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Volkswagen’s Mission Efficiency Sets Three World Records

The near-production demonstrator uses MEB+ and ID. Polo components to show how extreme aerodynamics, low-rolling-resistance tyres and reduced auxiliary losses can cut real-world EV energy use.

Overview

  • Volkswagen unveiled Mission Efficiency on Monday, September 14, 2026, and the Record Institute Germany certified three class records for a near-production four-seat EV including a drag coefficient of 0.158.
  • The car completed a documented 1,278.36 km route from Wolfsburg to Vienna with one charge and arrived with 164 km of range remaining while recording 7.51 kWh/100 km including charging losses.
  • Under a controlled 'ideal' test at 68 km/h the prototype achieved 6.48 kWh/100 km and the company reports 6.89 kWh/100 km for the real-world run when excluding charging losses.
  • Mission Efficiency is built on the MEB+ platform and uses production-derived hardware from the ID. Polo such as a ~54.9 kWh usable battery and a 99 kW front motor while adding patented rim deflectors, a 370 W solar array, low-rolling-resistance Continental tyres and an electromechanical rear brake to cut losses.
  • Volkswagen presents the car as a technology demonstrator rather than an immediate production model and says selected features could transfer to future mass-market EVs, a development that could boost range for lower-cost cars without larger batteries in coming models.