Worth the wait to watch it all. Remember that a UK Gallon is 1.2 US Gallons, so the VW’s 70 MPG is really more like 60 MPG US. Still, name any car available in the USA that gets 60 MPG on average?
No gasoline powered stock vehicle available in the USA could have made this trip… but even the hulking Jaguar, driven with a lead foot pulled it off…. on Diesel.
TG is just a fantastic show. Seems the US version of TG is in limbo as NBC has passed on the show due to the epic failure of their reincarnation of “Knight Rider”. I think we all might be the better for it, as the British versions chemistry is difficult if not impossible to replicate as evidenced by the abysmal Australian version.
If you found one of the few Honda Insights out there you could replecate this feat with a gas engine. Of course if you dropped the 1.3L VW TDI in it 100mpg would be obtainable.
My 4200lb aero-brick Liberty CRD manages 25-26 on the freeway.