Mirage averages 70 mpg (US) / 3.4 L/100 km / 29.7 km/L in six ecodriving contests

http://mirageforum.com/forum/attachm...1&d=1388164444
Screen cap from: Video: Malaysia economy run Jan, 2013: 27 km/L avg; 30.6 kmL top (3.3 LHK, 72 mpg US)

With the Mirage at or near the top of its class for fuel economy, Mitsu has organized multiple fuel economy/ecodriving competitions and demonstrations to highlight the car's efficiency.

These were typically held as part of the car's press launch events in various countries (e.g. Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand). The contests pitted members of the motoring press against one another to see who could get the best fuel economy driving on the same route.

The car has also been featured in a couple of long-distance economy runs where individuals or small teams took the car on extended highway drives (eg. Thailand, Switzerland).

Of the half dozen events we've discovered so far, the average fuel economy of the best team/driver's results is just a hair under 70 MPG US = 3.4 L/100 km = 29.7 km/L ...

Top result	MPG (US)	L/100 km	km/L	MPG (UK)	Details
	73.5	3.2	31.3	88.3	Eco Drive Day in Austria: 3.20 l / 100 km (73.5 mpg US, 31 km/L)
	69.6	3.38	29.6	83.6	Swiss long-distance record for Space Star 1.2: 3,38 l/100 km!
	71.3	3.3	30.3	85.6	New Zealand Mirage economy run: 3.3L/100 km (30.3 km/L, 71.3 mpg US) CVT
	75.0	3.1	31.9	90.1	Mirage economy run Thailand: 31.9 km/L (3.1L/100km, 75 mpg US) 5-spd
	72	3.3	30.6	86.4	Video: Malaysia economy run Jan, 2013: 27 km/L avg; 30.6 kmL top (3.3 LHK, 72 mpg US)
	56.9	4.1	24.2	68.4	Mirage 1.2 economy run contest: Bali, Indonesia (video)
	69.7	3.4	29.7	83.7	average

These events used various drivetrains combinations: the 1.2L engine with both CVT and manual transmissions, and the 1.0L engine & manual tranny in the case of the Austrian event.

Conditions & skill level of the drivers varied. All these events were in hot or mild temperatures. Some events represented "real world" conditions with "typical" drivers and speeds, with the rules even requiring the air conditioning be set on the coldest setting. Others were held under more "ideal" fuel economy conditions or with expert ecodrivers/hypermilers at the controls, and the climate control presumably turned off.

Click the link for details of each event.

Update: here's another one, this time for the G4 sedan:

Thread: Philippines: Mirage G4 sedan economy run (winner: 33.6 km/L / 79 mpg US / 3 L/100km)

Those are incredibly impressive numbers.

Yeah, though obviously NONE of the events included stop and go city driving. :D

Push those numbers to the public Mitsu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Yeah, though obviously NONE of the events included stop and go city driving. :D

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yes i also dont think this is real world

more long distance steady speed... as soon you go into the city this will look differend but still nice numbers!

No friggin way I can even ever get close to those numbers!! it's cold and very windy here. plus it's dangerous to drive under 80 km/h on 120 km/hour road when even the trucks are driving 95 km/hour just to get the best fuel economy!

well i dont agre there

some of the trucks to 95 where only 80 is allowed

most of them i see still do 80-85kpmh and if you thnk 80 is dangerous then those trucks must be a danger to

the only danger are those that want to driver faster and think its dangerous to driver slower because they say that because THEY get iritated and thus are the danger on the road.

they want to driver faster just te get somewhere 5 min early.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spacester

yes i also dont think this is real world

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The problem is: define "real world" :)

Believe it or not, the conditions/routes in most of those Mirage fuel economy contests are similar to my own driving. I almost never drive in the city - I walk/bike most of the time (15 minute walk from downtown). So most of my driving is longer distances on secondary highways at moderate speeds. (Perfect for good fuel economy.)

Everyone's experience is different. Your mileage will vary. :D

yes ok but on average i think the most people even take the car to post something a few blocks away...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Of the half dozen events we've discovered so far, the average fuel economy of the best team/driver's results is just a hair under 70 MPG US = 3.4 L/100 km = 29.7 km/L ...

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I could not beat those numbers even with my Toyota Prius. The best I got with it was 50+ mpg.

I just filled up my Mirage cvt again and again it posted 45 mpg. That's just driving around town. I have no complaints.

p.s. I've owned several hybrids and this car smokes 2 of them.

Keep the faith.

-Zxit

If you had followed in your Prius behind the "top" Mirage in each of these contests, I'm sure you would have beaten their results.

In my experience with Toyota hybrids, the key to stellar mileage is causing the engine to shut down at every possible opportunity -- ie. completely lifting off the accelerator to kill the engine for long engine-off coasts while approaching stops/turns/downhills, etc. That, and minimizing brake usage.

I took a friend out in his Lexus hybrid a few months back and we saw 70+ MPG / 3.4 L/100 km in sub/urban driving. "Real world?" Probably not for most people, but not stupid slow or holding up other drivers, either (though it wasn't busy).

Those are crazy good numbers even for non real world traffic conditions driving!

Only a handfull of times did I ever manage to make the display on my mirage go above 70mpg at the end of my 27 mile commute back to the house. Going the other direction to work, 67.5mpg was the best I ever got on the display.(must be an elevation difference)

And in those cases I had little traffic ruining my hypermiling for short periods of time. Also those runs included engine off coasting down to stupid low speeds that I simply can not consider real world driving,and I normally don't slow down that much.

Might as well get out and push the car with the key on engine off at that point.

So these guys did great regardless of their actual driving conditions is all I'm trying to say!

Would be nice if members could get pictures of the overall average and the amount of miles ( trip , A or B ? ) for each tank to post . Gallons used and a picture of the gas gauge would be a welcome bonus . ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zxit

I could not beat those numbers even with my Toyota Prius. The best I got with it was 50+ mpg.

I just filled up my Mirage cvt again and again it posted 45 mpg. That's just driving around town. I have no complaints.

p.s. I've owned several hybrids and this car smokes 2 of them.

Keep the faith.

-Zxit

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what are those that are smoked :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spacester

what are those that are smoked :p

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LoL! I should say all those cars are just a memory but what they got for mpg I remember.

The cars the mirage beat are "smoked"...

A 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid CVT 43 mpg tops.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL134.../408473085.jpg


And my previously owned 2011 Honda CR-z "CVT" best was 40 mpg


http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL134.../408473084.jpg

As for...

Quote:

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cinder

Would be nice if members could get pictures of the overall average and the amount of miles ( trip , A or B ? ) for each tank to post . Gallons used and a picture of the gas gauge would be a welcome bonus . ;)

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I will check and see if I can get some pictures of my gas fill ups. "45 mpg" I did do some videos before I filled the tank and as I drove off but it is very hard with people behind me in a hurry.

Sorry for any mistakes I'm not perfect.

Keep the Faith!

-Zxit