How are these stock cars getting 60+ mpg?

[AaronMartinSole]

So I was looking at the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage links on the front page, and these cars are getting 60+ mpg absolutely bone stock, with the AC on! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Then I hear about a couple getting 84 mpg in a bone stock VW Passat Diesel, with the windows down, and no engine off at red lights, not to mention the extra weight of an extra person, even in that little Mirage.

Am I missing something here? I'm in absolute disbelief.

[AndrzejM]

I don't know if 84mpg in Passat is true or not but I know that newer cars have some gizmos build in and you don't have to think about killing the engine because it has start/stop function. Modern cars have cylinder deactivation (new VWs for sure), and modern engines are more efficient than older ones.

For example my wife's Mietek (MB w168 cdi) has 1.7 liter direct injection 16 valves diesel engine with 90HP like my Berta's engine. All the parameters are very similar, Berta have even slightly more torque, but it's an indirect injection diesel. And I have to fight hard to have 3.7l/100km (63.57mpg US) in Berta and it was fairly easy in Mietek with A/C turned on from time to time. On the same route. And Mietek is less areo than Berta, and it's automatic. But it's a next generation of diesel engine.
As you can see modern cars are more "eco" than older ones. We have lots of commercials recently of new cars and they say that for example average fuel consumption of new Citroen with 200HP engine is 3.4 l/100km (69.18 mpg US), what is hard to believe. But maybe? I would like to take that car for a spin and see on my own

[kach22i]

I think that this has long been possible, which is why last year the government set new future fuel standards last year.

Frances Beinecke: Obama Administration Makes History by Raising Fuel Standards to 54.5 MPG
Posted: 08/28/2012 11:32 am

The Obama Administration issued clean car standards today that will raise automobile fuel efficiency to the equivalent of 54.5 miles per gallon -- on average -- by 2025. That's roughly twice the mileage our cars get today.

[AndrzejM]

I've heard on the radio today that EU regulations requires that all new cars now should have average FE equal or lower to 5.0l/100km (47.04 mpg) and in few years (haven't heard which year exactly, probably 2020) that should be lowered to 4.0l/100km (58.8 mpg).

[Xist]

I guess this goes hand-in-hand with his policy of "You can open a coal mind, but you will go bankrupt."

His solution was Fisker?

[RobertISaar]

entirely possible.... under VERY specific and optimal driving conditions.

IIRC, the VW test was done out near california on the highway, but they only averaged 38MPH or something dangerously low like that. i believe they set the world record for the longest distance driven on a single tank of fuel at the same time?

this is assuming we're talking about the same car anyways.

[Daox]

Its completely possible, and not even under horribly specific scenarios. The new Mirage will have the best mileage rating of any non-hybrid out there. One of the members of EM actually had one for testing a while back and was able to do some speed vs mileage testing for us. At 50 mph you are almost eeking out 60 mpg.

Speed vs. mileage/fuel economy chart - Mirage 1.2L 5-spd

[RobertISaar]

http://media.vw.com/newsrelease.do;j...ce-one&mid=138

there it is...

guess i forgot a few things.... not california, but still.

1626 miles over 3 days, with up to 14 hours of driving each day(542 miles a day), average speed of 38.7MPH.

of course, the "up to" portion is what makes this non-exact, but still shows that they were not only going significantly under the speed limit, but probably at/under the minimum allowable speed on the highway, assuming there was one.

[PaleMelanesian]

Have you ever calculated your average speed? It's surprising how low it can be. If you cruise the highway at 60 mph, just the access road and parking lot segments at either end will drop it to 55. Stop for gas or restroom? That's easily another 5-10 mph lost. Meals, since they were driving all day? Another 5 or more.