40+ mpg?

[Fiat500USA]

Re: 40+ mpg?

author="trinME">

Thanks Chris.
Still trying to catch up here. What is/was GEM, and who was it sold to?
-TR

Hi trinMe,

Here's some info on GEM:

Chrysler Group Global Electric Motorcars LLC (GEM), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC, and produces the GEM vehicle line of battery-electric vehicles. The GEM line is the market leader in the low-speed vehicle industry and more than 45,000 vehicles are on the road worldwide. GEM has been in business since 1998.

On April 26, Chrysler announced the sale of substantially all of the assets of GEM and NEV to Polaris Industries, Inc. Chrysler Group explained the sale saying: (they) " decided to focus its energies on its core automotive business".

[trinME]

Re: 40+ mpg?

Ah, the mist is dissipating.

Seems likely that is what the Motortrend article was referring to. And there's hope for the 500EV.

-TR

[sketch]

Re: 40+ mpg?

It will not be a diesel. America is still very diesel-averse. The CRD offered in the Liberty did not sell well, and it's in a <i>truck</i>. Diesel may do somewhat better in the Grand Cherokee, but I don't expect it to be a huge success.

author="navy48">
LOL....while I LOVE charts, graphs and statistics, I don't believe a word of it until I see the product. what really irked me is that when Chrysler/Fiat went before Congress to ask for a bailout, they showed up with all of these "EV" vehicles: a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV, a Chrysler T&C Minivan EV and a Dodge EV concept 'sports car'. ALL of these were awesome vehicles and Chrysler was given the "loan" based on what Congress saw and was told. so, where are these "EV" vehicles? in a scrap heap somewhere, along with the plans to produce them.

so when Chrysler says they'll have a car that gets 40mpgs in the next year or so.......I'll believe it when I see it....or better yet, DRIVE IT.

1) Those EV concepts were just that: concepts. They were never destined for production.
2) The 40 mpg compact with FIAT technology is a federal requirement of Chrysler which will allow FIAT to increase ownership byanother 5%. The question is not if, but when, it will happen.
3) Remember that the Hyundai Elantra you can buy right now makes 40mpg highway EPA without MultiAir, direct injection, forced induction...

[ciddyguy]

Re: 40+ mpg?

[QUOTE] author="sketch">
It will not be a diesel. America is still very diesel-averse. The CRD offered in the Liberty did not sell well, and it's in a <i>truck</i>. Diesel may do somewhat better in the Grand Cherokee, but I don't expect it to be a huge success.

author="navy48">
LOL....while I LOVE charts, graphs and statistics, I don't believe a word of it until I see the product. what really irked me is that when Chrysler/Fiat went before Congress to ask for a bailout, they showed up with all of these "EV" vehicles: a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV, a Chrysler T&C Minivan EV and a Dodge EV concept 'sports car'. ALL of these were awesome vehicles and Chrysler was given the "loan" based on what Congress saw and was told. so, where are these "EV" vehicles? in a scrap heap somewhere, along with the plans to produce them.

so when Chrysler says they'll have a car that gets 40mpgs in the next year or so.......I'll believe it when I see it....or better yet, DRIVE IT.

3) Remember that the Hyundai Elantra you can buy right now makes 40mpg highway EPA without MultiAir, direct injection, forced induction...

Or so Hyundai claims and we know it's possible, but generally ONLY on smaller sized cars, often with small sized motors and the Elantra isn't small, it's a compact at best as far as smallness goes and has a motor larger than in the Fiat too.

[sketch]

Re: 40+ mpg?

That's the real number—the Elantra is rated 29/40 by the EPA, automatic transmission, standard feature. It isn't just some unfounded claim: that isn't allowed in advertising anymore.

The car called for in the government's plan for Chrysler is a 40 mpg EPA highway car in the C segment. That's the same segment as the Elantra, Cruze, Focus, Civic, Caliber, and so on. Cruze, Focus and Civic all have special editions which make 40 on the highway too (Eco, SFE, HX). The government's requirement is basically "make a car that can compete with Ford, GM, Honda, and Hyundai", which is something they should be doing anyway.

[Fiat500USA]

Re: 40+ mpg?



All I can say is Fiat and Fiat Powertrain can make a car that gets 40mpg just like those others. No worries about that (and they will be cool to drive while getting the 40mpg).

[cogtooth]

Re: 40+ mpg?

I would think that many of us already get over 40 mpg highway. My mixed use this tank what with trying to drive using ecodrive suggestions is 38.6 mpg. This no fun mode only works when in traffic when you can't go too fast anyway. Some cars are just made to pass the EPA testing, and other companies don't worry about it, and maybe Fiat did not have time to perfect the EPA requirements.

[Fiat500USA]

Re: 40+ mpg?

author="cogtooth">
... Some cars are just made to pass the EPA testing, and other companies don't worry about it, and maybe Fiat did not have time to perfect the EPA requirements.

The feeling I get when talking to the engineers is drivability and fun were paramount. They could have tuned the car for maximum fuel economy, but that is not what this car is about.

I think you put your finger on something. Fuel economy is all some cars have to offer.

[Giallo Edizione]

Re: 40+ mpg?

[QUOTE] author="Fiat500USA">

author="cogtooth">
... Some cars are just made to pass the EPA testing, and other companies don't worry about it, and maybe Fiat did not have time to perfect the EPA requirements.
</quote>

The feeling I get when talking to the engineers is drivability and fun were paramount. They could have tuned the car for maximum fuel economy, but that is not what this car is about.

I think you put your finger on something. Fuel economy is all some cars have to offer.

Agree. Midpoint for Elantra is 34.5mpg and for 500 it is 34. Amost nobody drives all highway, most are mixed. For that small difference I will take the FIAT thank you. Yes I know the Elantra is an automatic-its also an Elantra.

[sjmst]

Re: 40+ mpg?

I'm getting 38+ in mixed use. And I'm not babying it.

[F500]

I was lucky enough a month ago to drive a 500 Sport for the weekend. it had the 6sp auto and for my weekend jaunts (approx 180 miles of driving, city and highway) I averaged OVER 34mpg. this is quite promising as I was NOT driving it easy and was playing with the "Sport Mode" button and the autostick feature.

once I get locked in on what's best for my driving style, I believe I can improve on that......maybe even hit 40 with the auto!

[panther76]

if you look at the real world mileage thread, you will see some of us fiat 500 owners are getting well over 40 mpg's.

[buysfiat]

Elantra MPG.jpg
The Fuel economy.gov site has the Elantra at 29/40 but the actual users have it at 23/38 with a combined average of 31.9
My 500auto with regular gas has averaged 35.7 for 3200miles. Why?

[Noz]

While the MPG of the 500 is good, why is the SMOG score of this car so low? I thought the multiair technology was supposed to reduce emissions and perform better than a regular IC? What gives? The EPA rates this car's smog score as 4/10....to compare a Fiesta gets 6/10 and a CRZ gets 9/10. Remember...I'm talking about the SMOG score.

Any ideas?

[F500]

While the MPG of the 500 is good, why is the SMOG score of this car so low? I thought the multiair technology was supposed to reduce emissions and perform better than a regular IC? What gives? The EPA rates this car's smog score as 4/10....to compare a Fiesta gets 6/10 and a CRZ gets 9/10. Remember...I'm talking about the SMOG score.

Any ideas?

I wondered that myself. why such low scores and ratings? its as if the government 'bailed out' Chrysler with the FIAT deal yet they still want it to fail? makes no sense to me. of course I don't know what kind of emissions my 500 is exhailing, but my MPG's for my 6sp auto is MUCH higher than the EPA ratings. with over 2300 miles on "Gumby", I'm AVERAGING 38.3 on this tank of gas. last one was well over 36. not bad for a car that's only rated at 27/34.