TopGear.com to build 70-mpg car for $7,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, February 20, 2009

Contact: Devin Johnson, 212-339-1709

 

TOPGEAR.COM TO BUILD 70-MPG CAR FOR ONLY $7,000

 

VW bought in New York City, rebuilt in Canada and tested in sunny
California

 

Car to be named by TopGear.com readers

 

TopGear.com announced today the launch of its "Build a 70-mpg Car"
challenge.  The car entertainment site will convert a 1981 Volkswagen
Rabbit Diesel into an eco-friendly car that will get 70 miles per
gallon, do 0-60 in less than 7 seconds and for a total cost of $7,000.

 

The 28-year-old Volkswagen was bought in New York City and driven
thousands of miles to a very cold Regina, Saskatchewan where CWS Tuning
will skillfully replace the clattery old engine with a modern,
computer-controlled, turbocharged VW TDI engine.  The team will then
head to Southern California where they will meet with UCLA aerodynamics
professor John McNulty for expertise in making the car more slippery.

 

TopGear.com will cover the entire challenge with exclusive videos,
regular updates, live blogging and photos. 

 

TopGear.com is asking readers to name the car, while in development the
code name was "Sipster."  Readers can suggest names in the comments area
of the "We Build a 70-mpg Car" article and a voting poll will be posted
on the site Monday, February 22.

 

This is not a simple challenge - hitting 70-mpg will take more than a
diesel engine and some aerodynamic tricks.  The team will need to get
clever with gearing, learn about low rolling-resistance tires, and use
special low-friction oils.  To car buffs, this makes sense, but to
everyone else, the translation is, it's going to take every trick in the
book to make this happen.


FOR EDITORS

For reference, the Kelley Blue Book states a 2009 Toyota Prius achieves
48-mpg and costs MSRP $22,720.00 - 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid achieves
40-mpg and costs MSRP $24, 320.00.

 

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smash hit Dancing with the Stars for ABC.

 

 

Devin Johnson

Publicity Manager
BBC Worldwide America
747 Third Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017
T: 212.339.1709 M: 917.376.4170 F: 212.705.9420 
devin.johnson@bbc.com   -
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