AUSTRALIA, November 2 – Not only did Ford Australia’s latest fuel sipper top its class but at 3.1L/100km, it was also officially the most fuel-efficient vehicle among all 17 models in the Global Green Challenge that ended on Friday.

The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic was the only car to finish the 3,147-km drive over some of the harshest terrain from tropical Darwin to southern Adelaide in under 100 litres of fuel – 98 litres to be precise. During one leg of the event, the Fiesta went even one step further and broke through the sub-3.0 litre mark, with a 2.9L/100km fuel figure for the nine-hour drive from Alice Springs to Cooper Pedy

Driven by motoring writer Peter McKay and magazine editor Carolyn Barry, the Fiesta also achieved a CO2 emissions rating of only 84.47g/km – placing it ahead of the leading petrol/electric hybrid in the real world.

“There are many different category winners in this event and the Fiesta ECOnetic is one of them, winning the diesel light car class,” said Justin Lacy, Ford’s team manager.

“However, only one vehicle can claim to have used the least fuel overall and to officially achieve the best fuel economy of any vehicle in the challenge. Fiesta ECOnetic has done just that through a combination of clever engineering and appropriate driving styles.”

The Global Green Challenge in its former guise as the World Solar Challenge was first run in 1987 and has been conducted every two years since. This year the race was expanded to include production and prototype eco-friendly vehicles that are, or soon will be, available to the car buying public.

In this year’s World Solar Challenge, the Ford-supported Infinium team from the University of Michigan in the U.S. won third place.

As for the Eco Challenge, the aim was for entrants – from a fully-electric Tesla Roadster to a modified Honda motorcycle that runs on alcohol – to beat their official fuel efficiency figures. The week-long challenge included extensive driving in the two cities and winners were selected based on the greatest percentage improvement of the official government figures published in the Green Car Guide.

Driven by motoring writer Damien Smy and Ford Australia’s PD director Russell Christophers, the Falcon XR6 Turbo, which is usually more known for its performance characteristics, also won its class in the challenge, reaching an average fuel consumption of only 7.0L/100km – a staggering 39.8 per cent improvement over its official fuel figure.

“The Falcon’s result disproves the notion that large performance cars can’t be economical too,” said Lacy.

“Its final fuel figure is on par with many smaller, 4-cylinder cars, which proves that you really can have your cake and eat it too.”

Doesn't it look great?	ECOnetic co-driver Peter McKay airs his towel during a mandatory lunch stop...with no aircon, the towel is getting a workout all of its own!
Green against red...beautiful!	G-Magazine Editor Carolyn Barry in the Fiesta ECOnetic before the start of the event

Tracking the challenge on Facebook (www.facebook.com/fordfiesta)

Day 1

Day 1 of the Global Green Challenge saw the teams leave Darwin after 12:30pm and arrive in Katherine at 5:30pm. It was a long day in the heat but the results were worth it)... tomorrow we leave Katherine at 8am and continue south for more than 650km to Tennant Creek.

Both Ford teams did an awesome job today in the Northern Territory heat. Despite temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius, the competitive nature of all the drivers ensured they drove to achieve the best possible fuel economy at all times. Both teams achieved significant improvements over their official fuel economy numbers – the ECOnetic was down to 3.1L/100km AND achieved a CO₂ number of only 86gms!

Days 2 and 3

Days 2 and 3 were torrid. Earthquakes, soaring temperatures, dust storms, strong headwinds and very little exciting scenery to look at. Despite all these, the Fiesta ECOnetic and XR6T are doing an awesome job – no aircon or fans + windows up, all in the name of achieving the best possible fuel economy and beating the other teams at their own game!

Day 4

Mild controversy reigns. Changes to the refuelling and measurement rules will now see Day 4's results available at midday on Day 5 and on from there. Relatively uneventful day, slightly cooler although temperatures heated up when fuel was spilled by the officials during the ECOnetic's end-of-day refuelling/measurement stop, hence the new regs! :-) Update more tomorrow night...

Day 5

WOW! The Fiesta ECOnetic has officially cracked the sub-3.0L/100km fuel economy barrier! The Fiesta used only 2.9L/100km during the Alice Springs to Cooper Pedy leg of the Global Green Challenge!

Day 6

Green Challenge teams arrived in Adelaide today, ahead of the final urban loop on Friday morning. Both cars continue to run very well but organisers are cagey about releasing figures this close to the end…looks like we'll have to wait until approx 4pm (Adelaide time) tomorrow to find out the final results. Watch this space!

Day 7

Global Green Challenge teams are officially finished!! Yay – 3000kms later, it looks like the Fiesta ECOnetic has claimed the prize of "most fuel efficient" out of all entrants on the Challenge and the Falcon XR6T should hopefully claim its class. Official results available at 4/4:30pm Adelaide time...stay tuned!!

Following the challenge on Twitter (www.twitter.com/fordapa)

The Ford green challenge teams - Fiesta Econetic, XR6T & Uni of Michigan Solar Car - just had a photo opp in the blistering darwin heat!10:41 PM Oct 22nd

And they're off! The Falcon XR6T has just been waved off the starting line of the Global Green Challenge! Fiesta Econetic 2 follow soon.8:03 PM Oct 23rd

The Fiesta Econetic is officially on its way in the Global Green Challenge!8:33 PM Oct 23rd

Three entrants to the Global Green Challenge joined together in the blistering Northern Territory heat today http://bit.ly/EwUPe10:25 PM Oct 23rd

Day 1 of the GGC & the Ford teams are off 2 a gr8 strt with numbrs well blw stckr. Very hot wthr (43C), 345kms - luckily no kangaroos tho!3:51 AM Oct 24th

GGC update - australia's most fuel efficient car (Fiesta Econetic) achieved better emissions than the Prius - only 86gms!3:58 AM Oct 24th

In the last 18hrs Ford's Green Chlng team hv felt the earth move, been attckd by swooping birds - & driven 670kms - without aircon!1:03 AM Oct 25th

The Fiesta Econetic & Falcon XR6T are in Alice Springs after battling a strong headwind & dust storm all day. 2day's fuel rslts avail ltr.11:18 PM Oct 25th

Controversy @ the global green chlng! New refuelling rules, mandatory rest stops & new base 4 km measurement shld mean an even game 4 all. about 22 hours ago

Downside 2 new GGC rules is no official fuel economy reading 4 2day til 2mr. about 22 hours ago

No internet access 4 the green challenge team in Cooper Pedy 2nite. Fiesta Econetic conts 2 lead the 'lowest FE' race after our longest day.3:21 AM Oct 27th

Fiesta ECOnetic achieves a FE figure of only 2.9L/100kms during global green chllge! Falcon XR6T does 6.7! UOM solar car in 2nd place!11:47 PM Oct 27th

Green Challenge teams in adelaide ahead of final urban loop 2mr. No updates re results - organisers are holding cards close b4 final 2mr!about 23 hours ago

Green Challenge teams almost ready 4 the final parade run into adelaide! Welcome by the Premier @ 2pm, final results @ 4pm - stay tuned! about 4 hours ago

Green Challenge teams have arrived!! The long drive is done! Expectations 4 the Ford teams are high - final results in 2.5hrs! about 4 hours ago

Ford triumphs at Global Green Challenge!! Fiesta ECOnetic outright winner & Falcon XR6T wins its class!! 44 minutes ago