Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Drives 1,223 Miles on One Tank

Here’s a pretty impressive feat that you might have missed: a Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID driven by British journalist Andrew Frankel made an uninterrupted one-way, non-stop trip from Africa to the UK on just a single tank of gas.

Frankel drove from Tangier in Northern Africa to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a little more than 27 hours, averaging 73.6 miles per gallon across two continents, four countries, and three time zones. All in all, the trip covered 1,223 miles of ground, and yet not a single stop for gas had to be made (though we can’t reasonably assume there weren’t at least a handful of pee breaks).

Along the way, Frankel pushed through heavy rain and intense heat, yet he showed the composure of a true endurance racer. Also, having a relief driver probably helped some, we have to figure. Nonetheless, impressive.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Drives from Africa to UK in One Go

Not only did Franel and the Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID arrive without once having to fuel up, but it had roughly 100 miles left to go before the needle would even sniff “Empty.”

Once at the festival, the BlueTEC HYBRID was a part of Mercedes’ “First Glance” paddock.