PEUGEOT 208 WINS REAL-WORLD 2015 MPG MARATHON WITH BEST MPG

PEUGEOT has taken overall victory in this year’s MPG Marathon, sponsored by Barclaycard Fuel+ in association with TMC with a brand-new 208 Diesel 5-door hatchback, driven in real-world driving conditions over 385 miles achieving an average fuel economy of 104.5mpg. Not only was it the highest MPG figure of any car taking part in the event, but was also the ‘Best Percentage Improvement’ with a 29% improvement over official (EU Directive 80/1268/EEC) Combined Drive Cycle economy figures.

At a time when the public’s attention is firmly focused on new car fuel economy, PEUGEOT’s victory shows that with thoughtful ‘real-world’ driving, it is perfectly possible to improve, by a significant margin, on manufacturers’ laboratory certified fuel consumption figures.

PEUGEOT’s star car was its best-selling 208 hatchback – and the model entered a Diesel ‘1.6-litre BlueHDi 75 Active 5-door’ with a declared Combined Drive Cycle fuel economy figure of 80.7mpg. This was a brand-new car, with only a few miles on the clock (hardly benefitting from being run-in) but driven by former PEUGEOT SPORT UK Manager Mick Linford and part-time rally navigator Jemma Champion who managed to achieve a very impressive 104.5mpg average over the two-day event.

The annual MPG Marathon is about man and machine working in harmony to showcase how the latest new models can be driven, in real-world conditions, to achieve best fuel economy. Far from crawling around at unrealistic speeds, the rules even stipulate that teams must reach certain checkpoints by pre-determined times. This year’s course allowed navigators to negotiate hills and traffic strategically, but carefully chosen check-points made using the motorway network less advantageous, thus a real-world driving experience was ensured and the competition made more realistic and ever challenging.

Commenting on their success, Mick Linford said: “We’re absolutely over-the-moon. This is the highest mpg I have ever achieved in the event and I’m absolutely delighted to win it.”

There is an even-more fuel efficient 208 being introduced into the UK line-up in October with the Diesel 1.6-litre BlueHDi 75 now specified with Stop & Start technology that has the Combined Drive Cycle fuel economy of 94.2mpg.

Neil Moscrop, Brand Director at PEUGEOT UK, explained: “This is a fantastic result which clearly highlights just how efficient the latest Peugeot range of new cars can be in real-world traffic conditions. Customers seeking reassurances that they are buying a new car with leading environmental credentials need look no further than PEUGEOT for the most fuel efficient vehicles on the market.”

Providing standardised new car fuel economy and emissions figures is a requirement imposed on all car manufacturers by the EU Directive 80/1268/EEC. PEUGEOT has a track record second to none and the Brand has the lowest Corporate Average Fuel Emissions (CAFE) of any volume manufacturer.

While the current CAFE across all brands is 124g/km, the PEUGEOT range average is just 106.3g/km. For a company with such a diverse range of models – including Small, Medium and Large cars, MPVs, SUVs and even a performance-oriented Sports Coupé – it’s a very impressive achievement. PEUGEOT also boasts 25 ‘best-in-class’ lowest CO2 vehicles in its extensive range.

Earlier this year, a PEUGEOT 208 fitted with the new 1.6-litre BlueHDi 100 engine and Stop & Start technology set a new long-distance fuel consumption record. Staged at PEUGEOT’s test circuit at Belchamp, France, and strictly supervised by independent adjudicators, the car averaged just over 141mpg. While this was a demonstration of optimised capability, the MPG Marathon result is probably all the more significant, given it has been achieved in real-world driving conditions.

PEUGEOT has been a long-standing competitor in the ALD Automotive Fleet World MPG Marathon, this year sponsored by Barclaycard Fuel+ in association with TMC with 208 and 308 models previously often appearing on the podium.

Advice on how to be an eco-driver

• Every extra passenger or item carried all contribute weight negatively to affect vehicle performance and therefore fuel economy, so only take what is deemed necessary where possible
• Drive smart – close windows, and minimise energy consumption where possible by reducing use of energy sapping devices like air conditioning or heated rear window usage
• Keep the car clean, as dirt disrupts the aerodynamics and reduces aero efficiency
• Driving style is a major factor. Smooth, progressive acceleration is best, using the gearbox to quickly select a higher gear. Anticipate traffic conditions ahead so you can maintain cruising conditions and avoid braking unnecessarily
• Drive a modern, efficient vehicle and one that has low CO2 emissions for best operating efficiency to reduce fuel consumption and save fuel expenses in the process