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Audi Q7 TDI Nets 31.79 MPG from New York to D.C.

Audi Q7 TDI Nets 31.79 MPG from New York to D.C.

By Marty Padgett's avatar Marty PadgettMarty Padgett October 8th, 2008

Side view of 2007 Audi Q7 quattro 4dr 4.2L Red

Side view of 2007 Audi Q7 quattro 4dr 4.2L Red

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The Audi Mileage Marathon kicked off from Manhattan's Central Park on Monday morning at 9 a.m. The first leg of the journey, which involves 184 drivers from all around the world, took the convoy of Q7, Q5, A4, and A3 TDI turbodiesels from New York to Washington, D.C.

Big news from Audi was the real-world efficiency of its hulking Q7 3.0 TDI SUV, with one team netting 31.79 mpg with ordinary drivers behind the wheel. The journey started with "a battle through the heavy traffic of Manhattan," so the impressive mileage wasn't just generated by conservative highway hypermiling. Other teams averaged 29.77 to 30.95 mpg with the 2.5-ton, AWD, 405 pound-feet beast.

On the same drive, an A3 2.0 TDI managed 47 mpg, an A4 3.0 TDI got 39 mpg, and the new Q5 3.0 TDI rang in with nearly 38 mpg.

The next leg of the journey will take the Audi diesel caravan from D.C. to Cleveland, and then on to Chicago. Ultimately, the diesels will end up in Los Angeles on October 20. Audi notes that "fuel consumption of the participating vehicles is being monitored by the US-based motor sports association IMSA."

Audi is mounting quite the diesel offensive for its U.S. launch of these four '09 diesel vehicles. Will economy figures like those above be enough to sway a largely anti-diesel American public to make the switch to sparkless, oil-burning transportation? Side view of 2007 Audi Q7 quattro 4dr 4.2L RedEnlarge Photo The Audi Mileage Marathon kicked off from Manhattan's Central Park on Monday morning at 9 a.m. The first leg of the journey, which involves 184 drivers from all around the world, took the convoy of Q7, Q5, A4, and A3 TDI turbodiesels from New York to Washington, D.C. Big news from Audi was the real-world efficiency of its hulking Q7 3.0 TDI SUV, with one team netting 31.79 mpg with ordinary drivers behind the wheel. The journey started with "a battle through the heavy traffic of Manhattan," so the impressive mileage wasn't just generated by conservative highway hypermiling. Other teams averaged 29.77 to 30.95 mpg with the 2.5-ton, AWD, 405 pound-feet beast. On the same drive, an A3 2.0 TDI managed 47 mpg, an A4 3.0 TDI got 39 mpg, and the new Q5 3.0 TDI rang in with nearly 38 mpg. The next leg of the journey will take the Audi diesel caravan from D.C. to Cleveland, and then on to Chicago. Ultimately, the diesels will end up in Los Angeles on October 20. Audi notes that "fuel consumption of the participating vehicles is being monitored by the US-based motor sports association IMSA." Audi is mounting quite the diesel offensive for its U.S. launch of these four '09 diesel vehicles. Will economy figures like those above be enough to sway a largely anti-diesel American public to make the switch to sparkless, oil-burning transportation?

Tags: Marketing

Posted in: 2008, 2009, Audi, Sedans, Sports Cars, Green, Diesel, Q7



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Responses (2 total)

  1. By Ed #1, Posted: 10/8/2008

    he Audi Mileage Marathon kicked off from Manhattan's Central Park on Monday morning at 9 AM. The first leg of the journey, which involves 184 drivers from all around the world, took the convoy of Q7, Q5, A4, and A3 TDI turbodiesels from New York to Washington, D.C.
    "Big news from Audi was the real-world efficiency of its hulking Q7 3.0 TDI SUV, with one team netting 31.79 mpg with ordinary drivers behind the wheel. The journey started with "a battle through the heavy traffic of Manhattan," so the impressive mileage wasn't just generated by conservative highway hypermiling."
    Very Impressive, given the fatass SUV's 5,300lb++ curb weight, probably more than 5,500 lbs with driver and one passenger. My 1998 740iL rear-drive weighs 1,000 lbs less and has a far smaller surface area and gets 22-24 MPG at 80ish cruise controlled highway rides, by comparison, (and far less in the city)
    "On the same drive, an A3 2.0 TDI managed 47 mpg, an A4 3.0 TDI got 39 mpg, and the new Q5 3.0 TDI rang in with nearly 38 mpg."
    The A3 is very impressive, why don't they offer th e 2.0 TDI in the A4 and A6 too? It shoudl be more than adequate.
    And 38 MPG from the Q5 small SUV or crossover is VERY good.

  2. By Dr. M. Y. Pename #2, Posted: 10/29/2008

    Kudos to Audi for taking the TDI racing marque to a new level. Winning LeMans repeatedly proved the diesel concept, but the tougher battle looms convincing buyers to purchase. Having driven diesels by Mercedes in 1970's and Volvo in 1980's, and petrol Audi's since then, this effort is long overdue. But to get me to buy in, Audi needs to plunge into the diesel Hybrid market with the technology they've developed and make it available in the U.S. That would be radical!

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