Rally Champion Sets Distance Record For 1,759 Miles On A Single Fill-up In A Diesel Skoda

Maximum scope is simply a critical specification for EVs, but we each admit being capable to spell a agelong measurement betwixt substance stops, nary matter what powers our cars. The existent European Rally Champion, Miko Marczyk, has group a caller world grounds for driving 1,759 miles connected a azygous vessel of fuel, according to Guinness World Records. While this is overmuch farther than nan existent EV record-holding Chevy Silverado EV, which hardly collapsed 1,000, it wasn't a state car that achieved this aliases moreover a hybrid, but a diesel Skoda Superb. From Guinness:

The top region driven connected a azygous vessel of substance is 2,831 km (1,759 mi) and was achieved by Miko Marczyk (Poland) from 5 to 7 March 2025.
Miko is simply a master rally driver and took connected this situation to show his skills successful eco-driving arsenic good arsenic to show that a simplification successful CO2 is achievable for everybody.
He drove an unmodified fourth-generation Škoda Superb from Lodz successful Poland done to Germany and Paris earlier turning backmost and passing done nan Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, past yet backmost into Poland wherever nan car came to a stop.

Guinness isn't wholly correct that nan car was unmodified, but it wasn't tweaked very much. According to Skoda, nan only alterations from its banal configuration were debased rolling guidance tires connected nan banal 16-inch wheels, positive Sportline springs that lowered nan car by a small much than half an inch, improving aerodynamics. There were nary auxiliary substance tanks to widen nan car's scope (a communal Cannonball trick), only the 17.4-gallon vessel installed astatine nan factory. 

Under nan hood sat a 2.0-liter TDI diesel motor mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission. If "TDI" evokes Volkswagen vibes successful your memory, you are correct, arsenic Skoda is 1 of VW's brands. While nan Dieselgate scandal sullied nan TDI sanction and diesel successful wide for North American cars, it lives connected successful Europe, though surely connected a smaller standard than successful its heyday. While they were disposable successful nan US, nan Golf and Jetta TDI routinely earned EPA ratings supra 40 MPG connected nan highway, amended than thing other astatine nan clip too a hybrid.

To group his record, Marczyk averaged 90.12 MPG during nan drive, almost double nan Skoda Superb's charismatic mixed WLTP rating, which, translated to Freedom Units, is 49 MPG. This feat was achieved done nan driver's skill, who employed preparation, research, and hypermiling techniques. In summation to nan lowered thrust tallness and debased rolling guidance tires, Marczyk ensured that they were group to factory-recommended pressures. (He did not overinflate them to create a smaller interaction spot arsenic immoderate hypermilers person been known to do, insisting that mill pressures are sufficient.) During his thrust crossed Europe and back, Marczyk had a support conveyance a mile aliases 2 up to study nan conditions he was astir to encounter. This is akin to a rally co-driver's notes advising nan driver of precise specifications of nan rally shape ahead, enabling Marczyk to expect them earlier he could spot them. 

Instead of taking a "right six level complete crest," however, Marczyk utilized specified intel to thrust arsenic efficiently arsenic possible. "Even insignificant specifications mattered, for illustration a flimsy incline toward a toll booth, which helped maine assistance my ft disconnected nan accelerator sooner and hardly brake until reaching nan barrier," he said successful Skoda's property release. He besides drove nary faster than astir 50 mph, since aerodynamic resistance builds quickly astatine higher speeds. He drove nan Skoda successful Eco mode and kept his region from different vehicles to debar abrupt and unexpected stops. Marczyk says he could still catch a draft from ample trucks astatine these distances, which was peculiarly useful successful headwinds.

Despite winning nan record, Marczyk believes he could do moreover better. Overnight temperatures astir freezing successful Germany decreased efficiency, arsenic good arsenic immoderate agelong uphill climbs that he could debar successful a early attempt. He thinks he could surpass 1,864 miles, nan magical people of 3,000 kilometers, a measurement that really matters successful Europe. Rallying and hypermiling are beautiful overmuch other extremes of driving, but some require utmost precision to do well. Miko Marczyk has proven himself to beryllium a champion successful some disciplines.