The Volkswagen Golf Blue-e-motion has won the inaugural RAC Future Car Challenge, an eco automotive competition that involves driving from Madeira Drive, Brighton to Pall Mall in London while spending as less energy as possible.
After completing the 57 mile long drive, the Volkswagen Golf Blue-e-motion was declared winner in the ‘Most Economic and Environment Friendly Regular Passenger EV’ category, and the Royal Automobile Club Gold Medal was given to Jim Holder, editor at What Car? and his ‘co-pilot’ Folko Rohde.
The Volkswagen Golf Blue-e-motion uses an electric motor which packs 115 HP and a lithium-ion battery pack and in terms of performance the car can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 11.8 seconds, has a driving range of 100 miles and it can hit a top speed of 86 mph.
What Car press release :
What Car? has won four awards, including outright victory, in the inaugural RAC Future Car Challenge.
Magazine editor Jim Holder was at the wheel of an all-electric Volkswagen Golf Blue-e-motion, which picked up the prize for the best overall entry, as chosen by the event judges, after it consumed the least energy of all the competitors over the challenge.
The What Car? team enjoyed further success when used car editor Matt Sanger won the hybrid class for his drive in a Toyota Auris hybrid. He also picked up the Toyota Nations’ Cup Award, which was fought out between teams of journalists from England, Wales and Scotland.
More than 60 contestants took part in the first ever RAC Future Car Challenge, which ran from Madeira Drive in Brighton to Pall Mall in London. The aim of the challenge was to cover the 57-mile distance consuming as little energy as possible. The event drew a range of entrants, from pure electric vehicles to hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and highly efficient diesel-powered vehicles.
What Car?’s Jim Holder shared duties behind the wheel of the prototype electric Golf with VW engineer Folko Rohde. It was the first time the car had run in Britain, and it is still two years from production.
“It’s testimony to the VW Golf Blue-e-motion and Folke’s expert tuition in energy-saving driving techniques that we ended up with such a fantastic result. It’s a brilliant story to be able to share with our readers,” said Jim.
Matt said of his drive in the Auris hybrid: “I did employ some very green driving techniques, but it just goes to show how efficient a petrol-electric hybrid can be if the driver puts their mind to it.”
What Car? journalists also drove a Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell-powered car (Will Nightingale), Toyota Prius Plug-in electric car (Ivan Aistrop), Vauxhall Ampera range-extender vehicle (Steve Huntingford), VW Golf Bluemotion (Alex Newby).
Their experiences are online now at www.whatcar.com and will also feature in the February edition of What Car? Magazine, which goes on sale on December 16.
