The Audi TDI diesel line-up is heading over to the States for the first time and to demonstrate and of course boast about their clean diesel technology they are going to take 23 cars from their model line on an endurance test and cover over 4,800 miles running from New York to Los Angeles on a Mileage Marathon. These models will include the Q7, Q5 and A4 all powered by a 3.0 TDI engine along with the Audi A3 Sportback powered by a 2.0 TDI engine.
The clean diesels engines will feature Audi's new ultra low emission system which reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 90 percent making it compliant in all 50 states including the strictest of them all – California, the technology also exceeds the Euro 6 standards set for 2014.
Following the tough endurance test, Audi will launch its TDI line-up throughout the US in 2009, the emissions technology will also make its way to the European market at the same time.
The world’s cleanest diesel in its first endurance test
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Audi launches diesel offensive in the US with major real-world driving tour
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TDI with ultra low emission system to prove its supremacy
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Dynamic driving performance with highly efficient fuel consumption
The TDI is the world’s most successful efficiency technology. Now the latest Audi TDI is making its way to the US: Audi is introducing the world’s cleanest diesel to the streets of America inside the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI with ultra low emission system. Once there, and prior to its market launch, it will prove its supremacy when it comes to driving fun and fuel efficiency in an endurance test – the Audi Mileage Marathon.
The Mileage Marathon covers more than 4,800 miles – that’s over 7,700 kilometers – running from New York to Los Angeles through major cities and passing countless natural wonders. From October 5-20, 184 drivers from all over the world will do more than just get to know a lot of fascinating roads during a total of 13 daily stages – they’ll also experience the confident sportiness and extraordinary efficiency of the TDI models from Audi.
The big real-world driving tour will be driven with 23 cars from four different model lines, all examples of Audi’s characteristic combination of superior mobility and unbeatable efficiency. Along with the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, the brand new Audi Q5 3.0 TDI will make its debut on the wide roads of the North American continent. The Audi A4, the sportiest sedan in its class, will also make its appearance with the superb 3.0 TDI engine.
The Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI – equipped with the innovative and particularly efficient S tronic transmission – will add yet another highlight to the Mileage Marathon’s efficiency statistics.
Efficiency is key over the long haul
The route of the Audi Mileage Marathon leads across the American continent from New York to Los Angeles, passing major cities like Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas during the 13 daily stages, as well as natural wonders including the Rocky Mountains, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon. The entire route totals more than 4,800 miles – over 7,700 kilometers – with a realistic mix of city driving and rural driving on highways and country roads. In this environment and under conditions that come close to everyday driving, the TDI will be able to clearly show off its superiority over every other efficiency technology.
Debut for the TDI with ultra low emission system
In the Audi Mileage Marathon, the TDI with ultra low emission system will be making its debut in a tough endurance test several months before the planned market launch in the US and in Europe in 2009. This exhaust emission control system reduces nitrogen oxides by up to 90 percent, making it compliant with California’s LEV II BIN 5 – the world’s most stringent emission standard. It also already exceeds the requirements of the Euro 6 standards that are targeted for 2014. The Audi Mileage Marathon will show that this doesn’t reduce the engine’s dynamism and outstanding fuel efficiency.
With the latest generation of TDI, Audi once again confirms its pioneering role in the world’s most successful technology for fuel efficiency: when Audi started series production of the first TDI, the engine was clearly a major technical advancement. The TDI quickly became a synonym for superior propulsive power and top efficiency, and set the trend for the entire automotive industry. There is still no propulsion system that can beat the TDI when it comes to high performance and actual fuel consumption.
Major potential to reduce worldwide consumption levels
Since it features the lowest emissions, the TDI with ultra low emission system can be employed worldwide, even in California and all other US states that currently have the most stringent emission standards. Compared with the fleet average of the gasoline engines typically found in the US, the TDI achieves a fuel-efficiency advantage of up to 40 percent. This means that today’s diesel technology that is designed for tomorrow can make a greater contribution than any other type of engine to reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.
Part of an integrated efficiency strategy
Perfecting the TDI is just one part of Audi’s integrated technology strategy to further reduce CO2 and the emission of pollutants in all models. Audi meanwhile relies on the outstanding potential of its state-of-the-art combustion engines and on the components of its modular efficiency system: with direct injection and turbocharging, the TFSI gasoline engines and TDI diesel engines already provide convincing performance with comparatively low consumption, while their innovative technologies form a solid basis for further significant reductions of consumption in coming years.
Italian coachbuilders Castagna are hardly the household name that rivals such as Pininfarina have become, their previous works have included one-off vehicles such as the Ferrari 575 Aria from Geneva 2005 as well as a number of coachbuilding projects which saw creations such as a Mini SUV and Mini Wagon back in 2004. They have now released details on their latest project, the Fiat 500 based Castagna Tender Two EV (Electric Vehicle).
It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 80mph and can go up to 85 miles on a single charge which can be re-charged to 80% in just four hours from a household socket. Castagna have also transformed the model from a quite beautiful road car into a two-seater beach buggy.
The Tender Two follows the original Tender model the Coachbuilder created back in 2005 based on the Mini Cooper, it follows a theme to give occupants an at-sea experience with its salt-water and abrasion resistant synthetic leather along with the pretty nifty looking decking covering the interior flooring.
The Mini brand is readying the third variant of its line-up with the announcement of the Mini Crossover Concept which will be unveiled to the media at the Paris Motor Show next month. The classic styling already showcased in the Mini Cooper and Mini Clubman is plain to see, add a blend off-road styling and here is what we end up with.
It features a unique door arrangement which sees the conventional rear passenger door on the right hand side, but the left hand side get an easy access slide opening mechanism. The twin-door setup featured on the Clubman fails to make the grade on this model, with a single sideways opening door being used.
Both the 2606mm wheelbase and overall length of over 4 meters come in a little higher than the Clubman giving the Crossover the most spacious interior a Mini has ever had. Four individual seats with more than enough space for four full sized adults fit snicely inside the Crossover concept, a multifunctional fastening rail runs in between the seats running from the dash board to the rear seats of the model giving occupants a constant link between the front and the rear, not to mention the unique storage option. The dashboard features a centrally mounted globe which houses all of the controls for the concept, BMW state that this is the first time a design like this has been used in an automobile – we tend to think it is probably the last as well.
No details on power units have been released but we do know the torque is passed to the wheels by an all-wheel-drive system.
BMW's approach from concept to production in recent years has been to make minimal changes, the exterior design we see before us will stay pretty much the same but for a more conventional door set-up when the production model is launched in 2010. There is however a good chance we will see more intense modifications to the interior.
With the USA's somewhat predictable "boom and bust" cycles among its car manufacturers, a result of consumers desiring big SUVs/large capacity engines when gasoline is cheap, Audi's push with their range of TDIs' will help concentrate these consumers' "minds".
It is time the Americans, with a smirk on their faces, start looking from their "derv-sipping" automobiles at the traffic around them .....
Isaacu