It took 1540kms for the Passat BlueMotion Variant to eventually run out of fuel. Auckland to Wellington and back to Auckland and then up to the Bay of Islands on one tank of diesel!

With the arrival of the first Passat BlueMotion vehicles in New Zealand, it was felt that a ‘challenge’ was necessary to put these vehicles to the test locally. It was from this that the ‘BlueMotion Challenge’ was born – to drive from Auckland to Wellington, and back, on just one tank of diesel. A standard production car using fuel currently available from any BP fuel station, driven on New Zealand roads.

The objective was to complete the estimated 1300km journey in the manner that any ‘average New Zealand driver’ would. This meant travelling on commonly used roads, driving at the speed limit where possible, overtaking when necessary and even using the air conditioning! Also, each vehicle had two people, their luggage and some spare fuel.

To complete the lineup, the two Passat BlueMotions (a Sedan and a Variant) were joined by the world’s most economical 5 seater – the Polo BlueMotion – another recent NZ arrival. The Achilles heel for the Polo BlueMotion would always be its comparatively small fuel tank – 45 litres compared to the Passat’s 70 litres. The scene was set.

The Passat BlueMotion Sedan was piloted by Shaun Summerfield, TV3’s motoring editor. His personal objective was to complete the trip as fast as legally possible – hardly an economical approach, but often the objective of the average kiwi driver!

Ironically, Maurice O’Reilly, who is New Zealand’s speed record holder for a diesel powered car at 232kmph, had a different approach in the Passat Variant. Whilst the objective was still to maintain the speed limit where possible, Maurice intended to employ simple driving techniques to prolong the inevitable as long as possible.

Joining the two Passats was the Polo BlueMotion was driven by Adam Daysh, a member of BP New Zealand’s biofuels implementation team. With no history of involvement in motorsport, economy driving or motoring journalism, Adam was clearly the representative of the ‘average New Zealand driver’.

Early on Tuesday the 19th February, the trio of vehicles left Auckland City. Each driver was accompanied by a member of Volkswagen New Zealand, their own luggage and even some spare fuel. After a brief stop at BP Connect Newmarket, the vehicles joined the building morning traffic and left Auckland. For the trip south, a western route was chosen, taking in Otorohanga, Taumarunui and Wanganui before arriving in Wellington. For the return trip north, the group stuck to SH1. By taking each of these routes, all vehicles travelled on arguably the most common roads used to travel between Auckland and Wellington.

The first vehicle to run out of fuel was not surprisingly the Polo BlueMotion. Despite impressive fuel consumption of a miserly 3.6L/100km, the 45L fuel tank meant that a distance of 1245km was achieved. After climbing over the fuel consuming Bombay hills, the Polo made it as far as the Ramarama off ramp before its engine finally spluttered and the Polo came to a halt.

The Passat BlueMotion Sedan successfully made it back to the original starting point with fuel to spare. The round trip totalled 1285km in the end and almost 63 litres of BP diesel was used, meaning that the final fuel consumption was a very impressive 4.89L/100km.

If driving from Auckland to Wellington and back was not enough, Maurice O’Reilly decided to continue driving north until every last drop of fuel had been consumed. Warkworth soon came and went, as did Whangarei. Amazingly, it was not until after the Bay of Islands and Waitangi that the Passat Variant BlueMotion eventually came to a stop! That is an incredible 1540km on one tank of diesel! Or, just 4.55L/100km!

Dean Sheed, Volkswagen General Manager for New Zealand, was astounded by the results: “I simply can’t believe how well these vehicles performed! Shaun in the Passat Sedan adopted a different driving style to Maurice in the Passat Variant. The fact that they averaged 4.9 and 4.6 L/100km respectively – both very impressive figures in their own right – shows how modern technology allows different people with different requirements and different driving styles to achieve low fuel consumption and therefore low emissions. But for me, equally impressive was the vehicle – the Passat. It is widely acknowledged that small vehicles are fuel efficient, yet the Passat BlueMotion has shown that a full sized family vehicle can achieve levels of efficiency that any vehicle would be proud of!”

The BlueMotion Vehicles
At Volkswagen, BlueMotion is the label for the most economic models in its class. BlueMotion is Volkswagen’s sustainability initiative whereby “Blue” – the Volkswagen colour - suggests the elements of water and air that we need to protect, and “Motion” embodies the aspect of mobility that is looking forward into the future.

Enhancements such as longer gear ratios, aerodynamic refinements, low rolling resistance tyres and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) are used to make the BlueMotion model even more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

Central to the BlueMotion belief is that economy does not have to compromise driving fun. The high torque level of a TDI diesel engine ensures that performance is lively and sports suspension produces a dynamic driving experience.

Late in 2007 the Polo BlueMotion arrived in New Zealand at a RRP of $30,990. It has recently been joined by the Passat BlueMotion in both Sedan (RRP $49,990) and Variant (RRP $52,990) form. Towards the middle of 2008 the range will be completed with the arrival of the Jetta BlueMotion.

Click here to see Shaun Summerfields story on the experience.