Ford announced this week that the 2014 Ford Fiesta is good for a whopping 45mpg highway when equipped with their 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine.  And indeed, that will make the new Fiesta the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid, gasoline-powered car certified by the EPA.  Jealous? 

With the announcement of the significant bump in fuel economy, crowds of crotchety car guys are bound to speculate just how much power Ford had to strangle out of the Fiesta to achieve a mile per-gallon figure large enough to launch an advertising campaign around.

Ford is quick to mention that the Fiesta is the only car in its class that produces more than 120hp and achieves 45mpg highway, but that still doesn’t say much about how fast the thimble-sized engine will move the Fiesta in the passing lane.  To compensate for what is most likely an under abundance of power, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost features an “overboost” function that allows it to make more than 145lb.-ft. of torque (up from 125 lb.-ft.) for up to 15 seconds. 

In other words, the Fiesta keeps its torque in a mason jar that’s locked in the glove compartment.  If you ask it nicely it will let you have a bit, but only briefly.  This conservationist precaution shouldn’t bother consumers who buy the Fiesta for its kingpin highway fuel economy so long as the boost does its job.

Being capable of 32mpg city shouldn’t hurt the 2014 Fiesta either. 

SOURCE:

Ford

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