Audi A4 2.0 TDI Achieves CO2 Emissions of 88 Grams Per Kilometer

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.

No VAG F1 team due to Max Mosley "Nazi Orgy" Fiasco...

The VW Audi group has decided it would be unwise to create an F1 team under the current controversy with FIA head Max Mosley.

Max Mosley, one of the most powerful men in world sport, was under pressure to resign as boss of Formula One’s governing body last night after he was exposed enjoying a Nazi-style orgy with five prostitutes.

Jewish groups condemned the behaviour of Mosley, 67, whose father, Sir Oswald, was the leader of the British Union of Fascists and a friend of Adolf Hitler.

Mr Mosley was caught on video by the News of the World with five women in an underground “torture chamber” in Chelsea, where he spent several hours allegedly indulging in sado-masochistic sex.

The Oxford-educated former barrister, who is president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), reenacted a concentration camp scene in which he played the role of both guard and inmate.

Speaking in German and brandishing a leather whip, he beat the women after allowing himself to be subjected to a humiliating inspection for lice and an interrogation in chains.

Mr Mosley, a close confidant of Bernie Ecclestone, who holds the commercial rights to Formula One, paid £2,500 cash for the sex services, the Sunday newspaper claimed.

His antics stunned Jewish leaders and motorsport insiders. “This is sick and depraved,” Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said. “For anyone to be in such a position of influence and power beggars belief. I am absolutely appalled.”

Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, said: “As Mr Mosley has condemned the racism in motor sport he should live up to the standards he sets. This is an insult to millions of victims, survivors and their families. He should apologise. He should resign from the sport.”

Sir Stirling Moss, the former world champion racing driver whose father was Jewish, said: “I don’t see how he can continue. I hope he can, frankly, because I think he’s very good at what he does. I suppose what goes on behind closed doors is his business but when a thing comes out like this . . . it’s an absolute shocker.”

Mr Mosley, whose two years in Germany as a young teenager gave him fluency in the language, has helped to turn Formula One into a multi-billion-pound business since he became FIA president in 1993. The FIA is a nonprofit association that represents the interests of motoring organisations and car users worldwide.

Mr Ecclestone said that he was shocked by the allegations but did not expect Mr Mosley’s position to be affected. “I’ve known him an awful long time. If somebody had told me this without the evidence I would have found it difficult to believe,” he said.

“Assuming it’s all true, what people do privately is up to them. I don’t honestly believe [it] affects the sport in any way. Knowing Max it might be all a bit of a joke. You know, it’s one of those things where he’s sort of taking the p***, rather than anything against Jewish people.”

Mr Mosley, who lives in Monaco, is understood to be pursuing legal action against the News of The World for breach of privacy. His spokesman said: “This is a matter between Mr Mosley and the newspaper in question and the FIA has no comment.”

Martin Brundle, the driver-turned-pundit who was recently the subject of a libel action brought by Mr Mosley, said: “It’s not appropriate behaviour for the head of any global body such as the FIA.”

Mr Mosley, who once harboured ambitions to be a parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party, is known for being eccentric and outspoken. Nicknamed “Mad Max” by some in motorsport, he once said he didn’t mind flak because he came from a family used to getting it all the time.

Hitler was present at the wedding of his father, Oswald, and mother, Diana, which took place in Joseph Goebbels’s drawing room. They were interned in Holloway and Brixton prisons for their Fascist connections.

Most recently, Mr Mosley stood up against racism in Formula One by giving warning of immediate sanctions if there was a repeat of the abuse against Lewis Hamilton, the only black driver on the circuit, in Barcelona during testing this season.

The wit and wisdom of Max Mosley

He goes around dressed up as a Thirties music hall man. He’s a certified halfwit”
On Sir Jackie Stewart (a dyslexic)

There was always a certain amount of trouble until I came into motor racing. ‘Mosley, he must be some relation of Alf Mosley, the coachbuilder'. And I thought to myself, ‘I’ve found a world where they don’t know about Oswald Mosley’. And it has always been a bit like that in motor racing: nobody gives a darn”
On being the son of Sir Oswald Mosley

There is always somebody new. If it wasn’t him it would be one of the other new stars . . . There is a tendency to exaggerate the importance of Hamilton”
On British motor racing star Lewis Hamilton

Biela's future with Audi!?!

Biela's future with Audi's sportscar team is in doubt following the German manufacturer's decision to replace him with Dindo Capello in their American Le Mans Series line-up.

Capello, who won the Le Mans 24 Hours with Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen two weeks ago, will share the No.1 Audi R10 TDi with Emanuele Pirro for at least the next two races, at Lime Rock Park in a fortnight and Mid-Ohio a week later. The switch casts a shadow over Biela's future as Audi revealed he was only contracted to contest races prior to Le Mans.
It leaves the five-time Le Mans winner without a race programme for the rest of the season and with no deal in place to remain with Audi beyond this year.
Biela is also a two-time ALMS champion, while Capello is already the most successful driver in ALMS history with 26 race wins and also has two titles to his name, having won the LMP1 championship with McNish for the last two seasons.