Brands battle for green crown

[R-Design]

Next month's Global Green Challenge is shaping up as a battle of the brands.

Originally Posted by By Neil McDonaldHerald Sun 17 September 2009

Originally for solar vehicles only, the 3000km trial from Darwin to Adelaide now runs a parallel Eco Challenge. Carmakers are falling over themselves to include their latest models as fuel consumption and emissions become more important to consumers. Holden is the latest carmaker to put a car on the grid for the event.

It will run a direct injection 3.0-litre V6 Commodore Omega Sportwagon on the 3000km drive from Darwin to Adelaide. Holden chairman and managing director Alan Batey says the decision to field a Sportwagon will serve as a practical demonstration of the car's fuel-saving capabilities. "Our strategy of providing customers with better fuel efficiency today, and next-generation fuel advances for tomorrow is driving everything we do," he says.

Arch-rival Ford is running a Falcon XR6 and its yet-to-be-released Econetic Fiesta hatch, which promises real-world economy of 3.7 litres/100km. Ford Australia chief, Marin Burela, says it is not a publicity stunt. "We wouldn't be entering unless we had something to say," he says. It will be the first time this particular Fiesta will be seen on Australian roads as it does not arrive in showrooms until November.

Apart from Ford and Holden, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot, Mini, Skoda, Suzuki and Volvo are all participating. The world's first production fully-electric sports car, the Tesla, is also entered.

The Eco Challenge is aimed at giving carmakers with conventional and alternative-engines an opportunity to showcase their advances in economy and low-emission technologies.

A spokesman for the Global Green Challenge, Mike Drewer, says there are about 20 practical family cars taking part. "There is a greater emphasis on alternative fuel-efficient cars coming on to the market," he says.

However, Drewer says the Eco Challenge part of the revamped Global Green Challenge will not take anything away from the 44 pure solar cars participating. "It's important for the solar cars to showcase new technologies," Drewer says.

Since the South Australian Motor Sport Board took over the World Solar Challenge last year it has rebranded it and broadened its appeal. "There has been a push to get available relevant technology," Drewer says.

Burela welcomes the Eco Challenge's broader take on new technology. "The have shifted as the market as shifted as fuel economy is more important." The Eco Challenge covers a series of set stages with overnight stops at Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy, and Port Augusta. The event kicks off from Darwin on October 24, ending in Adelaide on October 31.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...r_green_crown/

[4VCLEVO]

Will be interesting to see fuel economy results for 3L commy to 4L falcon.
I'm guessing that ford wouldn't enter there XR6 if it were to be made a fool of by the commy.

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by 4VCLEVO

Will be interesting to see fuel economy results for 3L commy to 4L falcon.
I'm guessing that ford wouldn't enter there XR6 if it were to be made a fool of by the commy.

Thought that was interesting also, especially since the XR6 comes standard with the 5 Speed Auto. Just a pity they don't have the Mondeo Diesel Wagon to throw into the mix also as it would put the Sportwagon to shame.

[EDManual]

There was a fuel economy challenge in New Zealand a year ago or so, and a falcon did something like 7 litres per hundred including hills and having to keep to an average speed of something or other. I remember a table of the results, cant find it. (can anyone find that?)

With this Oz challenge, I really hope that all cars MUST have the same average speed. Cant have the falcon doing 100, when a commodore does 80 for example. It should all come down to aerodynamics, rolling resistance of tyres and torque at low revs to keep the speed in the end.

I look forward to the results!!

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by EDManual

With this Oz challenge, I really hope that all cars MUST have the same average speed. Cant have the falcon doing 100, when a commodore does 80 for example. It should all come down to aerodynamics, rolling resistance of tyres and torque at low revs to keep the speed in the end.

I look forward to the results!!

i agree but how will they keep tabs on it as in would it be done with a timer or will it be done with gps ?

Jason

[Yellow_Festiva]

I thought that Econetic Fiesta had a rating of around 3l/100?

Anyway, This will be an interesting test. The Euro's have been producing cars that can achieve on or around the 3l/100km figure for several years now with small capacity diesel engines.

The results will raise a few eyebrows... several years ago, this sort of thing was done by Daewoo / Ssangyong as a marketing exercise for the Musso, and got sub 5l/100km consumption! (Was an Aussie record at the time).

The marketing gold each car make will get if they were the winners of their segment will be priceless.

[R-Design]

Another great thing about this challenge is that the open road conditions would make Hybrids look very average (hence no Toyota). You’d think this would have been the perfect marketing exercise for the Hybrid Camry/Prius, instead them being no-shows should be exploited by other brands.

[4VCLEVO]

Originally Posted by Boss315

Thought that was interesting also, especially since the XR6 comes standard with the 5 Speed Auto. Just a pity they don't have the Mondeo Diesel Wagon to throw into the mix also as it would put the Sportwagon to shame.

I would asume they will use a 6 speed auto in the XR6, after Marin Burela had stated that the 6 speed auto falcon was almost on par with the economy of the 3L commy.

[R-Design]

I pulled this off the green vehicle guide, looks like the I6 will get closer to the 3.0L once you get out of town but it should still come out the winner. Also, when you're up and running it looks like the 6 speed auto's advantage dwindles a bit, might pay them to stick with the 5 speed from a purchase cost perspective.

Fuel Consumption L/100km
Comb Urban Extra
VE SIDI C'dore 3.0L 6cyl,Auto 6 sp Sedan 9.3 12.7 7.3
FG Falcon XR6 4.0L 6cyl,Auto 6 speed Sedan 10.1 14 7.8
FG Falcon XR6 4.0L 6cyl,Auto 5 speed Sedan 10.5 14.5 7.9

http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/...7-7027cd633be9

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Boss315

I pulled this off the green vehicle guide, looks like the I6 will get closer to the 3.0L once you get out of town but it should still come out the winner. Also, when you're up and running it looks like the 6 speed auto's advantage dwindles a bit, might pay them to stick with the 5 speed from a purchase cost perspective.

Fuel Consumption L/100km
Comb Urban Extra
VE SIDI C'dore 3.0L 6cyl,Auto 6 sp Sedan 9.3 12.7 7.3
FG Falcon XR6 4.0L 6cyl,Auto 6 speed Sedan 10.1 14 7.8
FG Falcon XR6 4.0L 6cyl,Auto 5 speed Sedan 10.5 14.5 7.9

http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/...7-7027cd633be9

Should be close! With the real world aerodynamic advantage of the Falcon over the squared off GMH product should be really close!

[Falcon_Crazy]

The Falcon will perform well...my FG Ute is averagring 8.9l/100km in its 11 months and 32,000km (Never reset trip computer). Have haf DTE read over 1,000km after a trip from syd to melb...looking fwd t seeing results

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Falcon_Crazy

The Falcon will perform well...my FG Ute is averagring 8.9l/100km in its 11 months and 32,000km (Never reset trip computer). Have haf DTE read over 1,000km after a trip from syd to melb...looking fwd t seeing results

My neighbour does heaps of kays for his work and has an FG XR6 5spd auto. Done 41500 in just 8 months!

Since his last reset (about 10,000km ago) he has consumed an average of 9.8L/100km at an average speed of exactly 60kmh. The car sits idling with the air con plenty of time in outback NSW too. He admits to be being spirited in driving it. Certainly not driving for economy.

So, all in all, a fantastic testament to the economy of the FG Falcon 5spd.

[R-Design]

Ford to roll out Fiesta Econetic in next month’s Global Green Car Challenge

Originally Posted by 29 September 2009 By MARTON PETTENDY

FORD Australia will demonstrate the fuel-efficiency of its first dedicated green car, the Fiesta Econetic, in next month’s Global Green Challenge ahead of its release here in December.

A pre-production version of the most frugal Fiesta will take part in the high-profile international green vehicle event, formerly known as the World Solar Challenge, from Darwin to Adelaide between October 24 and 31.

The Fiesta Econetic will go on sale in Australia a month later, as promised by Ford Australia president Marin Burela at the 2009 Melbourne motor show in February, when the most efficient Fiesta made its Australian debut alongside the facelifted Focus, Ranger and Territory.

While pricing is yet to be revealed, expect it to be positioned near the top of the Fiesta range, perhaps around the $20,000 mark between the 1.6 LX ($18,990) and 1.6 Zetec ($21,490) five-doors.

The Fiesta Econetic was launched as Ford’s most fuel-efficient model ever at the London motor show in mid-2008, in both three and five-door hatchback body styles.

GoAuto has learned the Fiesta Econetic will be made available in Australia as a single five-door hatchback model only, powered by a specially tuned 1.6-litre TDCi turbo-diesel engine that delivers 66kW of power and 200Nm of torque.

In Europe, the Fiesta Econetic returns average combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 3.7L/100km, making it even more fuel-efficient than Toyota’s new Prius hybrid and Mini’s Cooper D diesel, both of which average 3.9L/100km.

Like the Mini, the Fiesta will be a (five-speed) manual-only proposition, employing mostly conventional turbo-diesel technology to return average CO2 emissions of just 98 grams per kilometre. While the Ford will be the only other new vehicle available in Australia to return less than 100g/km, official figures show the Prius remains the ‘cleaner’ car, with average CO2 emissions of just 89g/km.

To achieve the remarkably low fuel consumption figure, the Fiesta Econetic will ride 10mm lower than other Fiestas with a ground clearance of 93mm, while other aerodynamic features will include air deflectors andthe fitment of 14-inch steel (not alloy) wheels with relatively narrow 175/65-section low-rolling-resistance tyres and unique wheel covers.

Other fuel-saving features include low-viscosity engine and transmission oils, a taller final drive ratio, the replacement of a spare wheel/tyre with a ‘tyre mobility kit’ and driver aids to encourage environmentally friendlier driving, such as fuel consumption and optimum gearchange indicators.

Interestingly, while the environmentally friendlier Fiesta will come standard with electronic stability control and front, side and driver’s knee airbags, it will also offer a braked towing capacity of 550kg – 25kg more than the rest of the range.

At 1065kg, the Econetic model weighs slightly less than the 1.6-litre petrol-engined five-door CL (1071kg), LX (1075kg) and Zetec (1077kg).

Apart from ESC and a full compliment of airbags, the Fiesta Econetic will come standard with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking, cruise control and foglights.

Both the 71kW/125Nm 1.4-litre and 88kW/152Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engines will continue unchanged in the new WS-series Fiesta range, while a four-door sedan body style will join the three and five-door Fiestas here early next year.

“The Fiesta Econetic will be added to our Fiesta model line-up towards the end of 2009 and promises to be one of the most fuel-efficient and lowest CO2-emitting vehicles ever offered for sale in Australia,” said Mr Burela at this year’s Melbourne show.

“It looks and functions just like conventional Fiesta, using conventional diesel powertrain technology, yet it has the potential to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions compared to the current crop of competitive vehicles, as well as against today's most popular hybrid models.”

“Its introduction to the local Ford line-up will provide a genuine alternative to those customers who prioritise low CO2 emission performance when it comes to choosing a new vehicle.

“It will also enable us to gauge consumer reaction to the broader Econetic philosophy, with respect to other fuel efficient, low CO2 emission models that may be considered for the Australian market.

“By launching a specific model, with dedicated Ford Econetic badging to designate its ultra-low CO2 results, we will be able to offer a clear alternative for those customers who prioritise low emission performance,” he said.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25764000094111

[sgt_doofey]

Surprising they didn't mate that Fiesta to a 6-speed manual if they are chasing fuel efficiency. Having said that though, the article does state a taller final drive ratio, so probably negates that need.

[Bossxr8]

Ford need to lower the Falcon to improve economy, just like the Fiesta Econetic.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Wonder what other combinations they toyed with during testing? 65 series tyres are still fairly tall, they should have gone for a 175/60 or even a 55/50 combination (When I went from a 175/60 up to a 65 series there was a HUGE difference).

Say a 1.4 diesel instead? 55kw, 160NM?? Wonder if it could have gotten down to 3.4-3.5L/100?

Still, this is the direction that 'green cars' should be going. small capacity and highly efficient engines in lighter bodies that return hybrid like performance - at half the price, and half the environmental drain.

Shame it's only to be sold here in 5 door guise as well... I'm sure there would be more than a few people turned off with this.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by EDManual

There was a fuel economy challenge in New Zealand a year ago or so, and a falcon did something like 7 litres per hundred including hills and having to keep to an average speed of something or other. I remember a table of the results, cant find it. (can anyone find that?)

With this Oz challenge, I really hope that all cars MUST have the same average speed. Cant have the falcon doing 100, when a commodore does 80 for example. It should all come down to aerodynamics, rolling resistance of tyres and torque at low revs to keep the speed in the end.

I look forward to the results!!

http://www.aa.co.nz/about/events/AAe...s/default.aspx

[Gaz]

"the Fiesta Econetic will ride 10mm lower than other Fiestas with a ground clearance of 93mm"

Don't cars require 100mm of ground clearance? or can manufacturers make them lower and avoid this rule? (That'd annoy the cops, having a 95mm GT).

That being said, will provide some interesting car park negotiations.

[XplodE]

We hired a Falcon XT to drive from Melbourne airport to Philip Island the other week.

We drove from airport to PI, from PI to Koo wee Rup (spelling?). Koo wee Rup to PI and then PI back to Melb Airport plus a few stops along the way.

The XT was 5 speed and had about 33,000 on the ticker filled it with standard unleaded and we averaged 8.3ltrs /100k according to trip computer...

I thought it was pretty good. Definitely a lot better then my AU XR6HP that I used to own.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Ford need to lower the Falcon to improve economy, just like the Fiesta Econetic.

Agreed. And remove the spare wheel to save weight, plus fit an even taller (than 2.73:1) diff ratio in the 6 speed auto.

Imagine the uproar at Holden if the XR6 pipped the Commodore in a fuel economy challenge!

[FalconXV]

They could create an Econetic version of the 4-banger Falc I bet: ultra tall final drive, powershift DSG, flat plastic underfloor, more streamlined front valance, low resistance tyres and there you have a 6-7L/100 Falcon. If this nameplate takes off, it would be just the thing to silence the critics.

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by 9 October 2009
By RON HAMMERTON

TWO of Australia’s thirstier cars could end up being the unlikely stars of the 2009 Global Green Challenge – a 3000km fuel economy competition from Darwin to Adelaide on October 24-31.

HSV’s 6.2-litre V8 Maloo R8 ute – with an official combined fuel consumption rating of 14.3 litres per 100km – and the 4.0-litre Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo – rated at 11.7L/100km in the combined ADR 81/01 test – will be shooting for a podium finish in the production car class of the event, which grew out of the World Solar Challenge.

As both Ford and HSV have been quick to identify, the rules do not just measure overall consumption but the percentage of fuel saved under the official ADR fuel consumption figure.

These companies figure the event – with its long stretches of straight, flat highway and only a couple of urban runs in Darwin and Adelaide – will provide ideal conditions to show just how efficient their vehicles can be with careful, steady driving.

Compared with more frugal vehicles, the drivers should find it fairly easy to slice large chunks out of the official, combined urban/highway cycle used to measure every car on the Australian market.

Both cars should be able to lope along the Stuart Highway in a torquey sweet spot of the rev range and the optimum gear for maximum efficiency.

According to official figures, the Maloo does 10.3L/100km on the ‘extra urban’ or highway cycle, but HSV hopes to achieve single figures. The XR6 Turbo already achieves single figures on the official highway test – 8.8L/100km – but it will be a matter of how much further it can go.

Another big V8 car should also provide plenty of interest in the event, even though it is not officially entered. HSV’s support car is a prototype for its LPG-fuelled V8 E2 Series, doing double duty as a test bed for upcoming liquid-injection technology to be introduced next year by the Holden hot shop.

The battle for showroom car outright honours – the vehicle which covers the 3000km on the fewest litres of fuel – is shaping up as a fight of the fuels – diesel, petrol and LPG.

Of the diesels, the new 1.6-litre Ford Fiesta Econetic is one of the pre-event favourites. Set to become Australia’s most fuel-efficient vehicle when it is launched later this year, the smallest Ford has an official fuel rating of 3.7L/100km on the combined cycle and 3.2L/100km on the highway.

It will be up against a small fleet of diesel Mini Cooper Ds, one of which will be driven by former Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan.

Volvo’s super-efficient C30 1.6D DRIVe also was meant to have competed, but a shipping delay has forced the withdrawal of Sweden’s top chance (see separate story).

Of the petrol candidates, Suzuki’s new three-cylinder 1.0-litre Alto city car is the best bet to take the glory from the diesels. On paper, it is behind the diesels, with a combined fuel rating of 4.8L/100km and highway figure of 4.3L/100km (on premium unleaded), but Suzuki believes it is up for the challenge.

The diesel and petrol cars alike might be upstaged by Kia’s state-of-art gas/hybrid Forte (known in Australia as the Cerato).

A pair of these 1.6-litre liquid petroleum injection (LPI) cars, which use an electric motor sandwiched between the engine flywheel and CVT transmission to boost acceleration, have been entered as a pre-cursor to the introduction of the model next year.

Although no ADR figures are yet available, Korean tests show the gas-hybrid car uses a combined-cycle 5.6L/100km of LPG. Considering the price of LPG is less than half the price of petrol per litre, Kia is confident of some bragging rights by the time the Challenge reaches Adelaide.

The Kia is the only showroom (in Korea) model using hybrid technology in the event. Toyota and Honda have both declined to enter their Prius and Insight, no doubt because the strength of those cars is the stop-start urban environment. On the open running of the Stuart Highway, the diesels in particular should excel.

Skoda has entered its 2.0-litre diesel Superb large-car to demonstrate its fuel-sipping talents, which are officially measured at 6.3L/100km (combined) and 5.3L/100km (highway).

Another large car, Holden’s 3.0-litre VE Commodore, will also be along for the ride to similarly showcase the new-found efficiencies of the SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) model – officially 9.3L/100km combined and 7.3L/100km highway.

Hyundai will also go big, with its new 2.2-litre diesel Santa Fe CRDi that boasts a combined fuel figure of 7.2L/100km (5.9L/100km highway).

The plug-in electric Tesla sports coupe from California’s Silicon Valley – regarded as the world’s first practical electric highway cruiser – has also been entered. It is said to be capable of a range of more than 400km per charge of its lithium-ion batteries, and will need every amp to make the distance between stops on the six stages of the journey.

There will be no such issues for the more than 40 solar cars entered in the glamour zero-emissions World Solar Challenge category.

These cars, entered by teams traveling from about 17 countries, will simply cruise on sublight, stopping and camping beside the highway each night at a set time.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25764A00091B74

[Rastus]

Originally Posted by 4VCLEVO

I would asume they will use a 6 speed auto in the XR6, after Marin Burela had stated that the 6 speed auto falcon was almost on par with the economy of the 3L commy.

Yeah true! Check out this drive.com.au video where they test a G6 with the 6 speed Vs the new SIDI 3L Commo around the Bathurst track.

http://media.drive.com.au/cars/car-n...t-780932.html?

Would've been interesting what the G6 would've done with the 5 speeder.

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Rastus

Yeah true! Check out this drive.com.au video where they test a G6 with the 6 speed Vs the new SIDI 3L Commo around the Bathurst track.

http://media.drive.com.au/cars/car-n...t-780932.html?

Would've been interesting what the G6 would've done with the 5 speeder.

Falcon 4Litre is more economical!!!!! Drive said that the Falcon is supposed to use 8% more, but it doesn't!

Drive says the Falcon has better steering, cabin, stronger more enjoyable engine and uses less fuel. 10.0L/100km around Bathurst whilst averaging 60kmh. It was stated as about 10% less fuel than the not economical 3.0L SIDS. The actual Commodore figure was not revealed...

[Romulus]

Wow. Just goes to show torque is king in large cars and equals less fuel consumption in real-world applications.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by phillyc

Falcon 4Litre is more economical!!!!! Drive said that the Falcon is supposed to use 8% more, but it doesn't!

Drive says the Falcon has better steering, cabin, stronger more enjoyable engine and uses less fuel. 10.0L/100km around Bathurst whilst averaging 60kmh. It was stated as about 10% less fuel than the not economical 3.0L SIDS. The actual Commodore figure was not revealed...

Well no they didn't state the figure but 10% more than 10l/100km = 11l/100km in my books.

[EDManual]

are they having an average speed that the cars MUST keep? They have to you would think otherwise its a useless excercise. some doing 60, others doing 100...

[Swordsman88]

More info RE the drive test found here:

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...3&vf=7&IsPgd=0

To save reading, it notes that the Falcon burnt 10.02 L/100km (adr 10.1, trip computer 9.9) and the commodore 11.09 (adr 9.3, trip computer 11.0). Cars drove the same track, same rotating drivers, at 60km/h speed limit for 161 laps. tyres at rec. manufacturer pressures.

For me all that inllustrates is that fuel efficiency is as much about how/where you drive as anything the manufacturers do.

When ford produces the I4T falcon it will be interesting to see what it does, because while i don't doubt the poor showing of the 3.0 SIDI commodore was due to the torque problems up mount panorama, the turbo on the I4 you would think might hurt fuel consumption to. Then again, why would Ford doing something as stupid as holden and knowingly produce another falcon model they knew was going to burn the same if not more than what they have now?? I'd love to have seen what a 3.6 SIDI would have done....

[Watto_Cobra]

Where is the surprise?

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

the turbo on the I4 you would think might hurt fuel consumption to.

It won't. The turbo is used to produce that torque that's needed to climb the hills easily.