Canadian Fuel Economy numbers out...

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by BimmerBoomer

Car & Driver beat the EPA average in the 2008 E92 DCT coupe they used for their 40,000 mile long term test - 17 mpg vs. 16 mpg EPA. One can only imagine how this car was driven!

Actually, I would guess they drive it exactly the opposite of a 'one day' drive/review.

If you are a motor journalist and you only have a day, you have to 'bag it' and push it so you can write a review of the car that tells enthusiasts what the thing does at the limits.

I mean, other the one 'mom' review we got, who would want to read "this car was great as I sat in traffic and was really effective at getting my daughter to soccer practice. There was lots of room in the trunk for my hockey bag for my Sunday night beer league game too."

Look at the comments on any review here and people want to know how the car handles at the edge (on the track or road), its 0-100 time, its 1/4 mile time, its 'Ring time, etc. To know those things, you have to push it like crazy in the hours you have. And that means burning fuel.

On a long term review, though, this is someone's daily driver. They will drive it like you or I: mostly mundane, odd bouts of spirited driving, etc. Much less likely to be pushing it 24/7 like on an early review.

SO, I would expect the long termer to get pretty decent (read: real world) economy, whereas these early reviews I would expect the opposite.

[AreOut]

now on the very same official BMW Canada site look at the M235i comparison...

http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/newvehicles/...&model_2=M235i

it's ~1 liter advantage for DCT...

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by AreOut

now on the very same official BMW Canada site look at the M235i comparison...

http://www.bmw.ca/ca/en/newvehicles/...&model_2=M235i

it's ~1 liter advantage for DCT...

It's not a DCT.

[AreOut]

still a huge difference, DCT should consume even less than auto no?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by AreOut

still a huge difference, DCT should consume even less than auto no?

Not necessarily. It's more about internal losses as well as ratio spread.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Not necessarily. It's more about internal losses as well as ratio spread.

Yup, have a look at the EPA numbers for any DCT equipped BMW compared to the same car with a manual. The DCT is consistently as thirsty or thirstier than the MT. The DCT is named "Auto(AM-S7)" at:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymake/BMW2013.shtml

The ZF 8-speed on the other hand is consistently more frugal, as much as 3 mpg compared to the MT.