Ken F.

I replaced my Focus wagon with a Focus sedan because that was all that was available. I really miss the functionality of the wagon. Most who drive the Focus do so for economical reasons. The wagon adds functionality to this economical vehicle. How about the Toyota Matrix and it's Pontiac alter ego? They sell well, don't they? Perhaps marketing is the problem.

What kind of fuel economy could be achieved in a Focus with the EcoBoost I-4 and a double over drive trans? I'll bet you could get close to a Prius.

I think they should offer the I-4 Eco Boost as well. It probably makes better power than the old 300c.i. I-6 and has the potential for exceptional fuel economy.

Nope.

I was in Italy a few months ago. Spent a fair amount of time in a new VW Passat wagon. It had the new 2.0L turbo-diesel with a 5 speed manual gear box. Plenty of power and the on board computer showed 18kM per liter in mixed driving. If I did my math right, that's over 42MPG. And the Passat wagon is a roomy car, I'm thinking it's compareable with a Taurus. I was told this car met Euro-5 emission stanards.

I think the Focus could easily break a 40 MPG highway rating if they put the 6-speed manual transmission in it and gear it so that 5th is the current overdrive and 6th dropped revs even lower. There seems to be plenty of torque availible so that 75 mph engine speed could be reduced by 500-700 RPM. It wouldn't cost them $hit to do it either.

Does anyone know how this program is going? Is it still healthy?

Comparing B100 to Crisco is not even close to reality. I had a 2003 Dodge with a 5.9 Common Rail Cummins. I ran a lot of B99 and never had any problems. But I was proactive in filter changes, and never ran it in the winter. I really thought it was a good thing.

Well it's a step in the right direction. I'll bet thats good for a couple MPG. (For the AVERAGE driver)

Lower by how much? What kind of RPM @ 75MPH?

Again, in my humble opinion Ford would have done itself a favor by gearing for fuel economy. 1st thru 5th could have stayed the same. 6th should drop RPM considerably. These aren't race cars. We don't need a 6 speed close ratio here. (I consider this part of the calibration.) Also, a lower stall converter would help in city driving.

Here are links to a web site where people report there actual experiences. Focus Data Malibu Data Fusion Data The Focus and the Fusion would both benefit from different gearing. .

It's been a while, but I was thinking it was even higher than 2200. But I agree with your statement. I expected 1800 RPM or so. If I remember right, my 1 ton dually pick up pulled less than 2200 @ 75MPH. To others, sorry for my choice of words. I consider gearing a form of calibration. .

Don't know what to tell you. These are my experiences and I am being completely honest. I have owned (2) Foci and I have put 3000+ miles on (2) of these 4 cylinder Malibu rental cars. The Malibu is a bigger car and it is better on fuel than the Focus. Actually, I am a little disappointed in the '07 Focus. It is rated at 37 highway. The absolute best I have ever gotten is 36 and that is with the cruise set at 65 mph max. Real world in this car is 32-33 mpg. This car replaced an '02 Focus wagon that got just as good with 130K miles on it. I am starting to regret making a change. I don't know where you're getting 41 with the Malibu. But I think the Focus could break 40 if it were geared so it pulled 2500 RPM or less at 75 MPH.

Calibration, Calibration, Calibration ! ! ! I can't say it enough. I am traveling on business and I am driving an '08 Malibu "Classic". (It's an '08, but not the new car) This thing has a 4 cylinder with a 4 speed auto trans and it is BETTER on fuel than my '07 Focus!!! (Mailbu is better by atleast 4MPG) But it is geared so that it only spins 2400 RPM @ 75 MPH. My Focus spins close to 3100 RPM at the same speed. And it is NOT a slug! If you put it to the floor this thing scoots. I would say better driveability than the Focus as well. I have had (2) different Malibu rentals and I can EASILY get 38 MPG out if them driving 75 MPH. The Fusions I have driven are LUCKY if they see 28 MPG. About a year and a half ago I test drove a 500 with a 6-speed auto. I got out of thinking who ever calibrated it and chose the gearing was clueless. It spun way too many RPM. So, all the gears in the world aren't worth a handful of spit if they are not properly calibrated.