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Dave Foord asked:


Using the words of Bob Dylan, “Times, they are a changing” and this is certainly true when we look at the habits of the new car buyer. Successive governments have failed to curb our excessive fuel demands, indeed, for many years cars just seemed to get bigger and bigger, with fuel consumption figures dropping, sometimes barely hitting double figures. Then came the troubles in the oil producing regions of the world, swiftly followed by the credit crunch and all of a sudden attitudes have changed. Market forces have influenced the new car buyer and as a result, the car manufacturers have moved swiftly to fill the chasm that is opening in the marketplace, the need for comfortable, but fuel efficient new cars. Listed below are ten economical new cars, not in any particular order, or indeed, not even market leaders, what they do have in common though is their ability to travel over fifty miles per gallon on the combined cycle. They may not be the answer to all our problems, buy they are certainly a step in the right direction.

MINI Cooper 1.6 D

The 1.6 diesel MINI Cooper has had the EfficientDynamics treatment by BMW, low rolling resistance tyres, electric power steering, an intelligent alternator control / brake energy regeneration system, an automatic stop-start function and a high precision Direct Injection system are amongst the advances that have been applied to the new diesel Cooper and as a result it achieves a staggering 72.4 miles per gallon on the combined cycle.

Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion

Powered by a 1.4 litre, three cylinder, diesel engine that is fitted with a with a variable-geometry turbocharger that gives maximum assistance at low speeds, the Polo Bluemotion is one of the leaders in its class. Volkswagen have used a few tricks to get the Polo Bluemotion to perform as frugally as it does, the obligatory low-rolling-resistance tyres, lightweight alloy wheels and improved aerodynamics all contribute to the Bluemotion achieving 74.3 miles per gallon on the combined cycle. Exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter give the Polo another advantage over most cars in the UK market, Co2 emissions of only 99g/km, resulting in zero road tax. Low cost motoring at its best.

Audi A3 1.9 TDIe

Audi may not be the first manufacturer that comes to mind when it comes to economical cars, but this just goes to show how serious manufacturers are now taking the situation we find ourselves in. The A3 1.9 TDIe is powered by a reworked diesel unit and this combined with aerodynamic tweaks, low-resistance tyres and a ‘recommended gear’ display mean the Audi will travel 62.8 miles for every gallon on the combined cycle. So, if you you’re looking for a car with green credentials, but don’t want to compromise on quality, the A3 1.9 TDIe may tick all the boxes you require.

Citroen C1 1.0i Vibe 3 door

The Citroen C1 could just as easily be substituted with the Peugeot 107 or the Toyota Aygo as they all share the same platforms and the same engines, that said the C1 was chosen for one thing and one thing alone, price. Designed in collaboration between the three manufacturers, all are extremely capable city cars with low road fund bandings and good mpg figures, slight cosmetic differences are really the only things that set the models apart, that and the fact that Citroen run slightly better offers making them the lowest priced model. Powered by a one litre petrol engine the C1 will return 61.8 miles per gallon on the combined cycle and has Co2 emissions of 108 g/km.

New BMW 1 Series 118d EfficientDynamics

Voted World green car of the year in 2008 by 47 journalists from 24 different countries, the BMW 118d EfficientDynamics makes use of energy capture systems, brake energy regeneration, auto stop-start, optimum gear-shift change indicators, electric power steering and lightweight body panels to achieve a quite remarkable 62.8 miles per gallon on the combined cycle. With BMW expecting sales of 700,000 cars a year in Europe that have EfficientDynamics incorporated, the fuel savings are estimated to be in the region of 33 million gallons, quite a substantial saving by anyone’s book

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

When it comes to economical new cars the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic has to be up there with the best of them. Powered by a specially tuned 1.6 litre diesel engine the Fiesta ECOnetic is the most economical Ford and possibly the most economical car around at the moment. Longer gear ratio’s, a gear change indicator, aerodynamic wheel trims, low rolling resistance tyres, lowered suspension and the fact that it weighs about 40 kgs less than the outgoing Fiesta mean that the ECOnetic will let you drive 76.3 miles on the combined cycle for every gallon of diesel you put in. Ford may be struggling in the US, but with figures like these the Fiesta ECOnetic it sure to prove a big hit in Europe.

Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI DPF BlueMotion S 105 5dr

Unfortunately not everybody can utilise a small city car or hatchback, after all some people do have families and this obviously restricts their choice when it comes to buying a new car. For those in that position, Volkswagen has come to the rescue in the form of the Touran Bluemotion. The Extremely popular MPV sports a new front grille and air intake, optimised aerodynamics, lower suspension and higher gearing along with low rolling resistance tyres, combined, these improvements mean that the Touran Bluemotion will return 52.3 miles per gallon on the combined cycle. Proving you don’t necessarily have to downsize to do your little bit.

New Toyota Prius 1.5 VVT-i

When launched, the Toyota Prius was seen by many as just a gimmick, as a result both Lexus and its parent company, Toyota, have stolen a bit of a march over their competitors. Exemption from the London congestion charge has certainly helped to raise the profile of the Prius and as a result it has become a common sight on the roads throughout the UK. Powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine and a high output electric motor the Prius switches between the two, the electric motor takes charge at low speeds (up to 28 mph), with the petrol engine taking the strain at higher speeds. The result, a combined cycle of 65.7 miles per gallon, making the Toyota Prius an ideal car not only for the city, but also for those who choose to commute.

Skoda Fabia 1.4 TDI PD 80 GreenLine

Another offering from the Volkswagen stable to take a trip down to the wind tunnel is the Skoda Fabia Greenline, it may not quite match up to the Polo Bluemotion or the Seat Ibiza Ecomotive, it is however, quite a bit more frugal than the rest of the Fabia range. Achieving 68.9 miles per gallon on the combined cycle, the Greenline should theoretically drive 689 miles on a full tank, put into perspective, that’s seventy miles more than a standard Fabia 1.4 TDI. The Greenline may cost a little more than its siblings, but with petrol and diesel prices as they are, it won’t take very long before you’ve recouped the cash.

New Mazda 2 1.3 TS

Generally, as we get older, we add weight, something that also seems to happen to cars. Redesigns and facelifts always seem to add a few pounds here and there and as a result larger, more powerful engines are required just to achieve the same performance. Not so with the new Mazda 2. When Mazda launched the new 2 model it weighed in an incredible 100 kgs lighter than the model it replaced. It’s safer (five stars from EuroNCAP for adult occupants), has more equipment as standard, yet still manages 52.3 miles per gallon on the combined cycle, quite an achievement really.



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Glady Reign asked:


If you got it, flaunt it. That is the viewpoint that most people practice. Hence, it is just but ordinary to see well-off individuals showing off their wealth. Colossal houses, designer clothes, pricey jewelries, and multi-million cars. But Warren Buffet is an exception.

Warren Buffett, the second richest person in the world according to the 2007 Forbes list of the wealthiest people, is one of the five frugal billionaires at the present time. Buffett earlier traded in a six-year-old Lincoln Town Car for a 2006 Cadillac DTS. These luxury cars cost only a fraction of Bentley or Rolls-Royce models and these are the vehicles that Buffett choose to own (or use).

One reason behind the preference is age. “By the time a person has become a billionaire, if they haven’t inherited it, they are often older. Flashy, expensive cars are not a priority for these people,” said Rod Westmoreland, a private wealth advisor for Merrill, Lynch’s Private Banking & Investment Group.

“Sometimes, it’s just not practical for a 60- to 70-year-old to squeeze into a Ferrari or a Lamborghini,” said Tom Stanley, a wealth expert and the author of The Millionaire Mind and the upcoming book, Acting Rich in America.

Another reason is building lasting family values for the next generations and prioritizing philanthropy over purchasing pricey things for many of the world’s aging billionaires. “They spend a lot of time giving away their money and their main goal in life is to solve big world problems, and that is why the car becomes less important,” said Milton Pedraza, the CEO of the Luxury Institute, a New York City-based research firm.

“Billionaires tend to have a high level of confidence and self-assuredness, which can guide what vehicles they choose to own,” said Bill Bartmann, the author of Billionaire Secrets to Success. “Once someone reaches billionaire status it’s not about showing off the car, the clothing or the house. More often, billionaires are trying to preserve their business, their family and their wealth.”

Another attribute that shapes billionaires spending habits is the stable, middle-class upbringing. “Generally, we find that most billionaires come from very typical middle-class backgrounds,” said Stanley. “They never had to worry about having enough food to eat and were never deprived growing up. They don’t have to look back and compensate for any deprivations they had.”

Another billionaire by the name Jim Walton, heir to the fortune his father Sam Walton and is number 23 on the billionaires list, drives a 15-year-old Dodge Dakota pickup. Jim and his equally-rich sister Alice, who also drives a 2006 Ford F-150 pickup, had a notoriously frugal and conservative father who must have instilled similar values in his children. “If wealth was inherited, then a billionaire is much more likely to indulge in exotic cars and other such luxury goods,” said the Luxury Institute’s Pedraza.

The kinds of businesses self-made billionaires own may reflect their spending habits. Ingvar Kamprad, the Ikea founder, built his massive wealth from selling low-price Swedish furniture and home goods. Kamprad drives a Volvo that’s nearly 15 years old. He is not just fascinated by a Volvo headlight and Pedraza explains: “Ikea’s target customer is not driving a Bentley or Rolls-Royce. They probably drive Swedish Saabs and Volvos, like Kamprad.”

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles’ records, the mentioned five frugal billionaires spend their money on things other than pricey cars. “Many high-net individuals focus more on their businesses, running their foundations and contributing to their communities than they do on indulging themselves,” said Merrill Lynch’s Westmoreland.



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Dave Foord asked:


What was everyone doing when Toyota developed the Prius? With its hybrid technology, the Prius was hailed as the answer to our problems. A cleaner, greener alternative for those who wanted to save the world but still wanted, or needed, a car to drive round it. Other manufacturers seemed to be slow to develop hybrid technology. So what have they been doing while Toyota surged ahead? Well, one manufacturer, BMW, have been taking some of the best bits off the hybrid and combining them with existing technology, to produce much more fuel efficient and therefore much cleaner cars. Cleaner cars that seem to be able to out perform the hybrids in almost all departments.

When you look at it BMW seem to have had one of the harder jobs when it comes to reducing their overall Co2 emissions. They’ve been known for producing large 4 x 4’s and luxury sports cars. Not the type of cars that offer the best solutions to our environmental problems. However, with this clever mix of existing technology and the development of better engines they have managed to reduce their average Co2 emissions by 26g/km, a saving of over a third of a tonne per year for vehicles fitted with EfficientDynamics. So, how have they done it?

Well, first you have to look at the engines. BMW have developed a high precision injection system, that alongside the ultra-light aluminium crankcase and variable twin turbo technology have allowed the models fitted with EfficientDynamics to increase power whilst reducing emissions. Formula One technology that has been developed and proved in the hardest arena in the world.

Stop start technology is another major factor in reducing emissions. Pull up at the traffic lights and the engine on the BMW stops, press your foot on the accelerator and the engine automatically kicks back into life, saving you money and not choking the planet whilst standing still. This clever bit of kit also tells you when the optimum time is to change gear, also adding to the BMW’s frugality.

Lighter materials have not only been used under the bonnet, they’ve also been used in the manufacture of the boot and the roof on some models. Cutting down on the overall weight of the car is not rocket science and it will obviously impact on the performance of the vehicle. Previously, performance was equated with speed, fortunately performance now covers all aspects of the car, including efficiency and economy.

Brake energy regeneration, electric power steering, an electric coolant pump and small flaps that open and close in the front grille to improve aerodynamic efficiency have all contributed in reducing emissions, making BMW a leader in the luxury car market when it comes to complying with the new Euro V legislation that will come into force in the next decade.

So, do we need full hybrids? Well if you break it down to figures alone it is not quite so clear cut. The BMW 1 Series118d EfficientDynamics achieves 62.8 miles per gallon on the combined cycle as opposed to the Prius that manages 65.7 mpg. Co2 emissions are 119 g/km for the BMW, 104g/km for the Prius. However, take into account the batteries that are used to power the Prius and it becomes slightly hazier. Manufacturing processes and the disposal of spent batteries will obviously have an environmental impact and produce plenty of Co2. Is that impact greater than the small advantages gained? The UK government and the British media would certainly like to know and as a result have asked Toyota to supply them with the figures. As of yet Toyota have not been forthcoming.

With all this in mind, BMW will no doubt continue to refine their EfficientDynamics range, no doubt producing more and more frugal variants, with the gap already small does this mark an end to full blown hybrids? Only time will tell.



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