Hypermiling Couple Sets World Record With 90 MPG Drive Around Australian Coast

Remember when we drove a European-spec Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi on a 100-mile road trip? We did pretty well, averaging 72 MPG. While we were throughly impressed, it was nothing compared to earning two spots in the Guinness Book Of World Records. Helen and John Taylor, a British couple, earned their two spots of fame in the record book of record books while Down Under in their little Peugeot 308 HDi. The first record was for "longest distance on a single tank," set by traveling 1192 miles on just 60 liters of diesel fuel — just 15.8 gallons. The other record, "highest mileage for a journey," was set by completing 9,062 miles at an average of 90.75 MPG. So how did they do it? What magical modifications were made?

Actually, the car was stock. Stock as in standard, from the factory, without any modifications besides the sponsors' stickers. That is, unless you count the extra weight of the couple's luggage as a modification. But that 90 MPG figure is in Imperial gallons. In US gallons, the figure is just 75.6 MPG. Still, it's figures like this that make us scratch our heads and wonder what all the fuss of government-mandated fuel economy standards, panic of rising gas prices, and hybrid hippie hype is all about. If things were really as bad as they're often made out to be, couldn't we all just be driving 90 MPG 75 MPG French hatchbacks? Or are those Freedom hatchbacks? Oh, wait — you have to drive under 30 MPH the entire way? Well, screw that noise. Pass me the keys to the Hummer.
[ABG via TreeHugger]