WASHINGTON -- The Volkswagen diesel-powered Rabbit is the most fuel efficient 1983 car while the new Maserati Quattroporte is the biggest gas guzzler, says the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA, in its 1983 fuel economy estimates, placed the VW Rabbit at the head of the class in saving motorists money at the pump -- giving it an estimated 50 miles per gallon.
The top-ranked U.S. diesel-powered automobiles were the Chevrolet Chevette and Pontiac 1000, each getting an estimated 42 mpg, the EPA said in its annual survey released Sunday.
Following the Rabbit in overall performance, was the Nissan Sentra at 48 mpg, the Isuzu I-Mark, at 44 mpg, and the VW Jetta with a 43 mpg rating.
Kathleen Bennett, assistant EPA administrator for air, noise and radiation, said, 'There has been tremendous improvement in the mileage estimates since the publication of the first guide in 1974.'
She said, 'Fleet average mileage based on EPA's test has doubled in this time period. Clearly, the 1983 mileage estimates demonstrate the vehicle manufacturers' ability to produce high mileage automobiles that also meet the Clean Air Act emission standards.'
The top-ranked gasoline-powered automobile in the EPA survey is the Honda Civic at 46 mpg, followed by Toyota Starlet models in second and third place at 44 mpg and 42 mpg.
The Nissan Sentra, at 40 mpg, came in fourth for gasoline-powered automobiles, followed in fifth place by another Honda Civic model, the Dodge Colt, Mitsubishi Precis, Plymouth Colt and a Toyota Tercel, all at 39 mpg. The Renault Alliance followed at 37 mpg.
The worse performance was by the Maserati Quattroporte at 8 mpg, followed by the Rolls-Royce Camargue and the Rolls-Royce Corniche at 9 mpg, the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit-Spur-Mulsanne and the Cadillac Limousine, 10 mpg; Ferrari 308 and Ferrari Mondial, 11 mpg; Jaguar XJS, 14 mpg; Porsche 911, Buick Riviera convertible, two other Buick Riviera models, Imperial, Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Electra, all at 16 mpg.
The top-ranked automobiles overall and in the domestic, diesel-powered, and gasoline-fueled categories are all described as compacts, subcompacts or minicompacts.
The EPA said the top 10 domestic automobiles are the Chevrolet Chevette and Pontiac 1000 at 42 mpg; another Chevrolet Chevette and Pontiac 1000 and two Renault Alliance models at 37 mpg; Dodge Omni, Dodge Charger, Plymouth Horizon and Plymouth Turismo at 34 mpg.
The top 11 diesel-powered automobiles are the Volkswagen Rabbit, 50 mpg; Nissan Sentra and another Volkswagen Rabbit, 48 mpg; Isuzu I-Mark, Nissan Sentra, 44 mpg; Volkswagen Jetta, two other Rabbits, 43 mpg; Chevrolet Chevette, Pontiac 1000, Volkswagen Jetta, 42 mpg.
The top 11 gasoline-fueled automobiles are the Honda Civic, 46 mpg; Toyota Starlet, 44 mpg; another Toyota Starlet model, 42 mpg; Nissan Sentra, 40 mpg; Honda Civic, Dodge Colt, Mitsubishi Precis, Plymouth Colt, Toyota Tercel, 39 mpg; two Renault Alliance models, 37 mpg.
The top 10 automobiles overall are Volkswagen Rabbit (diesel), 50 mpg; Nissan Sentra (diesel), Rabbit, 48 mpg; Honda Civic, 46 mpg; Isuzu I-Mark, Toyota Starlet, Nissan Sentra, 44 mpg; Volkswagen Jetta, two Rabbit models, 43 mpg.
The EPA said the Rabbit is equipped with a semi-automatic transmission and a new design feature introduced by the firm this year. 'This feature conserves fuel by automatically shutting off the engine when it is idling or decelerating, and restarting the engine when power is needed,' it said.
Mrs. Bennett cautioned potential buyers to remember that the Fuel Economy Guide is to be used for comparison shopping. The mileage estimates result from EPA's laboratory tests for pollution emissions and, while valuable as a shopping guide, do not take into consideration individual driving habits, road conditions or weather.
