I've never been impressed with the Toyota Prius' fuel mileage knowing that, 20 years ago, Geo Metros were getting more than 50 mpg without all of the batteries and maggot-shaped styling features of the Prius. (I've also never been so underwhelmed by the look and feel of a car's interior as I was with the Prius.) So any way to give alternatives to one of these cars is always a plus for me, especially when it comes from the Ford family. Here's the latest news I have received over the wire showing the results of Ford's green efforts, led by William Clay "Bill" Ford Jr. (For the record, Bill Ford has been environmentally conscious well before Toyota has been loading its lots with gas-sucking TUNDRA's, SEQUOIA's and the like.)

Fusion Hybrid Averages 81.5 MPG, Sets World Record with 1,445 Miles on Single Tank of Gas

- Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques achieve 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - averaging 81.5 mpg in Washington, D.C. - and set world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan

- The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge proves that fuel-efficient driving techniques can nearly double a vehicle's EPA-rated fuel economy

- The demonstration of the Fusion Hybrid's ultra high-mileage potential also raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

WASHINGTON, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques such as smooth acceleration and coasting to red lights were able to get an extraordinary 1,445.7 miles out of a single tank of gas during a fund-raising effort in Washington, D.C. that concluded today. They did it by averaging 81.5 miles per gallon in an off-the-showroom floor, non-modified 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the most fuel-efficient midsize car in North America - nearly doubling its U.S. certified mileage.

The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge started at 8:15 a.m. EDT on Saturday, April 25, from Mount Vernon, Va., and ended this morning at 5:37 a.m. on George Washington Parkway in Washington, D.C. After more than 69 continuous hours of driving, the Fusion Hybrid finally depleted its tank and came to a stop with an odometer reading of 1,445.7 miles - setting a world record for gasoline-powered, midsize sedan.

The challenge team, which included NASCAR star Carl Edwards, high mileage trailblazer Wayne Gerdes and several Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) engineers, raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by exceeding the goal of 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas. The Fusion Hybrid's official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank.

"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, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. "The fact that we were able raise much needed funds for JDRF while raising the bar on fuel efficient driving performance made the effort doubly worthwhile."

Maximizing mileage

A team of seven drivers prepared for the challenge by learning a few mileage-maximizing techniques, most of which can be used in any vehicle to improve fuel economy, but are especially useful in the Fusion Hybrid where the driver can take advantage of pure electric energy at speeds below 47 mph.

CleanMPG.com founder Wayne Gerdes, an engineer from Illinois who coined the term "hypermiling" to describe the mileage-maximizing techniques, provided the pointers. They include:

  --  Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
  --  Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
  --  Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic
      conditions;
  --  Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake
      wear;
  --  Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the
      engine;
  --  Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
  --  Applying the "Pulse and Glide" technique while maintaining the flow of
      traffic;
  --  Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle's kinetic
      forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build
      speed; and
  --  Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

"You become very aware of your driving because you're constantly looking for opportunities to maximize mileage, and a more aware driver is a safer driver, too," said Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager.

In addition, it is important for Fusion Hybrid drivers to manage the battery system's state of charge through the use of regenerative braking and coasting, and balancing the use of the electric motor and gas engine in city driving to avoid wasting fuel.

Fusion Hybrid drivers also can stay more connected to the hybrid driving experience with Ford's SmartGauge(TM) with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that helps coach drivers on how to optimize performance of their hybrid.

The Challenge

The Fusion Hybrid 1,000-Mile Challenge team took turns driving several routes in and around the national capital over the course of approximately three days and nights. The route involved elevation changes, and ranged from the relatively open George Washington Parkway to a 3-mile stretch in the heart of the city that is clogged with roughly 30 traffic signals.

"The Fusion Hybrid works brilliantly," Gerdes said. "When you don't need acceleration power while driving around town, the gas engine shuts down seamlessly. There's not another hybrid drivetrain in the world that does that as effectively. The Fusion engineering team really knocked it out of the park."

Ford NASCAR star Carl Edwards took time away from the high speed world of professional car racing to contribute to the Fusion Hybrid team's success in D.C.

"It was exciting to be an active part in this challenge. The fact that it will help spread the word about the Fusion Hybrid's great mileage, and help out a great charity, makes it even more special," said Edwards, whose '99' team has used fuel-saving techniques to win races. "There's no question that the Fusion Hybrid will help consumers save fuel when they drive it. Having driven the car, I feel strongly about how great it is - so strong that I've purchased one myself."

While planning a "field trip" to see an Iola resident's barn-find '70 Road Runner (featured in the May 7 issue of Old Cars Weekly), I met up with Dennis Bickford of Vintage Woodworks. Dennis' Chrysler Town & Country work has been featured in OCW several times, but few know he's also a Corvette guy, and has been for years.

Dennis was the one who told me about the Road Runner, and he was going to escort John Gunnell and I over to the shop of the Road Runner's owner. When I pulled in Dennis' driveway, I surprised was to see him dusting off a 1970 Corvette. (I was aware that he owned a '65 roadster, as I'd seen him drive it to our local Wednesday night cruise-in on several occasions, but the blue '70 shocked me.)
Apparently, Dennis and his equally wonderful wife had bought the car slightly used in 1970 while Dennis was stationed in Hawaii.

Dennis gave me the "low-down" on the car, but one of the most fascinating stories of his experience with it was when he shipped the car to the U.S. mainland after his stint in Hawaii was over. He said that, while in California to pick up the car, they stopped at his wife's relative's home in LA for a visit. Knowing 'Vettes were the most stolen cars of the time, Dennis was more than a little worried the car would be robbed while in LA. To disable the car from starting, Dennis removed the rotor from beneath the distributor cap. But he also knew it could be towed away in the night, so he tied a string to the car, then ran the string across the yard and up through the bedroom window, tying it off at his toe. If the car was going to be stolen, Dennis (and his toe) were going with it!

2009 New Models '70 Buick GSX

As a Buick lover, it pains me to have to explain this, but here goes: Buicks have a bad rap for being the choice barge of “blue hairs,” but several times through the years, Buick has had the “baddest” beasts on the road, bar none. The baddest Buick of the bad has to be the 1970 Stage 1 GSX models. These cars visually leapt off dealership lots filled with green Electras and brown LeSabres, thanks to coats of Apollo White or Saturn Yellow paint and menacing black stripes. The GSX models were based on the Gran Sport (GS) models, but the “X” added exponential aggression with a GSX-only package that included chin and deck lid spoilers, the aforementioned stripes, a hood tach, GSX ornamentation and other details.

Now that those unannointed in the beauty of Buick have been brought up to speed, let me get down to business: The landmark Buick GSX muscle car has been scaled down from street-size to pocket-size, courtesy of Hot Wheels. For only a buck, GSX dreamers can pocket an authentic replica fo the 1970 Buick GSX, complete with correct Saturn Yellow paint on an all-metal body decked out in black stripes with a hood tach and rear spoiler. The chrome plastic chassis houses the chin spoiler and accurately replicated 1970-only front and rear bumpers and grille, which also carries a set of Hot Wheels five-spoke wheels to keep the car rolling down the sidewalk.

This isn’t the only 1970 Buick GSX to appear in scaled-down die-cast form, but it certainly has the best Buick bang for the buck (literally). Watch for it at your favorite Hot Wheels-carrying retailer or out on the swap field this summer.

Also, if you’re into Buick GSX models, check out the 2009 BPG Nationals at National Trails Raceway outside of Columbus Ohio Saturday August 1. Organizers are hoping to get 50 real GSX models from 1970 and up in one place, regardless of condition. Read more about it here.

Custom '53 Chevy Treasure Hunt

One of the coolest customs to come from the pen of Larry Wood and out of the Hot Wheels shop is the Custom ’53 Chevy. This cruiser sports a chopped Bel Air/Two-Ten Sport Coupe body dressed with frenched headlamps, ’55 Chevy tail lamps, a toothy first-gen ‘Vette grille and a cooler than cool clear louvered hood that goes the next step beyond those found on some early Rocket 88s and ’54 Fords.

As cool as this Hot Wheels casting is, it was only a matter of time before the Chevy made it to coveted Treasure Hunt duty, and it appears as car number 7 of the twelve annually produced for the line. Pictured here is the more common “regular” Treasure Hunt with metallic purple paint, white flames, chrome interior and five-spoke wheels. The “$uper” Treasure Hunt is identical, with the exception of whitewall Real Riders which add exponential coolness.

It’ll take lots of circling around your local toy department to find one of these hanging in the toy aisle for a dollar, but it’s worth it. If you’re a busy person, it’s also worth buying on the secondary market, even if you have to pay $10 or more.