The latest Volkswagen Golf TDI BlueMotion can now boast of being a true three-litre car after using only 2.92 litres of diesel per 100 kilometers on a DEKRA-supervised test run from Nantes, France to Copenhagen, Denmark. Powered by a 110 PS TDI engine, the Golf TDI BlueMotion used just a single 50 litre tank of fuel to travel 1,602 kilometers, or equivalent to 97 mpg.
Simon Thomas, head of Marketing of the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, described the test result as “really impressive result” noting that the trip, dubbed as the “Think Blue. Eco Ride.” showed that the combination of fuel-saving BlueMotion efficiency technology and a well-planned proactive driving approach could result to economy figures that are hard to match. The Volkswagen Golf TDI BlueMotion started from Nantes, France, and passed through Paris, Antwerp, Bremen and Hamburg, and then to Copenhagen.
The “Think Blue. Eco Ride.” showed that the standard consumption figure based on the NEDC driving cycle, pegged at 3.2 liters per 100 kilometers (88.3 mpg) and 85 grams of CO2 per kilometer, can be surpassed. Drivers from the Volkswagen Driving Experience managed to post a verified value of 2.92 liters of diesel per 100 kilometres in normal traffic, over a driving time of 20 hours and 45 minutes.
The vehicle’s standard 50-litre tank was filled with diesel in Nantes and was sealed by a DEKRA inspector. At the end of the trip, 46.92 litres of diesel were loaded into the tank under the supervision of the same inspector. The VW Golf TDI BlueMotion features a standard start-stop system and regenerative braking mode, contributing to its high fuel efficiency numbers. Adding to that is the car’s perfected aerodynamics and low weight as well as fitted with modified six-speed manual transmission and tires.
