UK Toyota dealers holding MPG competitions for owners of Prius / Auris hybrids

[MetroMPG]

Toyota Auris: Official UK combined cycle 74.3 mpg (Imperial)



Toyota Prius: Official UK combined cycle 72.4 mpg (Imperial)

Toyota is encouraging drivers to put the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Prius and Toyota Auris hybrid to the test in a challenge to see who can achieve the best mpg. Toyota centres across the UK are hosting the competition, each with their own set route and time limit. A leaderboard will be used to keep track of the local results, with prizes going to each centre's best-performing entrant.

That's cool! I'd totally do this if it were in my town. (And I knew someone who'd lend me their car )

The leaderboard idea is funny - wonder if it's an intentional play on the Top Gear boards for "star in a reasonably priced car" or lap times around their track.

But really, they shouldn't limit the competition to only their hybrids (though it might undermine the marketing reason for the game). Depending on the course, someone driving an IQ or an Aygo might kick some hybrid butt!

source: The Toyota Hybrid Fuel Efficiency Competition

[Piwoslaw]

Similar to what Peugeot (and VW, and a few others I believe) has been doing in Europe. Vtec-e took part in one of those contests, though it was in a car borrowed from the dealer.

A contest where you use your own car limits the participants to owners, but maybe those owners could get away with mods that would be out of the question in a borrowed car? I'm thinking:

• Lowered suspension,
• Engine mods (WAI, alternator and PS delete),
• Grille block,
• Improved bellypan,
• Pumped up tires,
• Larger battery pack and/or hacked controller,
• EcoModder.com window stickers,
• etc.

Arragonis should hurry up and buy that Prius, ecomod it and win!

Metro, you are right about other cars (even Toyotas) being able to get better results than the hybrids. I can imagine someone rolling in with a 20-30 year old beater, with new drivetrain + aeromods, and leaving the Aygo's and IQ's in the dust. The oldie would be easier to aeromod (length) and be much lighter (less safety equipment and electronic gizmos).

Oooo, I want a shot!!!

[MetroMPG]

Thanks for the link - somehow I missed that Peugeot competition saga a few years back.