Ford has been saying it for some now and they’ve finally gone and done it.  It’s now proven the 2011 Ford Fiesta can achieve 40 miles per gallon on the highway and 29 miles per gallon in the city.  This bar-setting EPA certification arrives in conjunction with the cross-country American Journey road trip a couple of (lucky) agents are taking part in.

The new Ford Fiesta achieves this class-leading, fuel sipping feat with a six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission and Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (TiVCT), electric power assist steering, aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff, and improved aerodynamics.  What’s more, the all-new Fiesta now joins the likes of several other Ford class-leading fuel economy nobles such as the Fusion Hybrid, the Ford Escape & Mercury Mariner hybrids, the Ford Ranger, the Ford Mustang (v6), and the Super Duty F-Series truck.

“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.”

There you have it–class leadership in economics.  The Fiesta does all this and still maintains great initial pricing, with introductory sticker marks set at $13,995 (destination inclusive).

“We worked hard to deliver the class-leading fuel economy Ford is becoming synonymous for,” said Steve Pintar, Fiesta chief nameplate engineer. “To be the only vehicle in the segment to deliver 40 mpg is something we feel consumers will appreciate.”

Appreciate it we will; even more so if we become cursed yet again with grossly inflated fuel prices here in the States this summer.