2013 VW Passat TDI Makes Hypermiling History

The 2013 VW Passat TDI has captured another Guinness World Record for Volkswagen’s clean-diesel powertrain technology, this time for “lowest fuel consumption—48 U.S. states for a non-hybrid car.”

More specifically, Wayne Gerdes—an environmentally focused auto journalist who has set numerous hypermiling world records—teamed with co-driver Bob Winger to drive through all 48 continental U.S. states while achieving 77.99 mpg. Putting this feat into perspective, Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said: “To cover 8,122 miles 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 40 mpg or better on the highway.”

The top efficiency marks for that sextet are as follows:

• VW Passat TDI—31 mpg city/43 mpg highway/35 mpg combined
• VW Golf TDI—30/42/34
• VW Jetta TDI—30/42/34
• VW Jetta SportWagen TDI—30/42/34
• VW Beetle TDI—28/41/32
• VW Beetle Convertible—28/41/32

And don’t be fooled by the fact that the 2013 VW Passat TDI sets its new Guinness Record in the non-hybrid class. The fact of the matter is that the Passat’s 77.99 mpg benchmark is more than 13 mpg better than the best hybrid performance on a 48-state road trip.

2013 VW Passat TDI: Diesel Driving Tips

As mentioned, the primary driver of the record-breaking 2013 VW Passat TDI, Wayne Gerdes, knows a thing or two about getting the most mileage out of a car, and he’s more than ready to share both his praise for the Passat and some strategies for achieving better real-world fuel-economy.

“We felt we had a good chance of beating the existing record with the Passat TDI,” Gerdes said, “But to smash it by averaging 77.99 mpg is really impressive and a testament to the potential of Volkswagen’s TDI Clean Diesel vehicles. Obviously, we employ some specialized techniques to achieve such figures, but there’s no reason why owners of TDI vehicles shouldn’t be able to achieve great mileage with a few simple pointers.”

For example, Gerdes tells drivers that they should be actively preparing for changes in driving conditions some 15 to 45 seconds ahead of time, not just reacting as changes occur. He also recommends that drivers take advantage of downhill momentum whenever possible, but never get caught up in racing between stoplights.

“Heavy braking and acceleration consumes fuel at a far greater rate than coasting between intersections,” explained Gerdes, who reminds drivers to obey the speed limits, too: “The difference in fuel economy between 55 mph and 75 mph can be as much as 30 percent or even higher in some cars.”

Interested in checking out the VW Jetta TDI's other Guiness World Record? Check out: http://www.autobytel.com/volkswagen/passat/2012/news/2012-vw-passat-tdi-one-tank-of-fuel-and-1-626-miles-111285/.