Passat BlueMotion claims Guinness record for distance driven on a single tank
A UK journalist managed nearly 2500 km on a tank in Volkswagen's greened-up midsizer – 40 pc better than the company's official fuel efficiency claimsA Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion – the latest model to be touched with Wolfsburg's green stick has set a new Guinness World record distance travelled by a production car on a single tank of fuel.
UK Sunday Times journalist Gavin Conway managed 2463 km (1531 miles) in the car. That's most of the way from Sydney to Cairns, or Melbourne to Alice Springs with 200 km left – enough to make the Erldunda roadhouse on the way out to the rock.
In accordance with the Guinness organisation's requirements, Conway's drive was monitored independently from start to finish. They measured the total fuel consumed at 77.25 litres, which translates into an overall consumption figure of 90.0 mpg, or 3.14L/100 km – a 40 per cent premium on Volkswagen's claimed average combined-cycle figure of 64.2 mpg, or 4.4L/100 km.
The car is powered by the same 77 kW, 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine used in the Golf BlueMotion; they've tweaked it idle slower than normal TDI engines. They've also modified the charge pressure, injection timing and exhaust gas recirculation rate to help boost fuel efficiency at one end and emissions at the other. Volkswagen claims combined cycle CO2 emissions of just 114g/km.
On the outside, the Passat BlueMotion gains subtle spoilers and body skirts to boost aerodynamic efficiency. With the slightly lowered ride, they contribute to drag reductions of around 12 per cent. Hard-compound, high-pressure tyres reduce rolling resistance (although they probably don't do a lot for ride quality, but that's not what the car's about) while longer gearing on its five-speed manual and auto stop-start cut fuel consumption directly.
Assisting the regenerative braking is a system of programmed charging which tops up the battery only when necessary to minimise incursion on the engine. Inside are indicators suggesting when to shift and when to reduce revs.
Top Gear magazine in the UK grumbled about the its claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration of 12.5 seconds, but Volkswagen isn't making cars like this to impress Top Gear.
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