VW Passat TDI Clean Diesel sets Guinness Record for fuel economy

We reported earlier that the Volkswagen is aiming to challenge the Guinness World Records for the "Lowest fuel consumption - 48 U.S. states for a non-hybrid car". Now, the VW America has announced that it has set a new Guinness World Records achievement for the "lowest fuel consumption-48 U.S. states for a non-hybrid car" category with an excellent 33.11kpl, which is around 4kpl more than the previous mark of 28.8kpl. The achievement also beats the hybrid vehicle record of 27.4kpl by more than 4.5kpl.

The VW Passat TDI Clean Diesel departed from the company's America headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, on Friday, June 7th, at 12:00 pm and arrived back on June 24th, having covered 1371km and visited all 48 states. The car, along with drivers Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger, were greeted in Herndon by Volkswagen employees as well as Virginia State Delegates Tom Rust and Jim LeMunyon. Delegate Tom Rust said: "Breaking a world record is a huge accomplishment, and I'm especially pleased that Volkswagen of America a Herndon, Virginia-based company is doing its part to make its products more environmentally compatible and less dependent on foreign oil by using cutting-edge diesel technology. Congratulations!"
 
Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., said:“To cover 1371km on just 104.94 gallons of fuel is nothing short of astonishing and shows just how economical our TDI Clean Diesel vehicles can be. Even for everyday drivers, the mileage benefits of our TDI engines are significant: Volkswagen has no fewer than six TDI Clean Diesel models that achieve an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 17kpl or better on the highway.”
 
The 2013 Passat TDI uses Volkswagen's advanced turbocharged and direct-injection Clean Diesel engine to achieve EPA estimated highway fuel economy 18.28 km per litre when equipped with six-speed manual transmission. This enables the Passat TDI to go up to 1279 highway km before needing to refuel.
 
Clean Diesel engines are just one part of Volkswagen’s approach to sustainable mobility, encapsulated by the Think Blue. philosophy. Volkswagen employs a wide range of powertrains—diesel, electric, hybrid, and intelligently downsized turbocharged gasoline engines in its quest to be among the most Eco-conscious automakers in the world. That approach extends to the factories in which the cars are built and the processes by which they are made. The record-setting Passat TDI was equipped with a Linear Logic ScanGauge II to precisely measure fuel economy and a Droid RAZR MAXX HD by Motorola smartphone to provide Guinness World Records tracking requirements and long-lasting connectivity.
 
2013 Passat TDI Clean Diesel (manual transmission) EPA estimates: 13.17 city/18.2 highway kpl. Range based on 18.2kpl highway EPA estimate and an 18.5-gallon fuel tank. Actual mileage will vary and depends on several factors including driving habits and vehicle condition.