2011 Ford Fiesta the New Geo Metro?

[basjoos]

From what I can see, the basic shape of the hatchback looks like it would easily lend itself to a full aeromod and boattail like I did with my Honda Civic. The big question is the gearing on the manual tall enough to take full advantage of the aeromod's drag reduction? Since the 6 speed auto gets better mileage than the 5 speed manual (and since they don't offer the Super Fuel Economy Package with the manual) it looks like they followed the usual trend of providing short gearing on the manual for "sporty" driving. The other question is how does the dual clutch automatic respond to hypermiling driving techniques? Will it drop a gear and rev up the engine like most automatics do when you try to place it into a fuel efficient low rpm/80% throttle acceleration. Does it have an option of selecting between FE and sporty shifting behavior. But the weight and overall shape of the car are better than anything I've seen on the American new car market since the demise of the original Insight. Put a rounded, adjustable grill inlet nose on the front and a full boattail on the back and you should be able to knock the Cd well below the stock value.

[Nevyn]

I posted gear ratios for both of 'em somewhere once. Let me dig 'em up again and I'll edit this post.

So it's not that the 5-manual is "short," I think it's just that they are keeping cost down by using an existing transmission. It's more a matter of the PowerShift being long-er. That's my take.

TRANSMISSION
Standard 5-speed manual
Gear ratios
1st 3.846
2nd 2.038
3rd 1.281
4th 0.951
5th 0.756
Reverse 3.615
Final drive 4.07 to 1

Optional PowerShift™ 6-speed automatic
1st 3.917
2nd 2.429
3rd 1.436
4th 1.021
5th 0.867
6th 0.702
Reverse 3.507
Final drive 3.895 for gears 1, 2, 5, and 6. 4.353 for gears 3, 4 and R.

[bgd73]

11.0 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and four valves per cylinder. Unleaded fuel 87 and petrol.

Read more: 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Sedan Options - 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Packages - Motor Trend Magazine

it is a goner already. if engines are cheap, valve craziness set to solid, and maybe a thick head gasket getting it down to 10 to 1...maybe a buggy to keep when it gets old. that drivetrain is a tharsher..trying to make a hot rod apparently.

the 195mm tread at 15 inch with 1.6 liters makes me happy.
that is about it.

[Arragonis]

I had a go (last weekend in fact) in a Fester TDCi, the 1.4 version, and the KA (smaller Ford - based on the FIAT 500 platform) 1.3 TDCi - both very impressive with tons of torque at low engine speed and reasonably low RPMs at 60-70.

For me the KA felt better partly because of the better engine - its a FIAT Multijet unit rebadged as a ford - and partly because of the smaller size and lower weight. The Fester rides and steers much better though.

I'm thinking of a change and the Multijet 1.3 seems to be the top Diesel unit at the moment in Europe for small cars so I'm looking at something that uses it.