Gerhard Plattner has driven a Golf 1.9 TDI over 1,160 km without refuelling through a total of 10 states, gaining entry in the Guinness Book of Records. Despite a speedy driving style, the fuel consumption for the 15-hour journey last month was 4.4 litres per 100 km and well under the recorded average consumption figure.
The Golf started its record journey at Lake Constance and completed it at a Czech Volkswagen dealership. The tour took the Golf and its driver, journalist and globetrotter Plattner, from Germany through Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, through Italy, Slovenia, West Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia to Brno.
At the end of the journey, the security sealed tank flap and bonnet were opened and the Golf was refuelled. The average fuel consumption figure was found to be 4.4 litres over 100 km.
The results also showed that the Golf could have been driven a further 70 km, making a total of 1,230 km, before finally coming to a halt.
Even Plattner was surprised at the success of the journey. "The freezing cold temperatures under way made me doubt whether the fuel for the planned trip would be enough. The fact that the Golf could have made another 70 km at the end of the journey is real proof of its economy, even in unfavourable conditions," Plattner said.
Since he was forced to drive at over 120 km/h during the majority of motorway sections of the journey, Plattner was especially surprised at the performance as he had planned on maintaining an average speed of 80 km/h.
Unfavourable weather conditions and many 30 km/h speed restrictions through towns and villages in Hungary meant setbacks for the record-setting driver.
More than 25 awards worldwide The list of awards for the new Golf goes on and on. Europe's best-selling car has won more than 25 prizes in 16 countries in less than 18 months: it has now secured the title 'Winter Car of the Year 2005' in Lapland, Finland; the Australian Royal Automotive Club Best Cars Award; and it has been crowned car of the year by three publications in New Zealand.
Nineteen newcomers to the Finnish market over the past year across all classes were selected for an unusual winter car comparison by the influential automotive magazine Tekniikan Maailma and tested for their winter suitability.
Although there is also Golf 4-Motion with four-wheel drive, the testers only used the front-wheel drive in the comparison. The deciding factors for the victory were the excellent straight-line running and handling ("top of the class"), street illumination, low fuel consumption and low emissions in the Golf 1.6 FSI.
The Golf has been just as successful since its launch in Hong Kong: Automobile magazine crowned the Golf the Best Hatchback, a prize for the best car in its class. The Hong Kong edition of Car & Driver also listed it among the top ten cars overall.
The Golf has already been at the top of six German and three British rankings and has won prizes in Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Lithuania, Russia, Slovenia and the Ukraine.