Volvo Facebook Contest Takes C30 Around Virtual World

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Volvo Cars has kicked off a contest through Facebook called "DRIVe Around the World in 80 Days." The contest challenges people to virtually drive the electric C30 DRIVe around the world using only their network of contacts on the social networking site.

Volvo's C30 DRIVe attains 74.3 miles per gallon and can cover 825 miles on just one tank of gas. To give a shout out to the vehicle's actual mileage, the contest will have every participant drive the car for 825 virtual miles. They will then pass it off to another Facebook friend and continue doing so until the car makes it around the world and back to the original city. The different routes can be tracked on Volvo's Facebook page.

"This challenge ties in with Volvo's new campaign 'There's More To Life Than a Volvo, that's why you drive one' by highlighting how vital our personal connections are in making the world a better place. And when the competition is finally concluded, Volvo will have found arguably the world's most well-connected people," says Lukas Dohle, head of live communication and social media at Volvo Cars.

The winning team will get the equivalent of $22,000 donated in their name to a carbon-offset project called Myclimate. The nonprofit organization is certified by the U.N. and was formulated by associations like WWF International and Greenpeace. Volvo's donation is meant to neutralize roughly the amount of carbon dioxide a person pollutes during a lifetime.

The contest started on November 16 and runs until February 5. You can check out the competition directly here on Facebook.

Inside Line says: This is an interesting green awareness and marketing campaign all rolled up into one. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent