Ford claims 81.5 mpg in Fusion hybrid

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Ford Motor Co. claims it has set a new world record for fuel economy in a gasoline-powered midsized sedan, driving an unmodified production Ford Fusion hybrid just over 1,445 miles on a single tank of gasoline.

That translated into a whopping 81.5 mile-per-gallon average, nearly double the certified mileage of the new sedan. The Ford team, which included NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, accomplished the feat by practicing fuel-saving driving techniques, such as coasting to red lights and accelerating smoothly on greens.

"Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion hybrid's fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential," said Nancy Gioia, director of sustainable mobility technologies and hybrid vehicle programs at Ford.

According to Guinness World Records, the world record for the longest distance traveled on a single tank of fuel was 1,459.16 miles, but that was set by a diesel-powered Peugeot in Australia in 2002.

bhoffman@detnews.com (313) 222-2443

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