Ford touting "40" at New York Auto Show (that's 40 mpg, of course)

Ford wants attendees at the 2011 New York Auto Show to know that it has "Four in the Forties". This means that four of the automaker's vehicles are rated at 40 miles per gallon or better. To reinforce its point, a blue-lit "40" flanks the entrance of Ford's media event in New York City.

For now, the Blue Oval vehicles that wear the 40-mpg badge of honor include: the Fiesta SE with SFE (super fuel economy) package equipped with the six-speed dual-clutch Powershift gearbox, Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid and the 2012 Focus SE sedan with SFE package and the six-speed automatic transmission.

Ford claims it's the only automaker that currently offers four vehicles capable of returning 40 mpg, but some of those Blue Oval models must be equipped with special packages and certain gearboxes to achieve that number. Most readers probably know that vehicles like the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and the Lexus CT200h all hit 40 mpg. Plus, the Hyundai Elantra boasts a 40-mpg highway rating no matter how it's optioned. Seems like some of Ford's competition should consider a lit number 40 too.

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]