Thursday 24th September 2009

Focus RS To Enter MPG Marathon

Well at least it's kind of like a rally. Sort of...

---

Driver Jeremy Walton and codriver Alyson Marlow

Proving that even big corporations can have a wry sense of humour, Ford is entering a Focus RS into a national 'MPG marathon' next week.

Setting an ambitious target of a 35mpg average, Ford says it aims to prove that modern performance cars can be friendly to your pockets, too. Of course, if it happened to be friendly to Ford's own pockets by helping them shift a few more Focuses (Foci?), that'd be okay too...

The marathon is the seventh in the UK since 2000, and this year it will cover a pre-set 360-mile route comprised of 2 loops either side of Coventry. Naturally, some delicacy will be required in the driver's right foot - the official combined figure for the car is 30.1 mpg - and since Ford have roped in a motoring hack to do the driving, this may prove a challenge indeed!

We reckon they're certainly in with a chance. The RS that PH took to Le Mans mostly hovered around the 24-25mpg mark, and that was with occasionally 'enthusiastic' piloting. Weirdly, that sort of figure would actually have been a good run in our much-loved long-term Focus ST, which scarcely topped 20mpg during its tenure with us. So maybe a Focus RS isn't such an eccentric choice after all...

The Marathon is being held over 2 days on September 30th and October 1st. Read more about the event at mpgmarathon.com.

[XTR2Turbo]

2008 results make interesting viewing.

A Corvette ZO6 won based on improvement on actual vs manufacturers claims. Achieved 30.96 mpg. It was driven by Richard Hammond :whitsle:

[off_again]

Those Volvo engines are a bit thirsty, but I dont see any reason why they cannot get 35MPG out of it. Stay off the turbo and let the torque drive you along and it will be fine. The problem is that they are loverly engines and its such a hoot to get the engine going and use the turbo - and fly as a result - burning a huge amount of petrol at the same time. Original T5's were crap, maybe 25MPG if you were relatively careful, but they have got better and better. I could regularly get 30-32MPG out of my S60 T5 auto at speed, so cut the speed and I cannot see why it couldn't be more than this with ease......

[mat205125]

I hope it doesn't rain. I can't see it handling very well with 80psi in the tyres.

[BBS-LM]

One of the fastest Hot Hatches out there, and they put the RS into MPG Marathon, what moron thought that would be a good idea?

[inf]

love the idea of staying off the turbo but not sure about the Rs but in the ST you were in a fair amount of boost at 2500rpm

[Frimley111R]

BBS-LM said:

One of the fastest Hot Hatches out there, and they put the RS into MPG Marathon, what moron thought that would be a good idea?

MPG is the new BHP don't you know. A car with both....

[Staffy1984]

Frimley111R said:

BBS-LM said:

One of the fastest Hot Hatches out there, and they put the RS into MPG Marathon, what moron thought that would be a good idea?

MPG is the new BHP don't you know. A car with both....

+ it's not just about driving a car that you know can bring in a high MPG figure, its also about getting more than the manufacturers claimed combined, check the first post and you'll see that a corvette has previously won this comp and that only pulled in 30 mpg.

[TheRoadWarrior]

30MPG from a 4-wheel drive car? Impressive!














Sorry..... . ..

[DP 1]

Haha! ye 35 mpg! Ive heard off many owners that its hard to get above 20-25 mpg!

[Dibby]

Aaaaahhahah! 35mph? Friendly to your pocket? You're having a laugh right?

You can't have performance and economy and that proves it. 35mpg is a rubbish figure if you're talking about pure economy, turn up on a scooter and get 100mpg and the 0-60 (sorry, make that 0-30, doubt you'll ever hit 60 on a scooter) will be as rubbish as the RS's economy.

The best balance of performance and economy has to be from a modern diesel. Otherwise you can have performance OR economy.

[spoonoff]

35mpg shouldn't be too hard as long as temptation can be resisted- turbo cars depend hugely on driving style.

[Steve_F]

Sounds like the same event that Practical Performance Car entered their turbo'd Rolls in.

Think there is a prize for worst (might be a wooden spoon but what a cool wooden spoon to have!).

The RS might get that figure with a careful Ford test driver but with a journo....

[ZeroTwo]

35 MPG target - Frankly I'm not that blown away.

If I'm careful I can get 33 MPG out of my 850 T-5R! Realistically, 31 MPG is readily achieveable in mixed drving. Yes the RS makes more power, but is this really how far we have come in 15 years?

Higher aspirations required, methinks.

[Gareth350]

DP 1 said:

Haha! ye 35 mpg! Ive heard off many owners that its hard to get above 20-25 mpg!

Mine is doing 28 mpg with mixed driving, so i think 35 mpg is realistic to achieve!

[VeeFource]

Dibby said:

Aaaaahhahah! 35mph? Friendly to your pocket? You're having a laugh right?

You can't have performance and economy and that proves it. 35mpg is a rubbish figure if you're talking about pure economy, turn up on a scooter and get 100mpg and the 0-60 (sorry, make that 0-30, doubt you'll ever hit 60 on a scooter) will be as rubbish as the RS's economy.

The best balance of performance and economy has to be from a modern diesel. Otherwise you can have performance OR economy.

I disagree, and I know this is normally considered unfair but since you've mentioned a scooter, my VFR750 does 50mpg & 0-60 in 2.8 secs, not bad for a 13 year old machine

[Dibby]

VeeFource said:

Dibby said:

Aaaaahhahah! 35mph? Friendly to your pocket? You're having a laugh right?

You can't have performance and economy and that proves it. 35mpg is a rubbish figure if you're talking about pure economy, turn up on a scooter and get 100mpg and the 0-60 (sorry, make that 0-30, doubt you'll ever hit 60 on a scooter) will be as rubbish as the RS's economy.

The best balance of performance and economy has to be from a modern diesel. Otherwise you can have performance OR economy.

I disagree, and I know this is normally considered unfair but since you've mentioned a scooter, my VFR750 does 50mpg & 0-60 in 2.8 secs, not bad for a 13 year old machine

Aye, should have mentioned the whole raft of bikes that will outperform the RS in terms of all-out performance figures, mpg, price and fun. In fact, the only thing the RS has got going for it is you stay dry when it rains

[Dave^]

if Ford are supplying the car, i'd hazard a guess that it will be mapped for economy.....

[off_again]

TheRoadWarrior said:

30MPG from a 4-wheel drive car? Impressive!














Sorry..... . ..

I might be missing the point here, but I thought the RS was FWD with clever diff and suspension geometry stuff?

[Dave^]

off_again said:

TheRoadWarrior said:

30MPG from a 4-wheel drive car? Impressive!














Sorry..... . ..

I might be missing the point here, but I thought the RS was FWD with clever diff and suspension geometry stuff?

Yeah you are missing something.....


it's called irony....

[BBS-LM]

Staffy1984 said:

Frimley111R said:

BBS-LM said:

One of the fastest Hot Hatches out there, and they put the RS into MPG Marathon, what moron thought that would be a good idea?

MPG is the new BHP don't you know. A car with both....

+ it's not just about driving a car that you know can bring in a high MPG figure, its also about getting more than the manufacturers claimed combined, check the first post and you'll see that a corvette has previously won this comp and that only pulled in 30 mpg.

Yeahhhhh sorry, What does the RS Ford Badge sand for again?