Man’s outrageous modifications took Geo Metro XFi from 56 to 75mpg
- Doug Heffron’s modifications took Geo Metro XFi from 56 to 75mpg
- He reduced the car’s frontal area by 25 percent
- Heffron managed to shed nearly 300 pounds from the car
Published on Aug 08, 2024 at 3:26 PM (UTC+4)
by Daksh Chaudhary
Last updated on Aug 08, 2024 at 7:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
This is the story of Doug Heffron and his 1989 Geo Metro XFi, who took his passion for fuel efficiency to the next level by completely transforming his car.
The car already had an impressive 56mpg, and Doug pushed it further to 75mpg by doing some serious modifications.
Pushing an already highly fuel-efficient car to a 29 percent improvement is impressive, to say the least.
But what inspired this effort?
Well, it stemmed from his experience building airplanes and holding a flying instructor’s license.
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Enhancing the fuel efficiency of Geo Metro XFi
A post on Reddit covered the incredible story of Doug Heffron and his Geo Metro XFi.
To start with, the Geo Metro XFi was given an aerodynamic design, reducing the car’s frontal area by 25 percent.
Doug Heffron also added wheel skirts to the front and back to improve airflow and then installed a taller fifth gear to make the car run better at high speeds.
Weight reduction played the most important role in improving the fuel efficiency of the car.
Heffron managed to cut away nearly 300 pounds from the car, almost one-fifth of its original weight.
A perfect balance between innovation and practicality
The modification also included installing additional storage areas, making it perfect for long weekends.
The storage compartments, made of aluminum to keep the weight minimal, were spacious enough to hold up to 16 bags of groceries.
While there was possibility for more modifications, Heffron kept a balance between innovation and practicality.
The modified Geo Metro XFi didn’t just become fuel-efficient but remained stable at high speeds, even on icy roads.
In a similar story, a father and son duo modified their Geo Metro to achieve over 100 miles per gallon, showing the car’s scope for transformation.
Heffron emphasized that the modified Geo Metro XFi was just a prototype, suggesting the possibility of even more refined modifications in the future.
