Using only their Facebook friends, the purpose of the contest is to 'drive' the C30 DRIVe via a network of contacts.
Facebook is a meeting place where at least a hundred million people log on every day.
Volvo argues the 80-days-around-the-world contest can be seen as a type of social experiment.
If you like, a challenge for the participants to see how well connected they really are.
The company will donate 15,000 Euros in the winning team's name to a carbon offset project promoted by "myclimate".
The C30 DRIVe has a fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg, enabling it to cover 825 miles on a tank of fuel.
This means that each participant drives the car for 825 virtual miles before passing it on to a Facebook friend, who in turn does likewise.
The circle is completed when the car returns to its original starting point. The various teams' routes round the world can be followed on Volvo's Facebook page.
The contest begins today (November 16) and ends on February 5.
It can be accessed either by logging on to VCC's Facebook page www.facebook.com/volvo or by logging on to the contest directly at apps.facebook.com/drivearoundtheworld.
Posted on 16.11.2009
