HSV wins another green car award

In 2009 the HSV Maloo ute was deemed 'greener' than the likes of the Suzuki Alto and Ford Fiesta EcoNetic in the Global Green Car Challenge, a 3000km competitive eco drive from Darwin to Adelaid and proving that the win was no fluke, another 6.2-litre V8-powered HSV has again taken top honours in a prestigious eco car event.

The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS, essentially a rebadged HSV GTS, presented a claimed manufacturer's fuel consumption of 13.4L/100km (21mpg) and recorded the largest overall drop in its category, a 53 per cent reduction to 8.7L/100km (32.14mpg).

The Australian-made super saloon is powered by a relatively low-tech pushrod V8 engine built by Chevrolet. It displaces 6.2-litres and outputs 317kW/550Nm, yet in this competition it saw the largest overall drop in fuel consumption.

One of the UK's oldest economy driving events, the Fleet World MPG Marathon is a two-day competition that was held in the Cotswolds for 2011. It covered around 560km of roads; the driving mix including highway and also A and B country roads.

The UK's Top Gear Online editor Chris Mooney was behind the wheel, with Vauxhall staff member and archivist Andrew Duerden acting as navigator.

"Andrew and I are, as they say, over the moon to win the overall best percentage improvement in the VXR8," said Mooney. "It just goes to show that the person behind the wheel can make a massive difference to fuel costs and carbon emissions. And, of course, that a 6.2-litre V8 is a very sensible choice of engine in the right hands."

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