Drivers Wayne Gerdes from Wadsworth, Illinois, and Chris Bernius from New York City started their journey at the Kia Motors manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia on 26^th August, finishing in Greenville, South Carolina on the 9^th September and averaging 564 miles per day.

The journey crossed through all 48 of the country’s adjoining states, during which time the car consumed 5.5 tanks of fuel and travelled on average 1,418 miles between refuelling stops.

Once complete, the car and its drivers were transported back to West Point where they were presented with a certificate for new category “Lowest fuel consumption, 48 contiguous US states, gasoline hybrid car” by the Guinness World Records team.

Senior executive vice president and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, Thomas Oh, commented: “While travelling across the United States the Optima Hybrid experienced temperatures ranging from more than 118 degrees Fahrenheit to less than freezing point.

‘The team climbed through the formidable Rocky mountain chain and negotiated rush hour traffic in Chicago, New York City and Las Vegas – which makes the Optima Hybrid’s fuel consumption figure all the more impressive.’