOnetic is at or near the top of the Fiesta price table. The auto and manual petrols here respectively cost $25,990 and $24,490, and it's entirely possible the diesel might touch down for close to $30,000.
While expensive for a Fiesta, that'd still place it below the VW - it costs $31,990 - and potentially will still undercut the upcoming new-generation Prius and Honda Insight by thousands of dollars.
While the ECOnetic Fiesta goes light on its fuel burn, it still carries a comprehenive equipment level, matching the petrol models' safety arsenal and also sporting identical comfort features, including Bluetooth.
Meantime, Ford NZ is also thought to be mulling a dual-clutch automated manual version of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel Focus recently launched across the Tasman.
What this means to you:
A genuine alternative to thrift-minded motorists not sold on hybrids.
uckland-headquartered Ford New Zealand has confirmed that the decision to add the ECOnetic derivative to the Fiesta lineup in Australia from late this year makes it much more certain that the ultra frugal diesel will also show here, potentially within the same timeframe.
"We are still looking into the business case for the ECOnetic but with Ford of Australia confirming its launch, it does make it a more viable option for us," Ford New Zealand communications and Government affairs manager Brie Elder told Yahoo!Xtra.
The model is shaping up to be the most expensive Fiesta in the showroom, though it also provides potential to be the best dollar-saver in regard to running costs.
Powered by a tweaked 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine, the ECOnetic features aerodynamic changes, lower ride height, lower rolling resistance tyres (and no spare) and even special low friction engine lubricants.
Available as a manual model only, it also gets a taller final drive ratio and the driver is assisted via economy and gear change indicators.
With 66kW, it provides less power than the 71kW 1.4 and 88kW 1.6-litre petrols already on sale here, but rather more torque - 200Nm, against 128Nm and 152Nm.
The special treatments pay off with superb economy. Ford promises just 3.7L/100km - against 6.1/6.9 from the petrols - and CO2 emissions of 98g/km.
Such stats would beat Mini's Cooper D (3.9L/100km) and also better Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic hybrids.
It also presents a challenge to the country's most frugal diesel, the Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion whose thrift-optimised three-cylinder achieves 3.8 litres per 100km in the same economy regime the Fiesta meets.
The VW exceeded that official overall economy, and went furthest on the least fuel, with a 3.6L/100km overall burn during the EnergyWise Economy Rally back at the start of the year. (Due to quirky nature of the rules, it did not win, the supreme award instead going to a Civic hybrid that averaged 4.7L/100km). Driven to the same light-footed regime, the Fiesta might be expected to at least match the Polo.
Ford Australia's boss, Martin Burela, reckons the Fiesta ECOnetic has potential to become a major player, and not only with fleet businesses looking to cut back on running expenses.
The major issue will be pricing. In Europe the ECOnetic is at or near the top of the Fiesta price table. The auto and manual petrols here respectively cost $25,990 and $24,490, and it's entirely possible the diesel might touch down for close to $30,000.
While expensive for a Fiesta, that'd still place it below the VW - it costs $31,990 - and potentially will still undercut the upcoming new-generation Prius and Honda Insight by thousands of dollars.
While the ECOnetic Fiesta goes light on its fuel burn, it still carries a comprehenive equipment level, matching the petrol models' safety arsenal and also sporting identical comfort features, including Bluetooth.
Meantime, Ford NZ is also thought to be mulling a dual-clutch automated manual version of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel Focus recently launched across the Tasman.
What this means to you:
A genuine alternative to thrift-minded motorists not sold on hybrids.
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