Not that it's at the top of everyone's mind, but I just read this factoid from the SVT Focus board with guys complaining that their SVT Focus is EPA rated 21/25 (with scans of the window sticker to prove it).
Then someone posted the following:
Sounds to me like SVT really had to "tune" the Zetec to get respectable SVT power out of it, and MPGs really suffer.
Ducman69
TEAM Member
Member # 431
posted 04-15-2002 10:09 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SVT Contour drag coefficient: .31 (same as Porsche 911 sports car)
SVT Focus drag coefficient: .36 (same as BMW X5 Sport Utility Vehicle)
SVT Contour tire width: 215mm
SVT Focus tire width: 215mm
SVT Contour overall drive in 5th: 3.1
SVT Focus overall drive in 6th: 3.1
SVT Contour mileage: 20 mpg/29 mpg
SVT Focus mileage: 21 mpg/25 mpg
Since you use that analogy, I guess its not really all that out of whack (just confused when comparing it to the ZX3 eco-version). Its 300lbs lighter, but with larger heavier wheels and gets an extra mpg city. And with all else being pretty much equal, the aerodynamics probably hurt the highway a little. Mostly it just looks like performance was top priority on the list for the 2.0 liter, so the most fuel efficient route was kinda bypassed.
[ 04-15-2002: Message edited by: Ducman69 ]
