What's all this about?
Peugeot has set a record for standard production car long-distance fuel economy; covering 1,337 miles (or 2,152km) and averaging 141.2mpg, which sounds neater in metric as 2.0 litres per 100km. The record was set in April at a circuit in Belchamp, France, under the watchful eye of the French Type Approval Authority (UTAC).
How was it done?
A team of drivers, each working for three to four hours at a time, drove the Peugeot 208 for 38 consecutive hours and used 43 litres of diesel. A 208 fitted with the 1.6-litre, 100hp BlueHDI S&S engine and five-speed manual gearbox was used for the record attempt. The car was a 'Very Low Fuel Consumption' version fitted with a rear spoiler and Michelin Energy Saver+ tyres - official fuel economy of this model is 94.2mpg.
When is the new 208 on sale?
Europe gets the new 208 from June with UK sales set to start in the autumn. Peugeot boasts that great strides have been made to reduce CO2 emissions with the entire BlueHDi range producing less than 95g/km, while petrol models producing 97g/km are available.
John Lambert - 6 May 2015
