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Test cycles are different yea, but how about we look at it like this: the car is "under 160g/km". The Lotus Elise 1.6 with the Toyota 1ZR-FAE engine is rated at 149g/km in the UK (is that same as EU test cycle?). The Lotus weighs about 700-800 pounds less, and has approximately the same drag. The Lotus likely uses a similar gearbox, with similar revs. The Lotus has only 80% of the displacement, and Valvematic cuts part load pumping losses to 0.
Meanwhile the FRS has a throttle plate, and higher displacement, so on paper it looks like it will need to work much harder on the highway. But the fuel consumption rating is only barely higher than the Lotus! 50% more power, 40% more mass, 25% more torque, less advanced valvetrain, but <10% more fuel usage? That's crazy. Spray guided direct injection seems like pretty potent stuff. Now imagine they swapped in a Valvematic system...better than a Prius? :O
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