109 miles per gallon … but not in the real world

The winning drivers of this year's MPG Marathon recorded a staggering 108.78mpg, in a Ford Fiesta Econetic 1.6 TDCi. Now that’s impressive - it shows how motor manufacturers have refined the internal combustion engone.  But it’s hardly 'real world’.

Real world is being stuck in traffic at a standstill.  Real world is short journeys.  And even with all the super new ideas like quick warm-up technology on the latest Renault diesels, for example, you can’t buck the physics – cold cars use more fuel.

Former rally drivers Andrew Marriott and Andy Dawson managed the 108.78 mpg in last week’s ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon over a 370-mile route that took in the hills of South Wales and the Cotswolds.  They were driving very carefully and skilfully. But, crucially, they never once stopped to put their car in the garage to cool down.  Or go shopping!!

As a result, they managed to improve on the Fiesta's official EU Combined economy of 85.6mpg by 27 per cent. Impressive.  But, like I said, not real world.

Other cars recorded significant improvements on their official EU Combined figures, proving that care with acceleration and braking combined with great anticipation can have a significant effect on reducing fuel consumption.

Event organiser Ross Durkin said: "The average improvement over Combined cycle figures achieved by the 27 vehicles in this year's event was a whisker under 16 per cent – impressive by anyone's standards.

"Manufacturers have done a tremendous job in improving the fuel efficiency of all new cars and vans, but motorists should see their published fuel consumption figures as a target to beat, not the maximum achievable."

The Daily Telegraph’s motoring expert Honest John invites readers to post their ‘real world’ mpg figures here: Honest John's real world.  It’s a much more honest and valid measurement than the MPG Marathon’

More on the ALD Automotive/Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon here:
MPG Marathon

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