Ford Focus breaks own fuel economy record

MANILA, Philippines - Ford Group Philippines sets a new record in fuel economy with a whopping total mileage of 1,432.3km aboard the Ford Focus TDCi PowerShift with one full tank of fuel – 106 kilometers better than the first challenge. The second run of the Ford Focus Coast2Coast Challenge stands testimony yet again to the Ford Focus fuel efficiency advantage and its superior driving dynamics, head-turning design and styling with the latest Ford Focus TDCi PowerShift hatchback and sedan.

The fuel economy run, conducted by FGP in partnership with Tuason Racing School (TRS) took place last May 4 to 7 with the objective of topping the first Ford Focus Coast2Coast Challenge held last December. Last year, three teams represented TRS, Ford Club Philippines (FCP) and NBN4’s AutoReview where FCP bested the rest with a total mileage of 1,326 km driving from Pagudpod to Sorsogon.

This time around, three teams from the Philippine automotive media together with Team TRS took the wheels driving the opposite route; Sorsogon to Pagudpod in the four day drive onboard their trusty Ford Focus TDCi 5-door hatchbacks and newly introduced Ford Focus TDCi PowerShift Ghia 4-door sedans.

The teams were from AutoIndustriya – Iñigo Roces and Vince Pornelos; from TopGear Philippines – Mikko David assisted by Marlon Dacumos and the father-daughter tandem from AutoReview – Ron de los Reyes and Rayra de los Reyes who were also participants of the first Coast2Coast Challenge.

It was however, the TRS lead car, driven by Bjorn Ongtiabok and JP Tuason who set the record mileage of 1,432.3km this time and with an actual computed fuel economy of 25.9 km/liter. Other challengers followed closely with Team AutoReview garnering an actual vehicle computed fuel economy of 25.47km/liter and total mileage of 1,375.9km. TopGear Philippines representative Mikko David assisted by Marlon Dacumos were barely a kilometer behind as they raked up a computed fuel economy of 24.73 km/liter and a total mileage of 1,347.8km on their full tank. The duo of Iñigo Roces and Vince Pornelos of AutoIndustriya rounded up the teams with a computed fuel economy of 24.03km/liter and a total mileage of 1,300.5km.

The pairs started off from the southernmost end of Luzon, flying in to Legaspi and driving to Sorsogon Bay last May 4. Teams up for the challenge were briefed on the rules of the road as they all aimed for the best fuel economy rating of the trip. Then off they went, driving from Sorsogon to Camarines Sur in Day 1, Camarines Sur to Quezon in Day 2, Quezon to Vigan in Day 3 and Pagudpod to Laoag in the challenge’s last day where support cars trailed behind teams anticipating that some cars would run their fuel tanks dry to the very last drop.

“I believe PowerShift technology in the Ford Focus TDCi was key in achieving our objectives. It offers motorists the complete package of unmatched performance and fuel economy,” JP and Bjorn Ongtiabok of Team TRS said. “The Ford Focus makes use of the latest technology and has, in fact, been receiving various awards, not only in the Philippines but around the world as well.” PowerShift® is a dual clutch transmission combining the operation of an automatic transmission with the dynamics and fuel efficiency of a manual transmission. It even changes gear smoother and faster than a conventional automatic gearbox.

“Ford’s PowerShift represents a true competitive advantage for Ford and is one of the current technologies that set a new world standard for efficiency and drive quality,” says Steven Tan, Vice-president for Sales and Marketing. “This advanced six-speed dual-clutch transmission is a quantum leap forward in exceeding the customers’ need for fuel economy and convenience by combining a 6-speed manual transmission with the experience of an automatic transmission, and still provides the high fun-to-drive experience expected of the Ford Focus. What it brings to our Focus line-up in our new Ford Focus TDCi 4-door sedan is in a nutshell, a ride that is as smooth as it gets.”

The Ford Focus Coast2Coast Challenge 2 was made possible through official partners, Goodyear Philippines and Shell Philippines.