THE GLOBAL GREEN CAR Challenge kicked off on Saturday, and now that the 3000km event is around the halfway mark, it’s time for an update on the teams’ efforts.
HSV’s unlikely entry, the V8-powered E-Series II Maloo ute has so far achieved a remarkable average fuel consumption of 7.35 l/100km - a 51 percent improvement on its official 15.1 l/100km rating.
Ford’s Falcon XR6 Turbo entry has fared similarly well with a 39 percent improvement, averaging 7.09 l/100km compared to its official rating of 11.7 l/100km.
Despite the Maloo and the Falcon swapping the lead a number of times yesterday, it hasn’t been the world’s fastest Holden versus Ford battle, with both teams averaging speeds of around 75km/h.
Skoda’s Superb 2.0 TDI entry has so far managed an average of 4.6 l/100km, compared to its official 5.4 l/100km rating.
The all-new 2010 Kia Sorento, launched only last week, has made the most of its new R-series 2.2 litre CRDi turbo diesel to achieve 5.17 l/100km (as at October 26) - down from its official 6.7 l/100km rating.
The Hyundai Santa Fe - powered by the same R-series diesel - is a hair’s breadth away from its Kia cousin, achieving 5.24 l/100km.
Suzuki’s David and Goliath battle in the three-cylinder 1.0 litre Alto has achieved a figure nearly a litre better than its official 4.8 l/100km rating, averaging just 3.99 l/100km in the event so far.
“With a further 1500km of highway cruising left to go Suzuki is extremely confident of even better engine performance. Numerous overseas tests have returned fuel figures of less than three litres per 100 kilometres,” Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers said.
“We are keenly anticipating the Alto’s return to suburbia on the last day for the final 100km urban loop through the streets of Adelaide. This is where the Alto will really come into its own.”
Holden’s SIDI-equipped Omega Sportwagon has so far achieved 6.75 l/100km, against an official rating of 9.3 l/100km. While unofficial in terms of the challenge, Holden says that today’s trip computer readout offered up 5.0 l/100km.
The MINI Cooper D, with an official rating of 3.9 l/100km was ‘up against it’ in its efforts to better its official figure, but nonetheless returned a 3.5 l/100km readout at the end of Day 4.
Ford’s recently revealed Fiesta ECOnetic went the Cooper D one better, the slick diesel hatch returning 3.18 l/100km, compared to its official 3.7 l/100km rating.
And finally, the all-electric Tesla Roadster successfully broke the world record for the longest distance between battery charges, reaching 501km before needing to plug in. The previous record was 430km.
The Global Green Car Challenge continues, so stay tuned for an update at the end of the event.
Loading ...
Comments
Click here to jump to Add Comment box
How do you get a picture next to your name?
Get a Gravatar. Click here to find out more.
Has Toyota entered the Prius? If so why havent i seen any updates on it and if they havent entered it why the hell not? is that the car that let the green race from the start? are they worried that Hybrid tech isnt as efficient as the diesels?
LHD Tesla?
Matt, TheTesla is Electric motor only vehicle and a great effort aswell on breaking the previous distance covered by fair bit. The Tesla it isnt a hybrid, which uses an electric motor to substitute the petrol engine, therfore creating a vehicle that can effectively use less fuel than an equivalent 4 cylinder petrol powered vehicle only. I suspect that the Prius wouldnt be a fuel efficient as say the diesel Mini’s or Ford Fiesta, and they are saving themselves from embarrassment
Mark, I asked if it where a Left Hand Drive Tesla
Clarkson + Prius = Global Antigreen Car Challenge
Toyota didn’t enter Prius because it know once the battery is flat its just a heavy 4 pot Toyota. Its fuel consumption would be a shocker in this field.
Hey Matt,
IIRC it is a LHD Tesla. Simon from Internode imported it here but thanks to gov bureaucracy has not been able to get it registered because it is LHD and not pre-1970 (whatever the cut off year is anyway) . He has also put himself down for one of the new saloons that Tesla are bringing out - this time it will be RHD
Thanks for updating us about this. Look forward to hearing more
So far not really impresse. I just drove to 800km round trip (at speeds 80 - 120km/h) and averaged 12l/100 (costing the equivilent of 5l/100 in a petrol car) in a standard, off the shelf, Falcon LPG wagon. That is impressive, imagine if FORD direct injected and turbo charged the engine.
Sorry, forgot to add great post! Can’t wait to see your next post!
The author of this article keeps refering to the improvements over the official figures re fuel consumption.
The official figures are combined cycle.
This is not even close to combined cycle, the cars are motoring down an outback road, What’s the traffic light count. ROFL.
Average speed of 75 kph!!
A complete waste of fuel in my opinion.
Hybrids and stop start technology are aimed at City cars and City driving.
And this is where we spend 90% of our time.
So where do the organisers stage this test.
Outback of course.
der!!
“with both teams averaging speeds of around 75km/h.”
I know the aim of the challenge is to get the lowest fuel consumption no matter what, but 75 is far from what most people would be driving on that road. Add another 50
I just hope none of the manufacturers later claim this as a “real world test”
I’ve just read that the winner of this event will be the car that betters it’s official fuel consumption by the most. The official fuel consumption is of course combined cycle.
So it will be won by either the Falcon or Commodore even though they are still using more than twice the fuel than say the Mini or Ford ECOthing even on this run.
Ford ECO currently using 3 L/100 official is 3.7
Commodore V8 currently 8 L/100 official about 15
So the Commodore improvement is about 45%
Apparently the rules will be changed for next year.
ROFL