Lose weight - and save gas!

Fuel economy demands have car companies scrambling for creative ways to get rid of excess pounds.

When Ford redesigned the Focus compact for the 2008 model year, engineers, designers and parts suppliers made hundreds of changes aimed at cutting excess weight.

Many of the other changes detailed here might seem trivial. But in an era when fuel economy is often a deciding factor for buyers, those little bits can end up making a real difference.