At the wheel of a 2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI, Wayne Gerdes and co-driver Bob Winger have ended a 16-day, 13,250 km journey across the United States while averaging astonishingly low fuel consumption of 2.898 L/100 km. This is a new Guinness record for a traditional gas motor (non-hybrid) powertrain crossing all 48 contiguous American states.

This latest feat breaks the previous record of 3.016 L/100 km, set by Gerdes in 2013 at the wheel of a Volkswagen Passat TDI. He also broke the current record for a hybrid powertrain vehicle (3.164 L/100 km).

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Wayne Gerdes is no newcomer to the world of hypermiling (aerodynamics modification and extremely efficient driving to conserve fuel). He has several records to his credit, including many that were sponsored by auto manufacturers and oil brands.

Of note was a trip done in 2013 in collaboration with Shell Oil that saw him drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 1,600 km between Chicago, Illinois, and Austin, Texas - all on a single tank of gas.