MINI Sets New Zealand Fuel Economy Record

As some ecologists get more and more aggressive in Copenhagen, at the COP15 conference, professional ecodriving consultant Mark Whittaker and motoring journalist Paul Owen decided to quietly do their part. The two set off on December 7 on a journey from Cape Regina to Bluff, New Zealand, in an attempt to set a new fuel consumption record.

The car they chose was a standard MINI Cooper D, which in the 2,000 kilometers had an average fuel consumption of only 3.5 liters per 100 km, making it the most fuel efficient car in New Zealand.

“We are thrilled! Not only did we archive our goal, but we even have enough fuel left to get us back to Dunedin,” said Paul Owen.

Their journey only costed $77.82 worth of diesel fuel, as they managed to get a 20% improvement on the car’s factory-quated fuel economy figures due to the use of eco-driving techniques.

“In setting this record we are demonstrating that everyone can contribute to reducing emissions by choosing a fuel efficient car and employing simple ecodriving techniques,” said Mr Whittaker.

“The MINI has proven that new, small clean diesel engines have an important part to play in improving the fuel economy of the New Zealand vehicle fleet,” BMW Group New Zealand Managing Director, Mark Gilbert. "And the other clear message from this exercise is that it is not only what you drive, but how you drive, that counts,” he said.