Geely car has claimed a new one Guinness World Record the middle class with its super hybrid SUV Starray EM-iwhich travels from Sydney to Melbourne via Coastal Drive with a fully charged battery and a single tank of fuel.
The record “lowest fuel consumption driving the Sydney-Melbourne Coastal Drive with a plug-in hybrid production SUV” was achieved over a 1056km route via Wollongong, Jervis Bay, Narooma, Lakes Entrance and Yarram.
With a verified fuel consumption figure of 3.83L/100km – measured after the Starray EM-i tank was fully filled in Frankston (40.38L) – the Chinese SUV not only managed to set a new world record, but also exceeded Geely’s official NEDC fuel consumption figure of 4.4L/100km.
However, there is a catch. The test vehicle used to achieve this feat is a global specification vehicle that features a new, larger hybrid battery than the version currently sold in Australia – 29.8kWh versus the 18.4kWh unit in local Starray models.
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Geely says the Coastal Drive between the New South Wales capitals and the Victorian capitals was “specifically selected to reflect real-world driving scenarios, rather than a closed route test”.
The record attempt was carried out under the “strict supervision” of official Guinness World Records referees. The route took the Geely Starray EM-i through coastal plains, rolling hills and urban traffic jams.
“The main purpose of this challenge is to demonstrate the practical user benefits of EM-i Super Hybrid technology,” said Don Wan, director of the Energy Control Department of Geely Research Institute.
“We chose this path to test the vehicle’s performance in everyday user scenarios. The result proves that Geely Auto’s EM-i super hybrid engine achieves world record levels of energy efficiency.”
The Geely Starray EM-i is powered by the Chinese brand’s efficiency-focused plug-in super hybrid system, which combines a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate battery pack.
Australian models use an 18.4kWh LFP battery, which, according to WLTP testing, provides an electric range of 83km and a combined range of 943km (WLTP) with a full charge and a 51-litre fuel tank full to the brim.
Daily Sparkz has contacted Geely Australia regarding local availability of the larger 29kWh battery as it does not appear to be available in any global markets at this time.
The Starray EM-i was launched in the Australian market back in September and was priced from $37,490 plus on-road costs. By the end of November, 939 units had been registered Down Under.
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MORE: Discover the Geely Starray EM-i showroom
