2014 Corolla predicted at 40 mpg (highway)

[MetroMPG]

Well, we know the older Corollas were capable of decent highway numbers:



And this was taken in cold weather (-4 C).

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...atic-6710.html

[LeanBurn]

8hp more, but 2tq less than the outgoing model at 126tq. Maybe the CVT couldn't take it

Hopefully the final drive ratio is as good as the CVT or else the addition of the 6th gear will be not reaching its potential. Even in the 10th gen Corolla the auto had a better final drive ratio than the 5 sp to help fuel economy.

I too am underwhelmed by the small increase in fuel economy to 40 considering my lifetime average is near that ...and I have 186,000km on the clock. Of course if an ecomodder go a hold of it, put an upper and partial lower grill block, fold the mirrors back and put some lighter thinner wheels on it and perhaps lower it a bit hopefully we could beat that rating.

[MetroMPG]

Oh, yeah, easily.

As for the manual, I wonder if Toyota's going to follow the path set by other automakers lately: the manual will be geared short for the "enthusiast" drivers; the automatic/CVT gets the best gearing for highway driving.

That's what Mitsu is doing with the new Mirage. And Ford with the Fiesta (and Focus, I think), and Honda with the Fit, etc. etc. etc.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Oh, yeah, easily.

As for the manual, I wonder if Toyota's going to follow the path set by other automakers lately: the manual will be geared short for the "enthusiast" drivers; the automatic/CVT gets the best gearing for highway driving.

That's what Mitsu is doing with the new Mirage. And Ford with the Fiesta (and Focus, I think), and Honda with the Fit, etc. etc. etc.

My dad bought his first automatic because the Focus SFE got better mileage in that configuration.

[PressEnter[]]

Can't say I'm all that impressed, when the Mazda3 matches the fuel economy with a 155 horsepower. Still, I'm glad to see a six-speed. If they do it right, it should be a good highway cruiser.

[Allch Chcar]

I'm not too impressed, they're finally catching up to the competition. Nothing I see here looks to be changing up anything. People will still buy them in huge numbers regardless.

I realized my dad was getting old when he said he liked a brand new Corolla over a brand new Fiesta.

Interesting enough the CVT with "gears" is not a new application at all. The Asian market Honda Fit has had an available CVT that could simulate 7 gears and even had paddle shifters. It's an interesting solution for a perceived problem. It doesn't change the fact that the CVT saps more power than an automatic though.

Originally Posted by Xist

My dad bought his first automatic because the Focus SFE got better mileage in that configuration.

Hah, how did that work out for him. I didn't get much time in a Focus while testdriving but based on reported numbers the real world MPG is within 1mpg for Powershift and the 5spd. Also they're unreliable as hell, I'd give them another 2-3 years before they finally fix all the problems with it.

Given that the new Mazda3 is getting the same reported mileage with a torque converter based automatic, I'd say Ford's attempt was an embarrassing failure. They're backtracking on the programming big time by trying to make it act more like a traditional automatic instead of a poorly driven manual. Also there is a huge difference in the Fiesta Powershift programming and the Focus version.

[MetroMPG]

Another thing to keep in mind with Toyota is they have to walk a fine line when improving the efficiency of their conventional drivetrain cars to protect the hybrid crown.

Can't have a 45 mpg hwy Corolla eating into sales of the 50 mpg Prius lineup.

[user removed]

I think Toyota is walking the line of reputation and profit, or more riding their reputation and making money with "catch up" innovation.

regards
Mech

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Another thing to keep in mind with Toyota is they have to walk a fine line when improving the efficiency of their conventional drivetrain cars to protect the hybrid crown.

Can't have a 45 mpg hwy Corolla eating into sales of the 50 mpg Prius lineup.

It wouldn't be so hard to put the Corolla into the same 50MPG rating of the Prius with cheap mods. Maybe that's why manual trannies are getting ratios more favorable to quicker responses at the cost of fuel economy...

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Allch Chcar

Hah, how did that work out for him. I didn't get much time in a Focus while testdriving but based on reported numbers the real world MPG is within 1mpg for Powershift and the 5spd. Also they're unreliable as hell, I'd give them another 2-3 years before they finally fix all the problems with it.

Given that the new Mazda3 is getting the same reported mileage with a torque converter based automatic, I'd say Ford's attempt was an embarrassing failure. They're backtracking on the programming big time by trying to make it act more like a traditional automatic instead of a poorly driven manual. Also there is a huge difference in the Fiesta Powershift programming and the Focus version.

He has always gotten better than EPA and he averaged 50 MPG on a four hundred-mile road trip.