Toledo TV station checks out "110mpg" Mustangs, leaves skepticism at home
A Toledo, Ohio-area mechanic is claiming to have a miracle breakthrough originally conceived by his grandfather more than 60 years ago. The development has supposedly been installed on Doug Pelmear's 1987 Ford Mustang and allows it to achieve 80-110mpg, depending on which story you believe. Personally, I'm not inclined to believe either story. Particularly since Pelmear also claims that the Mustang now produces 400hp and 500lb-ft of torque and accelerates from 0-60mph in 3 seconds with a top speed of 180mph. 400hp would not be nearly enough to move a Fox-body Mustang of this vintage through the air at that speed nor would it give the car that kind of acceleration especially not while achieving that kind of fuel efficiency. A Toledo TV station visited with Pelmear and reporter Aaron Brilbeck decided that any hint of skepticism or even probing questions about exactly how this machine works would be inappropriate. The Mustang does have E85 stickers on it, although using ethanol would be unlikely to be beneficial unless the mileage number is based purely on the amount of gasoline used directly as fuel and ignoring the ethanol. Pelmear apparently intends to enter his car in the Automotive X-Prize, where a few more probing questions will be asked. Thanks to Paul and Brent for the tips!
[Sources: WNWO.com, MustangEvolution]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kardax 12:32PM (7/02/2008)
It might get 110 MPG if you only count the gasoline portion of the E85 used to fuel it...
I agree that 400 horsepower is not enough to get that much weight up to 60 MPH in 3 seconds. I also agree they won't get anywhere with the X-Prize :)
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Chris M 4:07PM (6/05/2009)
And he didn't. They've just dropped out of the X Prize competition.
Kardax 12:33PM (7/02/2008)
It might get 110 MPG if you only count the gasoline portion of the E85 used to fuel it...
I agree that 400 horsepower is not enough to get that much weight up to 60 MPH in 3 seconds. I also agree they won't get anywhere with the X-Prize :)
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Kardax 12:33PM (7/02/2008)
It might get 110 MPG if you only count the gasoline portion of the E85 used to fuel it...
I agree that 400 horsepower is not enough to get that much weight up to 60 MPH in 3 seconds. I also agree they won't get anywhere with the X-Prize :)
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Carl Trimble 12:59PM (7/02/2008)
I don't believe any of this. Not for a minute. With blogs these days, it does not matter if the story is true or not. Post it and find out later. BS.
Nice LOOKING Mustang though. I always did love that body style.
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Kardax 1:29PM (7/02/2008)
This website's comment system sure sucks sometimes... I got no feedback that any of my previous posts were received, and gave up after the third try... and now all three are there :|
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ddub 5:31PM (7/02/2008)
Seems to take about 10-15 min for my comments to show up. Not sure why that would be.
ddub 5:33PM (7/02/2008)
Well maybe replies are faster, cuz that ^^^ showed up instantly.
BTW. The "Remember me" checkbox isn't doing its job, for me anyway.
ddub 1:32PM (7/02/2008)
Everyone knows ethanol is just filler and doesn't calculate into the mpg equation.
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MikeofLA 12:42PM (7/03/2008)
be patient with the new system. It just started today. Give em time before we start flaming.
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CM 6:33PM (7/04/2008)
Sigh. Typical bad reporting, without a scintilla of skepticism, or even a hint that it might not be all its cracked up to be.
If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true. This has all the earmarks of another typical "fuel economy breakthrough" scam.
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Steve 4:07PM (7/07/2008)
Are you people for real? Seriously! If you had read anything about the competition this guy and his team has entered you would understand he has certain rules and guidelines he must follow under a legal obligation. Instead of congratulating the man, you try to condemn him. Unreal! Here is a person trying to better our economy and our world and all you can do is naysay?
This man doesn't have to prove anything to you or any news agency. All he has to do is show up with the rest of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE contenders in the third quarter of the year 2009.
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Jim Fountain 6:20PM (7/08/2008)
I agree, let us wait and see if the proof is in the pudding!!!
David Sligar 2:06PM (6/05/2009)
Right on, Steve!
Chris M 4:05PM (6/05/2009)
Latest news: They've dropped out of the X Prize competition.
Seems the judges are a bit more skeptical than a typical reporter.
Serge 7:35PM (7/08/2008)
Well, those numbers are possible if he did an EV conversion. After all, a Tesla does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and has a 250 mpg equivalent fuel efficiency.
That's hardly a breakthrough technology though.
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diakite mamadou b 5:38AM (1/26/2009)
iam very happy for xprize
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David Sligar 9:14PM (6/04/2009)
So -- now that Mr. Pelmear has won his first place award in Las Vegas, how do you all feel? Skepticism is fine, but out of hand dismissal is at least as stupid as uncritical acceptance of claims. Negative comments from folks who haven't seen the engine, haven't talked to the inventor, haven't checked their facts -- are just worthless. Consider the source.
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Chris M 4:11PM (6/05/2009)
What "1st place award"? Not the X Prize, that still has months to go, and besides, they've dropped out. For Las Vegas, perhaps it was some type of gambling contest?
Joeviocoe 6:58AM (6/07/2009)
Did some calculations of my own.
Go to http://hp2g.com/testdata.html
If you look at the data closely you will see that the prices reflect the price of E-85 fuel. Yet the amount filled seems way too low. Now, on a hunch (thanks autobloggreen) I put myself into the shoes of a scam-artist who would only report 15% of the actual amount of E-85 because I only think gasoline is worth counting.
I calculated that if I multiplied the reported amount filled by 6.67 then that would equal the actual amount before the 85% reduction. Behold!!! Doing the regular math of miles/gallons, it came out to a consistent 15.8 - 16 mpg.
EXACTLY WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT from a V8 4.3 liter 1987 mustang running on E-85 (which has a lower energy density than gasoline *but higher octane).
I feel like My Cousin Vinny!
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