New Ford Is First With Triple-Digit MPGs

DEARBORN -- (WWJ) Ford's new plug-in hybrid, the C-MAX Energi, has come in with some eye popping fuel economy figures.

"We've announced that we're going to achieve 108 miles per gallon equivalent in the city, and and 100 miles per gallon equivalent combined," said C-MAX Chief Engineer John Davis.

A plug-in hybrid will charge at home like an electric vehicle. It can run for short distances (20 miles in the case of the Ford) and then keeps going on a combination of gasoline and electricity, like a traditional hybrid.

Miles per gallon equivalent, is the system that the Environmental Protection Agency came up with to compare the fuel economy of electric and gasoline powered vehicles.

The C-MAX is replacing the Escape Hybrid in Ford's lineup. It's meant to compete with the larger Prius-V. The traditional hybrid version of the C-MAX right now. It gets a fuel economy of 47 miles per gallon.

The plug-in hybrid version, the C-MAX Energi, launches before the end of the year. It will have a sticker price in the low thirties. That's several thousand more than the traditional hybrid version. But, Davis says the savings in gasoline could offset that, depending on your driving habits.

Ford will be launching a plug-in hybrid sedan next year. It will give price and fuel economy details of the Fusion Energi closer to launch.

Davis says their goal all along for the C-MAX Energi was to top the 100 mpg level.

"Three digits in fuel economy is really a game changer. That's what we set out to do in our plug in vehicles."

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