MPG Marathon edges nearer 100mpg goal
Efforts to break the 100mpg barrier came frustratingly close at this year’s MPG Marathon.
The Smart Fortwo Cdi – driven by eco-driving champion and former racer Mick Linford – recorded 99.24mpg, sipping less than four gallons of diesel over the 370 mile course which takes in all kinds of roads around Gloucester.
Linford’s work wasn’t entirely in vain, walking away with the Best MPG prize at the two-day annual event which celebrates advancements in fuel economy.
Event Organiser Ross Durkin said: “Mick Linford’s performance was up to his usual incredibly high standard and we were all holding our breath at final refuelling, but the dial clicked agonisingly past the vital point.
“There were plenty of other notable performances with almost every team taking part beating the manufacturer’s published figures for their vehicle – something that every car driver should aim for.”
Runner-up for the Best MPG prize went to Suzuki’s Swift 1.3 DDiS which achieved 86.4mpg and was piloted by motoring journalists Peter Cracknell and Dave Randle. One-time Top Gear presenter Sue Baker came just behind the Swift, clocking 85.98mpg in a family-sized Skoda Octavia Greenline.
Vauxhall’s VXR8 managed the largest uplift in fuel economy, reporting an improvement of 53% on its combined figure. It achieved 32.14 mpg; a significant leap on the supposed 21. More on that here.
LCV-wise, the Renault Trafic dCi 115 recorded the biggest improvement in mpg at 59.11, an uplift of 54.73% over Renault’s official figure of 38.2mpg.
Fiat Fiorino was deemed the most economical van at 82.96mpg while the Citroen Nemo achieved 81.79mpg.
“The people who took part are some of the best economy drivers in the world,” concluded Ross Durkin.
“But the overall aim of the event is to raise awareness among normal motorists that a few simple techniques – such as better anticipation of the road ahead, smooth acceleration and correct use of gears – can bring about significant savings at the fuel pumps.”
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