Date:20/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/20/stories/2008032057860200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Car does 33.4 km on a litre of diesel

Staff Reporter

Ford Fiesta covers 996 km on 29.8 litres of fuel

The drive was flagged off on February 16
Ford India to launch its small car in 2010

A record?: Hormazd Sorabjee and Scott McCormack showcasing the car that travelled between Bangalore and Mumbai.

BANGALORE: Autocar India and Ford have partnered to establish a record-breaking mileage of 33.4 km a litre under actual road conditions on the Bangalore-Mumbai sector on a single tank of fuel on a Ford Fiesta.

Autocar India’s team of three drivers drove the Fiesta 1.4 litre Duratorq TDCI diesel for 996.7 km between Bangalore and Mumbai, using only 29.8 litres of diesel.

“The car used for this marathon did not undergo any modification,” Autocar Editor Hormazd Sorabjee told reporters here on Wednesday.

The drive was flagged off at Ford’s dealership — Metro Ford — here on February 16. The car’s fuel tank was topped up and sealed at the start. A team of experts from Ernst & Young and Motor Sports Association of India supervised and audited the challenge.

Recording an average speed of 46.5 km an hour, the Fiesta took 24 hours and 20 minutes to cover the distance. The car encountered different terrains — from the great Golden Quadrilateral to patches of bad roads, traffic jams and the occasional stray cow ensuring drive at real road conditions.

Scott McCormack, vice-president, marketing, sales and service, Ford India, flagged-in the cars on February 17 in Mumbai.

Mr. Sorabjee said: “The purpose of this exercise was to demonstrate that everyone could stretch a litre of fuel, using correct driving techniques and a highly fuel efficient car like the Fiesta. We had already set a record with Ford Fiesta Duratorq at Max Mileage marathon in 2006. So it was natural choice for us for this marathon.”

Small car

Speaking to reporters, Mr. McCormack said Ford India will launch its small car in 2010.

He said the company was working on the small car project.

He said there were plans to increase the installed capacity of Ford’s manufacturing facility in Chennai from the present one lakh units to 2.5 lakh units by 2010.

The company will invest $ 500 million for the expansion, including small car programme and engine plant.