Ford: We didn't overstate C-Max Hybrid mpg, low numbers were a surprise

[hybridbear]

From Autoblog green. Very interesting article. Unfortunately I'm now feeling less and less inclined to defend Ford and more and more like Ford was intentionally deceptive. I still love our FFH but my sentiment toward Ford is now markedly less favorable.

 

http://green.autoblog.com/2013/08/19/ford-didnt-overstate-c-max-hybrid-mpg-number/

 

[acdii]

 

We've been working with the EPA, recognizing hybrids are seeing a lot more variability than gasoline engines against the label. [They have] much more sensitivity to speed, sensitivity to environment, much more sensitivity to even break-in miles. So, we've been working with the EPA and this test procedure is not a very quick test, there's a lot involved in preparing vehicles for tests and then actually doing the tests and working hand-in-hand with the EPA, we just came to this conclusion fairly recently.

 

Well, a big freaking DUH!!!!!

 

Holy crap I can't believe Ford came out and said that! They have been building Hybrids for how many years now, and didn't know the impact? Oh man, I have a facepalm image for this, but need to keep it PG.

 

As for what I went through with the first car, I am holding final judgement as to just how bad that car was until after the next winter so I have something to compare to before I send Ford a bill for reparations.

[hybridbear]

Toyota even called out Ford on this now. Ford is basically saying "our engineers who built and designed this car don't know how it works and are too stupid to realize that the C-Max and Fusion would get different EPA test results if tested separately". I don't like the fact that Ford is basically saying that they were too stupid to know better rather than just admitting that they took a chance on this loophole and got caught.