50 years later, Peugeot once again breaks a record using a diesel engine. The new Peugeot 208 BlueHDi has covered 2152 km with just 43 liters of diesel, which represents, on average, a consumption of 2.0 l/100 km.
Peugeot has a long tradition in the development of diesel engines. Since 1921 the French brand has been committed to this technology, and since 1959 practically all the French manufacturer's ranges have had at least one Diesel engine.
Unlike today, at that time Diesels were smoky, unrefined and of somewhat dubious reliability. To prove that it was possible for a diesel-powered car to be competent and fast, the brand launched a prototype based on the Peugeot 404 Diesel but with only one seat (image below).
It was with this prototype that Peugeot claimed 18 new world records, out of a total of 40 records, it was 1965. Therefore, exactly 50 years ago.
Perhaps to mark the date, advancing to the present, Peugeot is once again breaking a record, but now with a series production model: the new Peugeot 208 BlueHDI.
Equipped with a 100hp 1.6 HDi engine, start&stop system and five-speed manual gearbox, the French model was driven for 38 hours by several drivers who were at the wheel in shifts of up to 4 hours each. Result? The achievement of the record for the longest distance covered with just 43 liters of fuel, a total of 2152km at an average of 2.0 liters/100km.
According to the brand, the Peugeot 208 BlueHDI used in this race was completely original, equipped with a rear spoiler to improve aerodynamics and the adoption of Michelin Energy Saver+ low-resistance tires, similar to the ones found in this version. However, it should be noted that this test was done in a closed circuit.
To attest to the veracity of the results, the supervision of the test was carried out by the Union Technique de l'Automobile, du motocycle et du Cycle (UTAC). Returning to real conditions, in official terms, the Peugeot 208 BlueHDI has an approved consumption of 3l/100km and 79 g/km of pollutant emissions (CO2). The renewed generation of the 208 will hit the market in June of this year.
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