Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the official fuel consumption figures for the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta 1.6 Duratec, and certified it as a 40 mpg vehicle. That makes the Fiesta the most economical car in its segment. Priced form $13,995 for the American market, Ford Fiesta averages 40 mpg on highways and 29 mpg in city driving.

The car comes with a 1.6-liter Duratec engine with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox with 120 horsepower, which is equipped with an aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff and an engine accessory drive system that improves efficiency by reducing the energy it takes to power the air conditioner and alternator.

Other fuel saving solutions in this car include electric power-assisted steering and optimized aerodynamics. The PowerShift transmission itself is also tweaked for better efficiency, in fact it makes a big difference as the car with the 5-speed manual gearbox is rated at28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway.

“The new Fiesta is yet another car in Ford’s lineup that delivers class-leading fuel economy,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. “From Super Duty to Fusion Hybrid and the new Mustang V-6, Ford is committed to fuel economy leadership with every new vehicle it introduces in all segments.”

In addition, the Fiesta also features the PowerShift transmission, a six-speed automatic that combines the fuel benefits of a manual with the convenience of an automatic.  Combine that with electric power-assisted steering, another fuel saver and some aerodynamic optimizations and you have a car that can go a long way on a single tank of fuel.