In an interesting sign of the times, the headline act at the Ford Australia stand at the Melbourne International Motor Show wasn’t one of the company's usual stunning concept cars, or even a hot version of a Falcon. Rather it was the Fiesta Econetic, a special high-economy model that has been officially rated at just 3.7 litres per hundred kilometres (76 miles per gallon) under European standard fuel measurements. The Econetic engine manages to get carbon dioxide (C02) level under the magic figure of 100 grams per kilometre, with an official reading of 98 grams.

That's the good news, the bad news is that the car isn't on sale in this country. However, the company is serious about bringing it here, though it hasn’t put a date on its introduction, other than to say late in 2009, nor has it finalised the exact specifications for our market.

Speaking to us at the introduction to the economy Fiesta, the president of Ford Australia, Marin Burela said, "If the European-spec Fiesta Econetic was available for sale in Australia today, it would rank as the most fuel efficient and lowest CO2 emitting-vehicle across the entire local new-car market, including hybrid models."

A pleasing feature of the high-economy Fiesta is that it continues to use the lovely body lines of its standard brothers. These have been modified slightly to improve aerodynamics, including a special rear air deflector. Note the smooth wheel covers, again in the interests of minimal disturbance to the air.

A downside may be the reduction in ground clearance, again to improve aerodynamics. This may prove a hassle on some rough Australian roads. We will have to wait and see.

Ford's main feature in the Fiesta Econetic is a special turbo-diesel engine. Displacing 1.6 litres, it has only 66 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque, so isn't going to be ball of fire on the road. Low rolling resistance tyres will give it a bit more performance, but that will be counteracted by high gearing in the differential. You don’t get something for nothing in this world, and we look forward to testing the economy/performance balance of the Fiesta Econetic when we carry out our test driving later in the year.