The new Peugeot 308, winner of the recent European Car of the Year award and Fuel Watchdog best MPG car 2014*, has taken fuel economy to new highs with a record breaking 99.1mpg and 1124.7 miles on a full tank of fuel (petrol).

Witnessed by the authoritative UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, Motocycle et Cycle), the Peugeot 308 with 1.2-litre, 130bhp turbo petrol engine and manual six-speed gearbox achieved the milestone at the Almeria circuit in Spain, and sets the record for a standard production model with petrol engine.

It's great to see the strides manufacturers are taking to improve fuel economy isn't just reserved for diesel or hybrid/electric vehicles. Ultra high efficiency turbo petrol engines are closing the gap on their diesel counterparts, and with lower fuel prices, lower purchase prices and generally lower noxious exhaust fumes, the petrol engine could be far from dead for those tending to want to use their car for shorter journeys.