Peugeot takes out the top prize

14 November 2002

Peugeot takes out the top prize

The Peugeot 406 HDi of Donn Anderson has taken out the EnergyWise Environment Award for the best demonstration of fuel consumption and low carbon dioxide emissions in a car of truly practical dimensions. The Peugeot achieved an incredible 4.22 l/100km (66.9 mpg) over the 1500km route of the EnergyWise Rally 2002. This car also won the 0-2000cc diesel car class.

The results from the EnergyWise Rally 2002 clearly show the advances that the motor industry has made in increasing the fuel efficiency of the modern motorcar in recent years. These advances will obviously have impacts in addressing the causes of global warming as more and more of these vehicles are added to the NZ fleet. The Rally also demonstrated the benefits of fuel-economic driving habits that if adopted by all NZers would help the environment and save up to $400 off the average annual fuel bill. Nationally this would save $650M.

There were some incredibly close finishes in the different classes. The under 1000cc class was a dead heat between the Daihatsu Sirion of John McMillan and Rodney Brown’s Suzuki Alto. Both cars scored 5.25 l/100km (54 mpg). In the 4WD diesel class, the Landrover Freelander TD4 of Alastair Sloane and the Suzuki Grand Vitara of Grant Aitken both scored 6.35 l/100km (45 mpg).

The Honda Jazz CVT of Paul Berridge, in the 1000-1400 cc class, was the best performing petrol-powered car in the event with an astounding 4.74 l/100km (60 mpg). This was a very practical demonstration of constantly variable automatic transmission technology that has come of age.

The 1400-2000cc small car class was won by the Honda Civic 1.5l of Glenn Johnston who came from behind to pip MP Paul Adams’ Kia Rio on the last day.

The small/medium hatchback class was taken out by Graham Price’s Honda Civic, after a four-day battle against Rob Lester’s Toyota Corolla.

The medium/large 1600-2500cc class was won by Mark Cooper’s Ford Mondeo Zetec whilst the Mitsubishi Diamante of Ian Porter and Lloyd Robinson closely pipped the Trevor Hudson/Glynn Tulloch Audi A6 for victory in the executive/premium class.

As the only entrant in the over 3500cc class, the Murphy/Richards Holden Commodore V8 won the class with a fuel consumption figure of 9.87 l/100km (29 mpg), showing that high performance does not necessarily have to come at the expense of excessive fuel consumption. Also sole entrants in their respective classes were the Volkswagen Passat diesel of Andy Smith and Reto Keller, which returned 6.05 l/100km (47 mpg), and the LPG-powered Ford Falcon of Bob Kooge, which achieved 10.03 l/100km (28 mpg).

The demonstration class for petrol/electric hybrids and non-commercial fuels was not eligible for awards but the two-seater Honda Insight, driven by Tina Doherty and Shaun Summerfield, returned an outstanding 3.60 l/100km (79 mpg). The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic hybrids also returned figures in the vicinity of 60 mpg, which clearly demonstrates the significance of this emerging technology in terms of its reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The environmentally friendly biodiesel-powered Volkswagen Golf of Prof. Ralph Sims of Massey University had an unbelievable carbon dioxide emission rating, meaning its impact on the environment was very small. This vehicle also returned a remarkable fuel economy of 4.65 l/100km (61 mpg).

Final results and event photos can be viewed at www.energywiserally.org.nz.

ENDS

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