In case you haven't heard, the Audi Mileage Marathon--a coast-to-coast trek across the USA in diesel-powered Audis--is underway. The trip is divided in four major legs, the final leg of which Edmunds is currently participating. Leg Four will stretch and divide the distance between Las Vegas and Santa Monica into three days of driving with stopovers in Mammoth Lakes, CA, and Monterey, CA.
They're pitting automotive journalists in teams of two against each other in several of their TDI-powered models including Q7s, Q5s and A4s. Dan Edmunds and I make up the team representing Edmunds and Inside Line. We're in a 2009 Q7 3.0 TDI bearing the number 3.
Audi says the goal is to demonstrate the efficiency of their TDI turbodiesel engines. We say they're just staging this competition as an excuse to witness the absurd lengths to which automotive journalists will go in order to gain an advantage and protect their fragile egos.
Day One of our leg is Vegas to Mammoth Lakes. Stay tuned.
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
hondacura4 says:
06:14 AM, 10/19/08
Im very impressed by Audi as they have put so much effort in diesel technology...but I guess since diesels are big in Europe it makes since for them since the demand is much higher. Im even more impressed with the level and initiative taken to take diesel technology to the next level and beyond.
Audis TDI race program (ALMS) has been highly successful and Im pretty sure the production versions will have similar success. However, increased competition from Honda/Acura, BMW, Mercedes, and other brands should also help raise the bar even further. Im not a diesel fan but Im trying to keep an open mind as I like alternatives.
estreka says:
10:40 AM, 10/19/08
You could probably win by drafting another Q7 the entire way.
ateixeira says:
11:36 AM, 10/20/08
So Audi is saving fuel - by fueling up and driving several cars across the country, burning tons of fuel in the process. LOL
materialman says:
01:41 PM, 10/22/08
Love to have one, I just have to get a couple of night jobs to make the payments....