by The_Toecutter » Sat 10 Oct 2009, 15:24:28
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mos6507', 'F')ord Prodigy was a diesel hybrid and by the looks of it, the diesel hybrid powertrain had a lot more to do with the mileage than the aero.
It's not about diesel vs gas. Hybridization optimizes both, so at best I think we're looking at a 10+% difference. The Prodigy is just way smaller than the Fusion. It probably had lower rolling resistance, about 30% less weight, and about 40% less drag as was mentioned. Hell, it makes the Prius look like a pig, and that pulled ~65mpg combined in th unadjusted EPA combined test.
It wasn't a whole lot smaller than the Fusion(as far as dimensions, head room, leg room, ect. are concerned), but much lighter in weight, thanks to the use of composites(the Prius does this), and thanks to not loading the interior with hundreds of pounds of dead weight. The Prodigy was still a midsize car.
I didn't know the Prius did that well in the unadjusted EPA test, btw. That's pretty damn good...