Suzuki executive: "8 L/100 km (29 mpg US) is fine" - better is not worth the effort

[MetroMPG]

Had to laugh at an interview given by Suzuki Australia's managing director, where he says "car makers who spend money battling to make incremental cuts to fuel use beyond a certain point are wasting their time."

Technically true, of course.

But he goes on to make Suzuki sound somewhat defensive/desperate when it comes to fuel economy:

"This scramble to get (fuel figures) down is like the four-minute mile," he says.

"Who's going to be the first to get under 3.0 litres, and what does it matter?"

He then goes on to display a sad but hilarious lack of math skills:

You save, what, it wouldn't be $100 a year, probably, over 15,000km, 6.0 litres versus 3.0 litres [per 100 km]? You do the sums.

Clearly he didn't do the sums! You definitely don't end up with only $100 in savings by cutting your fuel consumption in half! (Unless Australians are paying a fraction of what the rest of us pay for fuel... which they're not.)

The article is good for a chuckle, particularly the comments, where people "did the sums".

Link: Fuel economy is fool's gold, says Suzuki

[Piwoslaw]

So the hypermilers here getting 3-4 l/100km in Suzukis and Suzuki clones seem to be doing things wrong.

[gone-ot]

...is he, by chance, ex-GM management?

[Kiwi_Canadian]

I have to agree with Old_Tele_man! haha.
That exec's got a pretty poor attitude, especially when it does make a substantial difference! Made me LOL! Thanks for sharing that post!

[robchalmers]

wow.


he'll be looking for a new job soon! I appreciate the fact the a diesel one would cost more due to the license fee for the engine going to Fiat etc, but I think his grasp on exact how efficient the OZ spec car is compared to even the GB spec swift shows He's missing a trick, let alone AU$585 (@AU$1.30/litre) per year mathmatics skills!

as they'd say over here - Numpty.

p.s. Mr exec you're diesel one does 5.6l/100km urban and 3.9 extra urban and 4.5 comibined.............what a waste

[tasdrouille]

Total lack of foresight on the industry's future and the factors affecting it.

[abently]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

Total lack of foresight on the industry's future and the factors affecting it.

I agree.

Imagine what would happen to oil prices if everyone's fuel consumption halved overnight?

The fact remains, oil is a limited resource and the less we use of it now, the less we will have to pay in the future, and with some luck we might not even see $10/litre prices, if in the short term we reduce our usage intensity whilst sustainable EV's and the supporting fuel stations are being developed and mass produced.

[NeilBlanchard]

Designing an efficient car is too haaaaarrd! The grapes, they are sour!

[ChrstphrR]

He needs a "Math class is tough" Barbie, methinks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO0cvqT1tAE

[robchalmers]