Club 80-90 Forums

Fuel economy
The cars combine a fuel efficient engine with fuel efficient design and technological strategies that include a more aerodynamic body, a low ride height, auto stop-start, programmed battery charging system (so the alternator only runs when necessary), longer gearing and low rolling resistance tires. It has a fuel capacity of 77.25 litres (16.99 imp gal; 20.41 US gal). It was with such a production model that in the fall of 2010 a BlueMotion Passat set a world mileage record in Europe, recognized by the Guinness Book of Records, achieving 1,526.63 miles (2,456.87 km) on a single tank of fuel, which equates to 74.8 miles per US gallon (3.14 L/100 km; 89.8 mpg-imp). This is equivalent to travelling from New York to Los Angeles on two tanks of diesel. BlueMotion vehicles are not available in North America....

...The BlueMotion brands represents the most fuel efficient model of its line and has the following:

Engine
Revised engine mapping, diesel particulate filters and oxidising catalytic converters help the fuel consumption and lower NOx levels. In the more modern incarnations there's also a start-stop system that halts and restarts the motor at brief stops.
Transmission
The last two gear ratios are longer than on standard TDI engine gearboxes.
Reduced rolling resistance
Low-resistance tires and better aerodynamics through lowered suspension, redesigned spoilers and additional enhancements underneath each car so the air is better channelled giving less drag which produces better fuel economy.