When we first reported Audi was going to attempt the efficiency marathon, we never doubted they would achieve their goal. With 20 randomly selected readers of a motoring magazine and a team of two from Audi, all eleven A4 models completed the 1,650 km journey from Basel, Switzerland to Vienna, Austria and back on one tank of fuel.
As a result, the best performing vehicle achieved fuel consumption average of 3.32 liters per 100km (70.85 US mpg) while the “worst” achieved 3.50 l/100km (67.20 US mpg), far exceeding the vehicle's official specification of 4.1 liters (57.37 US mpg).
After a total driving time of 22 hours with an average speed of between 73 and 80 km/h (45.36 and 49.71 mph), the winning team surprisingly had a higher average speed of 81.4 km/h (50.58 mph) than the others.
With the amount of fuel that remained after the trip, it would even have been possible to cover a distance of over 2,000 kilometers (1242.74 miles) or the air conditioning system could have been switched on.
Second part of efficiency marathon finishes after 1,650 kilometers
Audi A4 2.0 TDI achieves CO2 emissions of 88 grams per kilometer
All eleven A4 models complete the efficiency drive in Austria and Switzerland without refueling
Fuel consumption between 3.32 and 3.50 liters per 100 km
More than 2,000 kilometers would have been possible on one tank of fuel
The second part of the efficiency drive through Austria and Switzerland, like the first, was thoroughly successful: 20 randomly selected readers of a motoring magazine and a team of two from Audi once again fully exploited the efficiency potential of the new Audi A4 2.0 TDI with an output of 88 kW (120 hp) in order to drive a route of 1,650 kilometers (1,025.26 miles) from Vienna to Basel and back on a single tank of fuel. All eleven teams reached the finish on Sunday: the most efficient driver duo achieved an average fuel consumption of 3.32 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers (70.85 US mpg). This equates to CO2 emissions of 88 grams per kilometer (141.62 g/mile). With these figures, it would even have been possible to cover a distance of over 2,000 kilometers (1242.74 miles).
This achievement once again topped the outstanding result of the first part of the efficiency drive from Basel to Vienna and back. The winning team of that round, which also lasted 1,650 kilometers (1,025.26 miles), had recorded an average fuel consumption of 3.44 liters per 100 kilometers (68.38 US mpg) and CO2 emissions of 91 grams per kilometer (146.45 g/mile). This, however, was at a higher average speed of 81.4 km/h (50.58 mph).
With full concentration from beginning to end and outstanding levels of enthusiasm, the participants in fact managed to surpass the very high expectations. After a total driving time of 22 hours on average with an average speed of between 73 and 80 km/h (45.36 and 49.71 mph), the white Audi A4 cars reached their destination. It thus became clear just what potential there is in the driver’s foot for reducing fuel consumption.
The new two-liter TDI engine provides ideal conditions for economical driving. With a combined consumption figure of just 5.1 liters per 100 kilometers (46.12 US mpg) and CO2 emissions of only 134 grams per kilometer (215.65 g/mile), the efficiency of the sportiest midsize sedan is simply outstanding. At the same time, the A4 is always capable of bringing the impressive dynamism that distinguishes every Audi onto the road.
However, participants in the Audi efficiency competition significantly bettered even these impressive combined consumption figures. The winning team needed just 3.32 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers (70.85 US mpg). This equates to CO2 emissions of only 88 grams per kilometer (141.62 g/mile) – an outstanding figure at an average speed of 74.6 km/h (46.35 mph). Five teams achieved under 3.45 liters (over 68.18 US mpg). But even the Audi in eleventh place recorded an impressive average fuel consumption of 3.50 liters (67.20 US mpg).
To achieve these extremely low figures, the teams had the air conditioning switched off nearly all the time. However, considering the amount of fuel left in the tanks of the eleven Audi A4 cars at the end, it would certainly have been possible to enjoy the comfort of the high-performance, ultra-efficient automatic air conditioning as well.
okay, first of all it is impressive, but no one will ever be able to achive that / come close to that in daily use. nevertheless it shows, what´s possible.
More like: "vorsprung durch Täuschung" Nobody will ever get that fuel consumption in real life! No downhills, no "cheating", just driving on a straight road. I have a friend that has a Golf 5 with that engine. His MPG figures look like this:
Rush hour (it's always rush hour in Bucharest) :( 21 mpg or 11 l/100km Highway driving (under the legal speed limit) 47 mpg or 5 l/100km
While impressive by US standards, these figures are nowhere near the exagerated ones supplied by Audi! VAG is very good as selling numbers instead of cars!
11 people achieved that during "daily" use. that was the idea, to show that it could be done. And if you decide to use the "city driving, stop and go traffic, etc" excuse, WELL Switzerland and Austria have these things called MOUNTAINS.
Please dont tell me they coasted downhill in neutral and momentum carried them 3/4 up the next hill, cause hilly roads are also CURVEY roads, therefore momentum is lost.
audi shouldn´t offer options including ac, mp3-radio, navigation, bigger wheels and better get rid of the wipers and lights ;). okay let´s be serious, i like audi and as said the figures are impressive BUT - average driver- using comfort options - daily use = at least 5-6 ltr, fact! or let´s keep it simple: driving like that : IS NO FUN
Top Gear by Clarkson tested the Audi A8 diesel once in term of fuel economy. I am sorry not to remember which model of diesel engine was used and driving distance. But in the show, it demonstrated that using an A8 to achieve excellent mileage in daily life is possible.
I don't care much if someone can not achieve the same efficiency as the group of tester did. You have to blame yourself for lacking of the ability to understand how to drive efficiently. ... It is not totally the car's false. :)
You're right, manufacturers do this with performance figures too, selling us "Nurburgring times" and 0-60 times achieved by pro drivers! Same type of bulld-oodoo!
people keep complaining about manufacturers throwing numbers at them. Whats wrong with numbers? Would you rather them saying yes our car gets good fuel efficiency, and releases few emissions, has fairly decent power, and has a sporty traction setting. To me that tells me even less about the car then the ideal numbers they use.
driving 80kmh on the autobahn in CH and A is dangerous to all others, and yourself...
one should go with the flow, which in CH is around 110-120kmh and A 120-130kmh... @ those speeds one can add 2-3l/100km of diesel...!
every kmh more costs exponetionally more fuel... if the cars would be more aerodynamic the drag could be limited... but since people want to sit next to each other, not behind each other, there are limits to what can be done with the concept of what people expect of a modern car...
if i drive my 1.8T new beetle @ 80kmh over the autobahn, even thru the alps, like the testers (and the autobahn in alps is nothing like a freeway in the US or the autobahn in germany, i also get good mileage for a gasoline engine... around 40-50mpg... limiting drag was the key factor in this contest... of course less weight, no air condition used, and all those factors helped...
narrow tires anda flat underbelly help a lot...!!! modern 200-255 tires are killing the mpg of any car... and they're not necessary...! also the weight of alu rims today is extremely high! good steel rims are lighter than alu rims nowadays...
first we have to get the weight down... modern cars weigh about 100% more than cars 20 years ago, think about that!
