[car fanatics]

Source
Photo credit: Ford
March 14, 2012
By: CF staff

The company will achieve this by making the new model almost entirely out of aluminium alloy, instead of steel. Powertrain director Andrew Fraser told Auto Express: “If Ford is to meet the EU target of a 95g/km CO2 average across the range by 2020, we have to take up to 200kg out of the car.

[Thed]

The Focus isn't all that heavy in the first place so this will just be even more awesome! With the current 2.0 I think it could be in the low 6's to get to sixty.

:OHYEAH!:

[McLovin]

Expect lots of next gen products to do similar.
F150 even sheds hundreds and hundreds of lbs.

Oh, and expect to spread your wallet wide open to pay for this CAFÉ reaching approach.

[Thed]

The price increase was a given and inevitable when the CAFE standards were put in place. The time had come to start paying up the ass just for a compact car.

I can see these things in the $30k range by the time the next generation arrives.

Less is more. :2thumbsup:

[lengnert]

While CAFE is not a new phenomena, and therefore the creation of it is not this current administration's black mark; the incredible rise in mandatory mileage requirements is certainly President Obama's doing.

[McLovin]

Really thed, the "time has come to pay up."

What are you, a socialist?
I want the choice to have to pay for better fuel economy. It should not be forced down my throat. Ford was doing fine without extreme sudden regulations.

We will soon not have a choice, simply because of government.
That is not a good thing. We should not force industry to speed up technology any faster than it already is. Think back just 40 years ago, and look how far they have come. There are less emissions from a car today running, than a 70's car parked. Mostly without government intervention, but simple marketplace competition. That is major progress. To demand we speed it up un-naturally in the next decade, to some level that costs everyone money, makes no sense at all.

But alas, it's what I do all day, so I should not complain too much.

[lengnert]

I actually don't think Thed is happy about the situation anymore than anyone else. His statement appears to be out of frustration at the inevitability of it.

Here's in my take, as a choice between a Focus that is 200 lbs. heavier but still gets 40 mpg and costs $20,000 versus a Focus that is lighter gets (let's say) 45 mpg but costs 10-15% more? I am buying the former every damn time.

I don't like being this grouchy however it is early in the morning, so screw you President Obama and every damn Progressive/Socialist "We want $5+ per gallon gas, but not around election time" politician in this fine fruited land.

[Thed]

Quote:What are you, a socialist?

No, far from it actually. I am a Republican and one of the most conservative people I know. Baggins was right, I was saying it out of anger because I STRONGLY oppose CAFE.

Quote:I want the choice to have to pay for better fuel economy. It should not be forced down my throat.

I do too, but not all of us can get what we want.

Quote:We will soon not have a choice, simply because of government.
That is not a good thing. We should not force industry to speed up technology any faster than it already is. Think back just 40 years ago, and look how far they have come. There are less emissions from a car today running, than a 70's car parked. Mostly without government intervention, but simple marketplace competition. That is major progress. To demand we speed it up un-naturally in the next decade, to some level that costs everyone money, makes no sense at all.

And this right here is the #1 reason why I oppose CAFE. Well-said Wings, well-said.

[atvman]

Any compact over 3000lb is too heavy. The goal should be that the heaviest possible Focus should weigh under that number, including the ST and RS.

Now let's see them shed 200kg from the Mustang as well...

[REVolution]

Thats a lot of weight to be lost. Thats also going to be a lot to pay up for it. This is not good.

[RougeRiver]

Shedding 440 lbs from a Focus should reap a fuel economy gain of about 12%. Based on a price of gas equal to $4 per gallon - that should reduce annual fuel cost by about $288. Over the ten year full life cycle of the Focus, one gets a reduction of $2,880. IOW, if added capital cost can be less than $2,880, then the issue is a wash.

This discussion also points out a weakness in an EV - weight. It takes about $12,000 in added cost and 500 lbs of added weight to offer the Focus EV.

Performance???

It's all based on power to weight. A 1.0 liter ecoboost turbo can motivate a 2,600 lbs Focus quite well.

[jspookss]

Why are you idiots harping on our cafe regulations when ford is doing this to meet EU's co2 regulations? In this global field it was inevitable that global regulations would effect us over here as well. Just look at the high ass pedestrian front ends cars have now.

Your bitching at this administration is a moot effort all things considered.

[Gixser995]

Hopefully others get the idea to lighten their cars. Yeah, it'll make cars more expensive but if it isn't too terribly high you can make that money back sooner than a Hybrid.

[Speed Devil]

Hope it goes towards the next ST too, imagine that P2W