To coincide with BMW's roll out of 15 ultra-efficient 1 and 3 Series models over the next six months, BMW invited the Carsales Network to its EfficientDynamics Challenge 2009. The idea behind the event was to prove that efficient cars don't have to be boring to drive, and with four stages -- two of which were at the Phillip Island race track -- it's fair to say the point was well and truly driven home.
I must confess, however, that when BMW invited us to take part in the EfficientDynamics Challenge 2009, thoughts initially turned to hours upon hours of monotonously miserly driving... Granted, it's no mean feat being the most efficient driver on the day in such challenges (particularly if your default driving style is foot to the floor) and the competition among automotive journos is fierce, but while I didn't take line honours at the end of the competition I did come away from the test with a newfound respect for the fuel saving measures BMW is systematically adding in its vehicles.
The Test
The most common arguments between motoring enthusiasts are, by and large, about power. If your preferred car had more kilowatts, you had bragging rights. Car companies have waged power wars for decades and have reaped the rewards of high profile power conflicts, but as we approach 2010 something has changed; the efficiency war has entered the lexicon.
While there will always be a place for power wars in the automotive industry, between the likes of HSV and FPV, AMG and the M division, the emphasis is now shifting dramatically towards being green (or as some cynics would argue, being 'seen' to be green).
There was roughly 300 kilometres of economical driving during the running of the BMW EfficientDynamics Challenge -- the chosen car being BMW's current eco pin-up car, the new manual version of the 130kW turbodiesel 120d hatch -- yet there was also a significant dynamic driving component to the Challenge, held at the Phillip Island racetrack.
Driving the BMW 120d hatch manual, which has a claimed average fuel consumption rating of 4.8L/100km – less than 1.0 litre shy of the new Toyota Prius -- is a piece of cake. The six-speed manual gearbox has a light but precise action that rarely snags and the clutch is fairly light, all of which makes for quick and precise gear changes.
Currently BMW Australia's most efficient car, the 120d is far from slow, able to reach 100km/h from standstill in just 7.6 seconds. Not bad for an oiler. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder common rail injection turbodiesel engine generates a very healthy 130kW of power and 350Nm of torque, yet emits just 128 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Simply put, the vehicle is highly efficient yet has the kind of power reserves that allow you to really enjoy yourself on the road (and track for that matter).
The Challenge involved 15 automotive journalists and was split into four separate legs, each of which counted towards a quarter of an overall score.
Stage 1. Dynamic Drive to Phillip Island (150km). Lowest fuel consumption wins.
Stage 2. Slalom Time Trial. Fastest time wins.
Stage 3. Motorkhana Time Trial. Fastest time wins.
Stage 4. Economy Drive to BMW HQ. Lowest fuel consumption wins.
The first leg involved freeway driving but also a some demanding hill climbs and twisting sections of road on the scenic route to Phillip Island via Poowong. My overall consumption for this 'dynamic' stage was 4.5L/100km, which was impressive considering the average claimed combined figure for the 120d hatch is 4.8L/100km.
The 120d hatch is the first BMW in Australia to be equipped as standard with an automatic stop-start function, which comes in handy at traffic lights and stop signs. The system shuts down the engine when the manual gear shifter is placed in neutral and the clutch pedal is disengaged. The engine reignites almost instantly when the clutch pedal is engaged. The system can be switched off at the touch of a button.
In practice the system works very well, and is claimed to deliver a three per cent efficiency gain overall, and though we didn't do much urban driving, commuting and dense traffic is where the stop-start system will truly earn its keep.
By the time the gathered journalists arrived at the Phillip Island racetrack, many looking a little rosy-cheeked after choosing not to engage the aircon on what was a very sunny and warm winters day. It was time to test the cars' handling abilities on a couple of short courses set up on the racetrack.
The first go-fast test was the slalom, which took an average of about 28 seconds to complete and used only first and second gears. After five runs it was clear that the compact 120d was tidy little package, with not too much roll and good body control. The baby Beemer dealt with the rapid changes in direction without losing too much group and the rear-wheel drive setup coupled with precise steering to ensure I didn't hit any cones (which would have resulted in a 2 second penalty).
Grip levels from the 205/50 R17 rubber were also good, as was communication through the chassis (wagging the tail once or twice was a progressive rather than a white-knuckled experience) in the second motorkhana test, which had a couple of sections that required plucking out third gear and higher speeds than the slalom.
For the entire motorkhana session, which took an average of about 62 seconds to complete, I set the pace. But, frustratingly, I was pipped by one tenth of a second at the eleventh hour. Even more galling was a final 'unofficial' run in which I shaved a whole three seconds off my time. It seems when the pressure is off, performing comes far more naturally...
The motorkhana course once again highlighted the BMW 120d's agility; turn-in was generally good with understeer only experienced under extreme duress. But perhaps even more impressive was the torquey engine which, once going, provided the German oiler with the kind of response and motivation you'd expect of a hard-charging turbocharged petrol hot hatch.
The dynamic stability control was useful, but the car was much faster through the course when this was switched off, which highlighted how well sorted the car's chassis was.
Take-offs proved a little troublesome at first but this was probably due to driver skill (or lack thereof) rather than any shortcomings in turbo pressure or gearing in the 120d.
After we'd finished thrashing cars on the Phillip Island circuit, it was time for the final run home, the so-called 'economy run'. Annoyingly, I ended up recording a worse result than the run out to Phillip Island -- 4.7L/100km. Nevertheless, this still represents a very impressive figure, one that manages again to be less than the manufacturers fuel consumption claims.
In addition to the engine stop-start feature, the BMW 120d achieved high levels of fuel efficiency via energy regeneration (effectively a smart alternator), an optimum gear shift indicator and even an aerodynamic vent control, which can shut flaps in front of the radiator to reduce aero drag. When you consider the 130kW/350Nm output and low 4.8L/100km, the BMW 120d represents good value at $46,790. BMW is also readying more than a dozen new models for the Australian market over the next six months that take advantage of many of the EfficientDynamics technologies.
While the fuel consumption figures for the time trial stages conducted at the Phillip Island circuit weren't counted, the total cost for the almost 300 kilometre round trip worked out to roughly $15 (with diesel priced at around $1.20 per litre).
For mine, the BMW EfficientDynamics Challenge 2009 proved that you can have your cake and eat it too. Unless of course you get pipped on the last run by a colleague...
Results
Stage 1. Dynamic Drive: The lowest fuel consumption was 4.0L/100km, while the highest was 4.8L/100km.
Stage 2. Slalom Time Trial: The fastest time set by a journalist was 26:03; the slowest was 29:28.
Stage 3. Motorkhana Time Trial: Fastest time was 59:79 and the slowest was 1:07:59.
Stage 4. Economy Drive: The lowest fuel rating was 4.1L/100km; highest was 4.7L/100km.
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