We've had our new 308 1.2L for nearly a week and on a trip through the Snowy Mountains on NE Victoria and S New South Wales involving tortuous twisting climbs and decents over numerous mountain ridges which is exactly what you don't want if looking for fuel economy.

I'm amazed at its performance under such circumstances with combined figures showing 1100km from its 53L tank.

How such a small capacity engine can achieve 230nm of torque at just 1750rpm (95% fm 1500) and 96kw (130bhp) staggers me.

You'd expect it to have to rev much higher to get the turbo spinning high enough to develop that level of power and torque.

It's aero efficiency results in a v quiet cruise at up to 130kph.

Very impressed and wonder if it might replace small diesels..... I certainly wouldn't want the added weight and costs of a diesel in this car.

An engine like that is running under a lot of strain all the time and its no good for reliability, as Ford are finding with their powerful 1.0 ecoboost engines. Good for the manufacturer as long as most of them last to the end of the warranty, but no good for long term ownership or the environment (due to cars not lasting as long as they otherwise could).

An engine like that is running under a lot of strain all the time and its no good for reliability, as Ford are finding with their powerful 1.0 ecoboost engines. Good for the manufacturer as long as most of them last to the end of the warranty, but no good for long term ownership or the environment (due to cars not lasting as long as they otherwise could).

That's been said about small engines for as long as my 50 driving years.

If the Ford is failing the SAE wouldn't have awarded them the small engine of the year for the last three, I wouldn't have thought.

To be honest, the Ford engine is brilliant. The new ones don't have any real issues now but there are some minor teething issues on some and rogue engines still about with a dodgy turbo. Once those are all fixed it'll be one of the best engines out there. I tend to think Ford don't test enough before releasing products. The 1.2 turbo Peugeot is a super engine and is not under any excess strain. Like the 1.2TSI engines, they are designed to run a very low piston speed and a variable vane, variable nozzle turbo which takes the performance to a new level. The technology doesn't cause anymore strain on the petrol engine concerned than the strain on a diesel engine even at full blow at low revs. Everything in the motor is designed to take it. Apart from spark ignition there is little difference in the way the mechanicals operated now. We used that tech on some of the engines we designed and developed and they last and last. 

Edited 28 January, 201511 yr by Estate Man

Remember the girl on 5th Gear flogging a Charade around a rally track in 1st at full throttle and at the end idling sweet as a nut.

I remember the first 1.2 Civic engine in the early 70s being turbo'd by U.S. hotrodders .

They were unburstable.

We've had our new 308 1.2L for nearly a week and on a trip through the Snowy Mountains on NE Victoria and S New South Wales involving tortuous twisting climbs and decents over numerous mountain ridges which is exactly what you don't want if looking for fuel economy.

I'm amazed at its performance under such circumstances with combined figures showing 1100km from its 53L tank.

How such a small capacity engine can achieve 230nm of torque at just 1750rpm (95% fm 1500) and 96kw (130bhp) staggers me.

You'd expect it to have to rev much higher to get the turbo spinning high enough to develop that level of power and torque.

It's aero efficiency results in a v quiet cruise at up to 130kph.

Very impressed and wonder if it might replace small diesels..... I certainly wouldn't want the added weight and costs of a diesel in this car.

"1100km from its 53L tank" = 20.75 miles/litre = 59 miles per gallon.

I suggest that you are kidding yourself and should do a proper measurement of fuel consumption. Over 5000Km and a few tanks of fuel should give a more accurate figure.

Peugeot claim 61mpg for that car/engine and owners report an overall average of 50mpg (still impressive).

Edited 28 January, 201511 yr by philbes

^^^^ I agree and I shall be doing a fill tomorrow.

700km and a third left on the gauge, which has shown no sign of inconsistency in its dropping rate.

300km involved a number of steep twisting climbs and strong engine braking and brakes on the same steep twisting drops so almost no conservation of energy.

In Spain they set some sort of record - 1812km for 51.4L on a track of some sort.

We shall see tomorrow.

I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised to find Ryeman hitting high 50's. And he'll probably get more as it beds in and loosens. My neighbour has the 1ltre Focus with the 3 cylinder 125ps engine. I've driven it and it goes like the clappers. He has a heavy right foot and does 20k per year. Overall he is managing 47mpg from a full tank brim to brim. His trip computer says 46mpg so he's pretty pleased. His last Focus had the 1.6 4 cylinder motor which under the same driving conditions managed just 35mpg. His 1 litre motor has managed as much as 62mpg on a recent long run where he respected the throttle a bit. Not bad. His 1.6 couldn't come anywhere near that. 

Just back from that trip to the rugged mountains getting back to the same pump after anything but ideal roads.....

1010kms~(630miles/57mpg) costing $58.23 or £30.29

Jammed in 50.5L and 'range' still showed 70km remaining.

Couldn't be more impressed with the fuel gauge and digital read outs which were entirely consistent and could be relied on.

I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised to find Ryeman hitting high 50's. And he'll probably get more as it beds in and loosens. My neighbour has the 1ltre Focus with the 3 cylinder 125ps engine. I've driven it and it goes like the clappers. He has a heavy right foot and does 20k per year. Overall he is managing 47mpg from a full tank brim to brim. His trip computer says 46mpg so he's pretty pleased. His last Focus had the 1.6 4 cylinder motor which under the same driving conditions managed just 35mpg. His 1 litre motor has managed as much as 62mpg on a recent long run where he respected the throttle a bit. Not bad. His 1.6 couldn't come anywhere near that. 

 

 

I've had 62mpg out of my 170CR Superb on a long run ! Get similar fill to fill if I'm fairly sensible

 

Ironic that Peugeot were at the forefront of the rise of diesels back in the day .