Global Green Challenge Set To Review Rules After HSV's 6.2L V8 Win

[JoeT]

Green Challenge Set To Review Rules

Ron Hammerton
2 November 2009
www.goauto.com.au

The format of the Darwin-to-Adelaide Global Green Challenge will be reviewed to try to find a way to make the event more inclusive for the wave of new-generation green cars, especially hybrids and electric vehicles, coming to Australian showrooms.

Victory in last week’s 2009 event was claimed by Holden Special Vehicles, whose 6.2-litre V8 HSV E2 Maloo ute managed, as expected, the largest improvement over its official ADR combined fuel consumption figure (48.7 per cent).

However, the Maloo also used the most fuel on the 3146km journey – 243 litres at 7.7L/100km.

This compares with Ford’s new diesel Fiesta ECOnetic light car, which drank just 98.4 litres at 3.13L/100km, equating only to a 15.4 per cent improvement over its official fuel consumption rating of 3.7L/100km.

While representatives of eight manufacturers slugged it out on the Stuart Highway, driving without air-conditioning and windows up in blazing heat to squeeze every millimetre out of every litre of fuel, Australia’s only manufacturers with hybrid cars already on the market, Toyota (with the Prius) and Honda (with the Civic Hybrid), sat out the event as they knew the percentage-improvement rule and open-highway running conditions would not favour their urban-friendly petrol-electric cars.

Click here to continue article

HSV Maloo R8 Wins 2009 Global Green Challenge, Holden Sportwagon 3.0 Best Aussie Six!
GMI's Global Green Challenge Thread, With Exclusive Holden Updates!
Official Global Green Challenge Website

[mmciau]

It would absolutely gall many-an-Australian-Journalist that Holden won anything against their 'favoured' imported cars.

They would have screamed "blue murder" that the Holden and Ford big sixes did so well.

Tuff titties!!!! - Holden should claim from the highest mountains that they have done very well with their cars.

Now, when will the Holden Cruze Diesel's consumption figure be revealed - this car was used as a support vehicle for the other cars.


Mike

[AndrewGS]

Wow! 30.5MPG? That's awesome!

[Kchoz]

...to squeeze every millimetre out of every litre of fuel...

What? That's like saying "to squeeze every inch out of every gallon of gas", it makes no sense.

Anyway, the test in question actually seems geared towards larger, heavier vehicles as they compare it to an ADR rating based on mixed driving. Since smaller cars tend to less difference between city and highway driving than big cars, they don't have anywhere much to go, however, the big heavy cars have terrible fuel economy in the city but much better (but still only average) fuel economy on the highway, so it's easier for a large car driven in a economy-conscious way mostly out of the city to get better. Frankly, I fail to see the point of this contest of testing improvement over a mixed rating on an highway drive.

[63GrandSport001]

Originally Posted by Kchoz

What? That's like saying "to squeeze every inch out of every gallon of gas", it makes no sense.

Anyway, the test in question actually seems geared towards larger, heavier vehicles as they compare it to an ADR rating based on mixed driving. Since smaller cars tend to less difference between city and highway driving than big cars, they don't have anywhere much to go, however, the big heavy cars have terrible fuel economy in the city but much better (but still only average) fuel economy on the highway, so it's easier for a large car driven in a economy-conscious way mostly out of the city to get better. Frankly, I fail to see the point of this contest of testing improvement over a mixed rating on an highway drive.

Distance traveled to fuel consumed ratio.

[KingElvis]

A six speed manual and cylinder shutdown have to count for something - highway cruising is perfect environment for these to shine.

I'd have thought the "maloo" wouldn't be such a great choice - what with the fat tires and all the faux scoops to add friction and drag.

Apparently Australia is like Mexico - no shoulders on the highways. Pay attention to that white line!

[Kchoz]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

Distance traveled to fuel consumed ratio.

Ah, they meant it that way. Must have been still sleepy.

[Carguy]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Wow! 30.5MPG? That's awesome!

HA!!--I love it!!--Even the GREENIES cant help but LOVE the efficient low RPM,AFM BRILLIANTS of a good ol small block V8!!

[44 mpg by 2010]

Has anyone tabulated how do the Global Green Challenge results compare to ADR highway ratings?

If so, please share.

[ColinOpseth]

Originally Posted by Kchoz

What? That's like saying "to squeeze every inch out of every gallon of gas", it makes no sense.

Anyway, the test in question actually seems geared towards larger, heavier vehicles as they compare it to an ADR rating based on mixed driving. Since smaller cars tend to less difference between city and highway driving than big cars, they don't have anywhere much to go, however, the big heavy cars have terrible fuel economy in the city but much better (but still only average) fuel economy on the highway, so it's easier for a large car driven in a economy-conscious way mostly out of the city to get better. Frankly, I fail to see the point of this contest of testing improvement over a mixed rating on an highway drive.

I don't see it being so...confusing. Every inch out of every gallon/ounce, whatever. I don't think the Maloo's fuel economy was that bad. Put it in perspective. My 2004 Ford Focus 2.3L PZEV ZX3 manual transmission averaged 31 miles per gallon on the highway. It had 153 horsepower.

The Maloo has a 6.2L V8 making over 400 and averages the same mileage. Rather incredible, don't you think?

[Stéphane Dumas]

Originally Posted by Carguy

HA!!--I love it!!--Even the GREENIES cant help but LOVE the efficient low RPM,AFM BRILLIANTS of a good ol small block V8!!

+1 by curiosity I wondered how the Maloo would had done with the 5.7L instead of the 6.2L

[V8GMT360 Guy]

All the tree huggers just got butthurt that a 6.2L V8 could possibly win their test....

Now if a Prius had won, on the other hand, they'd have been dancing in the streets.

That's just ridiculous, them trying to fix the competition so the tiny econo-box hybrids are the only ones who can possibly win.

[zete]

The odd thing is that the "green" movement should be happy whenever a larger car makes a substantial improvement. Although the Maloo used the most fuel, it also saved the most fuel. And not everyone wants a small econobox -- nor is it practical for all purposes.

When I read the reaction all I could see was the ecofreaks getting all contorted because they only focus on overall "mpg" or whatever as opposed to the actual fuel savings. Although we've all gone over this territory before, it's just incomprehensible to these fools that if someone needs a large vehicle that getting that vehicle to be more efficient is worth more in their quest to "save the planet" than getting someone out of their small 4-banger and into a Prius.

I am quite curious as to what the greenies will make of the Volt. It'll cause them two disconnects. First, it's not from their beloved Toyota. And, second, it is an electric car that actually can go long distances courtesy of the range extender.

My hope is that GM puts Voltec into some crossovers soon so as to eliminate the issue of "mpg" in that regard. And then, once it's ready, into trucks.

I'm still of the belief that Voltec is the future of automotive drivetrains.

[brnwrng]

Originally Posted by Carguy

HA!!--I love it!!--Even the GREENIES cant help but LOVE the efficient low RPM,AFM BRILLIANTS of a good ol small block V8!!

love it!

[Brenie]

Originally Posted by KingElvis

A six speed manual and cylinder shutdown have to count for something - highway cruising is perfect environment for these to shine.

I'd have thought the "maloo" wouldn't be such a great choice - what with the fat tires and all the faux scoops to add friction and drag.

Apparently Australia is like Mexico - no shoulders on the highways. Pay attention to that white line!

The ute was a manual, so no cylinder shutdown, thats only available on automatics.

No shoulders on a lot of country roads here, other than the fact that Oz is huuuuge with long distances, there is no snow and the roads are domed so that water can run off them and not pool on the roads.