2008 AA Energywise Rally winners announced
Posted: 27 November 2008
The winners of the 2008 AA Energywise Rally have been announced in Auckland this evening.
The Rally shows motorists how they can slash their fuel bills by choosing a fuel-efficient car and driving it in a fuel efficient manner. A record 59 vehicles entered this year's four-day rally around the North Island. They were put to the test with a combination of driving on motorways, unsealed roads, rural state highways, and in peak-hour city congestion. The AA Energywise Rally is held every two years and is jointly organised by the AA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), and Gull Petroleum New Zealand.
The Supreme Winner, the vehicle that cost the least to run over the whole rally including fuel and road user charges, is the Honda Civic Hybrid. It cost $111.72 to complete the 1641km rally.
The Driver Award, for the team that beat the manufacturer-stated fuel use of their vehicle by the highest percentage, went to the Trade Me team which drove the Holden HSV Maloo. They reduced their fuel consumption by 39.5%, achieving 9.497 litres per 100km instead of the manufacturer-stated fuel use of 15.7 litres per 100km.
The Environment Award, for the vehicle with the lowest fuel use and emissions for the rally, went to the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Manual, with 95.58 grams per kilometre.
Rally Blog: AA Energywise Rally Day 3 Results
Posted: 27 November 2008
Dawn on day 3 revealed some laughs for the Smart Car drivers, in the form of sticky tape plasters and a special inscription from Greg Murphy (see photo gallery). Leaving Palmerston North for the Forgotten World Highway to the Republic of Whangamomona and then on to Rotorua, saw drivers take in over 500kms of driving in excellent conditions today.
On arrival in the Republic, the purchase of Passports was obligatory in order to help support the local school and community in this least visited and quote remote part of New Zealand. The children and their local pet possum turned out to provide a warm welcome, complete with traditional dress costumes (see gallery).
Anyway, the Rally had no casualties or lost drivers today, with everyone successfully completing both stages trying to consolidate or better their times and economy. Greg Murphy had another good day in the Holden Astra with the best time, although probably not achieving the best economy.
The Honda Civic Hybrid maintains the lead on cost whilst the TradeMe teams Holden Maloo has the best improvement over claimed fuel consumption. Thursday will see the Rally head back to Auckland for the final stage.
Rally Blog: AA Energywise Rally Day 2 Results
Posted: 26 November 2008
Day 2 saw overnight rain clear to provide a sunny and cheerful start to the days events. The TradeMe team swapped drivers, wigs and overalls to see the HSV Maloo to Wellington and back, whilst Holden played their Greg Murphy card today driving the Holden Astra diesel.
Conditions were mixed as we headed toward Levin and then south to Wellington, seeing showers and high winds. Wellington however delivered a stunningly beautiful sunny, but windy (of course!) day for the gathering at Queens Wharf. The atmosphere was almost party like as public, media, politicians, drivers and executives mingled to talk about the AA Energywise Rally, the cars and the driving.
The 'sou-wester' occasionally played havoc with ones ability to each lunch, but the prospect of the roads ahead towards Masterton and back to Palmerston North were distraction enough to forget about that. The journey back saw some of the windiest driving conditions I have witnessed, with constant buffeting and therefore continuous input from the steering wheel to maintain our course.
At the fuel stop in Palmerston North there were two standout factors. One, that the Smart Car driven by legends Eoin Young and Terry Marshall were 'sans bonnet' due to the fierce winds. Two, that Greg Murphy, true to form, had done the quickest time and overtaken the most cars. Go Murph!
Rally Blog: AA Energywise Rally Day 1 Results
Posted: 25 November 2008
59 cars, 118 drivers and 530km later, the AA Energywise Rally hits Palmerston North. It all started at 6.30am for the drivers briefing, then amid blustery conditions there were live weather relays for One News. Then at 7.38ish Mayor John Banks cut the yellow ribbon and the first competitor was away, accompanied by a resounding blast from the Gull Fuel Tanker Big Rig air horns.
A wet dismal Monday morning traffic did its best to dampen the spirits and cause delays amongst the competitors. An hour later and undeterred, the convoy broke free from the 'driving reality' that so many face daily on the streets of Auckland. Passing through Hamilton and stopping for a brief lunch in Taumarunui it became evident that one competitor was MIA (Missing In Action).
The Rally had to go on, but all efforts were made to track down the car and drivers. Apparently the lone VW Golf had taken the 'even more scenic' route, and was spotted in New Plymouth adding over a 100km to their days total distance. All cars were safely tucked up for a well earned rest overnight in Palmerston North, awaiting the outing to Wellington tomorrow.
Currently drivers of car #31, a Honda Civic Hybrid, are wearing the yellow caps as leaders.
Greg Murphy takes on NZs greenest Rally challenge
Posted: 17 November 2008
V8 driver Greg Murphy will take on a totally different challenge in next week's AA ENERGYWISETM Rally it's not fastest time, but the vehicle that costs the least to run, that takes out this Rally's Supreme Award title.
The AA ENERGYWISETM Rally shows how Kiwis can slash their fuel bills by choosing a fuel-efficient car and driving it well. It follows a 1,626 km route throughout the North Island from 24 to 27 November.
Murphy, who flies in straight from round 13 of the V8 Super car championship series in Tasmania, will join the Rally on 25 November in a Holden Astra CDTi.
He has some serious competition in Hyundai i30 driver Hans Tholstrup who holds records for fuel economy runs around the world. He'll also face Glenn and Helen Johnston who want to drive the Honda Civic hybrid into the top spot for the second Rally in a row.
AA Technical Services Manager Stella Stocks says there is a great range of cars in this year's Rally.
Route revealed for New Zealand's greenest car rally
Posted: 27 October 2008
The route for the 2008 AA ENERGYWISETM Rally has been announced today.
The Rally will start on Monday 24 November in Auckland and heads to Palmerston North via Hamilton, Taumaranui and Wanganui.
On Day 2 it leaves Palmerston North for the Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast and Wellington, before returning to Palmerston North via the Wairarapa.
On Day 3 it travels from Palmerston North to Wanganui, Taranaki, Whangamomona, and Rotorua.
On Day 4 the Rally leaves Rotorua for Cambridge, Hamilton and finishes in Auckland.
The Rally will cover approximately 1626 kilometres.
Stella Stocks, AA General Manager of Technical Services, says both vehicles and drivers will be put to the test with a combination of driving on motorways, unsealed roads, rural state highways and in peak hour city congestion.
Challenge on to find New Zealands most fuel efficient cars
Posted: 24 September 2008
The gauntlet has been thrown down to find New Zealands most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly cars in the 2008 AA Energywise Rally and vehicle manufacturers have responded in record numbers.
64 cars have been entered in the four day rally to be held in November, up from 52 in 2006 when it was last held. Entries have come from all but two of New Zealands major car manufacturers and distributors. This years participants include BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Holden, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Subaru, Suzuki and Volkswagen.
The AA Energywise Rally is held every two years and is jointly organised by the AA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), and Gull Petroleum New Zealand.
Vehicles are pitted against each other in six different categories for the title of the most fuel efficient in each class. The supreme winner is the vehicle that costs the least to run over the whole rally.