25 DAY ROUND AUSTRALIA DRIVE COMPLETED
- Super Fuel Efficient Peugeot 307 arrives back in Melbourne with two new World Records under its belt (Subject to final Guinness World Record confirmation)
- Averaging 1700km's per 60-litre tank, the 307 has been using only a staggingly low 3.49 litres of fuel per 100km's, or 81.16 mpg
- Cost of driving around Australia in a Peugeot Diesel 307 - $540.53 to travel 14,634 kilometres!
After setting off from the Melbourne International Motorshow on February 27, John Taylor, driving a Peugeot 307 Touring HDi, has completed his 25 day 'Round Australia' journey and set two new fuel economy World Records.
Driving around the coast of Australia, John and the 307 are the new owners of the Round Australia Diesel Economy World Record and the overall Round Australia World Fuel Economy Record.
"The Peugeot 307 has performed magnificently. Without a doubt, it is the most practical, comfortable and stylish car I have driven on an economy drive.", John said. "The trip has been more like a holiday drive than a record attempt; the car is packed with great features which come to the fore on long trips, such as driver and passenger arm rests, and even an airconditioned glove box – great for keeping my snacks nice and cool".
Guinness Book of World Records requirements have been strictly adhered to for the test, including official police observance from the Victorian Police in scrutinising the entire drive and the conditions. Senior Constable Malcolm Durrant has driven a second Peugeot 307 on the trip and has been John's constant shadow. The fuel tank was sealed and only opened by Malcolm when required.
You may recall a Peugeot 406 Diesel set a world record in 2002, driven by John who is a multiple fuel economy world record holder, when it travelled from Melbourne to Rockhampton on a single tank of fuel. The car covered a staggering 2348 km's in real day-to-day driving condtitions on less than 70 litres of Diesel.
"With three fuel economy world records belonging to Peugeot, I truly believe that they build the most economical cars in the world'' said John.
Flying straight in from Singapore where he currently resides, John drove the car for the first time off the Motorshow stand, having not seen or tested it before the start of the trip. The 307 Touring was a completely stock standard car, with no modifications whatsoever. John and Malcolm faced challenging conditions on the drive, including a punctured tyre, tropical storms in Queensland and Western Australia, and many water hazards culminating in having to navigate their way around a washed away bridge just out of Karratha, WA.
Peugeot Automobiles Australia's Managing Director was clearly impressed with John's achievements, "One of the most pleasing aspects of this fantastic result with the Peugeot 307 was the fact that we achieved it in a 'real world' situation. John drove via the normal highways that people would use when heading around the country, in a fashion that most Australians would be completely familiar with when they take their annual holidays. Too often, long distance driving attempts are made on closed test tracks, or in the empty country side along vast stretches of long straight roads."
Mr. Dommerson continued, "Peugeot has a long and proud history in this country, beginning with the famous Peugeot victory in the first round Australia Redex Reliability Trial in 1953. With the affinity of our diesel models with our rural, and now increasingly our city customers, traveling vast distances is not something new for Peugeot. The two new world records that John has set in the 307 are fantastic achievements, and we congratulate him wholeheartedly".
Background – Peugeot and Diesel
Peugeot has a long and proud Diesel history in Australia and leads the Diesel Passenger Car Market in this country. With an historical affinity of diesel models with the Australian rural community, traveling vast distances is not something new for Peugeot. With a very strong trend towards Diesel motoring in passenger vehicles worldwide, Peugeot are commited to educating the public on its advantages.
Diesel is an environmentally friendly energy alternative as it uses less of a non-renewable resource, and the less fuel consumed, the less CO2 produced. Modern diesels have quashed popular public misconceptions – they are not smelly, they do not rattle and are very clean in their emission!
Peugeot is one of the market leaders in Europe where over 50% of the passenger cars are powered by Diesel engines.
Background – The Peugeot 307
The Peugeot 307 'Touring' is the latest variant of the 307 that has proven itself very popular with the Australian public since its launch in late 2001.
The model John drove was a two litre, XS HDi Touring, equipped with a 5 speed manual transmission. The car is very well equipped, featuring 6 airbags, ABS, climate control air conditioning, in dash CD player and cruise control to name just a few standard features.
Priced from $31,690, the 307 XS HDi Touring is also available in a petrol model, which is priced from $33,490.
The New Fuel Economy World Records
| Description |
Peugeot 307 HDi World Record Drive |
| Records |
1. Round Australia Diesel Propelled Fuel Economy World Record |
| |
2. Round Australia Fuel Economy World Record |
| Car Driven |
Peugeot 307 HDi Touring, Manual |
| Route |
Round Australia, via H'Way 1. Melbourne to Melbourne in an anti-clockwise direction |
| KM's covered |
14,634 km's |
| Miles covered |
9,146 miles |
| Duration of Drive |
February 27 to March 22 - 25 days |
| Miles Per Gallon |
81.16 mpg |
| Lts/100 km |
3.49 L per 100 km's |
| KM's Per Litre |
28.58 km's per litre |
| Cost of Fuel |
$540.53 (512.32 litres) |
| Previous Records |
1. 33 mpg |
| |
2. 76 mpg |
| Observer |
Senior Constable Malcolm Durrant, Victorian Police Force |