Image Source: dimolanka.com
LOCAL NEWS
10
Mercedes-Benz successfully completed the Around Sri Lanka in One Tank with VITO Challenge!
The event was organized by DIMO PLC to display the Benz VITO van’s unimaginable fuel economy. It was a three day journey spanning over 1,324 kilometres of Sri Lanka’s coastal belt, all on just a single 70 litre tank of fuel.
The challenge was accomplished by sam smith, a driver and an enthusiastic motoring journalist. Smith started the challenge at the Benz showroom in Colombo and travelled along the south coast to Yala on the first day where the he enjoyed a stay at the Cinnamon Wild and achieved a fuel economy of 18.5 km per litre. The VITO then travelled along the coastal cities and was welcomed at Trinco Blu by Cinnamon with an average of 19.45km/l economy (718KM). On the third day, the drivers travelled to Jaffna.
Smith claimed that the overall challenge was a tough one and the vehicle was not subjected to any modification before. It ran on normal tire pressures and air conditioning for the entire drive.
However, post challenge, Sam stated that the Benz VITO had got to be the most fuel-efficient vehicle available in the local market, for having pulled through the journey successfully despite of serious doubts as to whether the Benz VITO would pull through the final North-South stretch from Jaffna through Kalpitiya to Colombo.