xcel
09-30-2009, 02:53 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg The long climb into the mountains. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=235120)
http://www.youtube.com/v/dsrHJ-ICMkI&hl=en&fs=1Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Sept. 30, 2009
Tuesday brought the Audi Efficiency Challenge group closer to the final destination, Bée, Italy.Yesterdays segment from Prague to the Alps was 377 miles. Through the Waldviertel forest, the tour rolled into Austria, where it passes through some of the most stunning parts of the country. Austria is something to be experienced up close in the wine-growing region of Wachau on both sides of the River Danube and in Salzburg. During the afternoon, the Efficiency Challenge reaches the Hochalpen (High Alps), where the group holds up for the night in the glamorous town of Kitzbuehel. Today’s route includes the climbs which is not conducive to high fuel economy yet the results were still impressive.
From the very first few feet, Tuesday’s drive was not shaping up well to begin an efficiency challenge segment as slow-moving traffic throughout Prague hampered everyone. The worldwide standard, uncoordinated traffic light sequencing quickly becomes a nightmare while Audi’s equipped Start/Stop saves the few drivers with its inclusion. And those without were surely shutting down at every opportunity... Or at least we hope so ;) In any case, the morning rush out of a major city is not conducive to great fuel economy no matter how hard you work it.
The next stage of the Efficiency Challenge leaves the city on the banks of the River Vltava heading southwards along the E 55 towards the border. While the numerous construction zones, diversions and small towns along the way present a problem to “hypermilers” (and Yes, Audi actually used the term Hypermiler :)), they are nevertheless part of everyday driving from A to B.
The beautiful scenery of the Austrian Waldviertel has a soothing effect as the road passes the picturesque towns of Zwettl and Krems an der Donau. In Krems, the route turns westward, towards the Wachau valley, Austria’s fine wine region. The river landscape, framed by rocky outcrops and castles, is around 18 miles long and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Going from A to B here is always beautiful. The floodplains of the River Danube provide a habitat for storks, while weathered loam earth provides the base for excellent wines such as Grüne Veltliner and an elegant Riesling. The ups and downs of the small country roads, the vineyard tractors, the little villages – all part of regular traffic, handled very efficiently by Challenge participants. In Joching, an area of Weißenkirchen, the Holzapfel Vineyard provides a welcome lunch stop.
The journey continues on the E 60 towards Salzburg. With its gorgeous location on both banks of the River Salzach, Mozart, the Salzburg Festival, the Cathedral, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the baroque old town – the city of 150,000 is yet another pearl on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Once in Salzburg, the Efficiency Challenge heads for the Alps on country roads and, via St. Johann in Tirol, the end of this stage in Kitzbuehel. The town has a big tradition as a first-class winter sports resort – Kitzbuehel has over 56 cable car and chairlift installations covering 104 miles, while the Hahnenkamm ski race attracts up to 100,000 visitors. The destination for Challenge participants the Grand spa Resort A-Rosa, the end point of a long day.
This is #11 of the series.
#1: Audi has another fuel economy challenge in the works... (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25158)
#2: The Audi Efficiency Challenge has begun! (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25205)
#3: Audi FE_Challenge Day 1 - A3 TDI’s average 67_mpg in cold, wet and windy conditions. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=234132)
#4: Audi_FE Challenge Day 2 - The A3 TDI’s Fuel Economy improves. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25264)
#5: Audi FE_Challenge Day 3 - The A3 1.6L TDI reaches 3.0L/100 km (78.4 mpgUS) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=234508#post234508)!
#6: Audi Efficiency Challenge A to B: Demonstrating outstanding efficiency (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25306)
#7: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 4 - An A3 TDI pulls into Oslo at a respectable 73.5 mpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25316)
#8: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 5 - Where country meets city (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25343)
#9: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 6 – Berlin (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25362)
#10: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 7 – Prague (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25395)
Audi FE Challenge A to B – Day #8
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Day_8_Collage_1.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Day_8_Collage_2.jpg
Wednesday will be another day filled with miles and miles of impressive sights. The final one-day leg winds for 345 miles from Austria, through Switzerland to Italy – from Kitzbuehel to the final destination, Bée! And with a fall out of the mountains, tomorrow should see the biggest numbers of the entire 9-Day tour!
http://www.youtube.com/v/dsrHJ-ICMkI&hl=en&fs=1Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) - Sept. 30, 2009
Tuesday brought the Audi Efficiency Challenge group closer to the final destination, Bée, Italy.Yesterdays segment from Prague to the Alps was 377 miles. Through the Waldviertel forest, the tour rolled into Austria, where it passes through some of the most stunning parts of the country. Austria is something to be experienced up close in the wine-growing region of Wachau on both sides of the River Danube and in Salzburg. During the afternoon, the Efficiency Challenge reaches the Hochalpen (High Alps), where the group holds up for the night in the glamorous town of Kitzbuehel. Today’s route includes the climbs which is not conducive to high fuel economy yet the results were still impressive.
From the very first few feet, Tuesday’s drive was not shaping up well to begin an efficiency challenge segment as slow-moving traffic throughout Prague hampered everyone. The worldwide standard, uncoordinated traffic light sequencing quickly becomes a nightmare while Audi’s equipped Start/Stop saves the few drivers with its inclusion. And those without were surely shutting down at every opportunity... Or at least we hope so ;) In any case, the morning rush out of a major city is not conducive to great fuel economy no matter how hard you work it.
The next stage of the Efficiency Challenge leaves the city on the banks of the River Vltava heading southwards along the E 55 towards the border. While the numerous construction zones, diversions and small towns along the way present a problem to “hypermilers” (and Yes, Audi actually used the term Hypermiler :)), they are nevertheless part of everyday driving from A to B.
The beautiful scenery of the Austrian Waldviertel has a soothing effect as the road passes the picturesque towns of Zwettl and Krems an der Donau. In Krems, the route turns westward, towards the Wachau valley, Austria’s fine wine region. The river landscape, framed by rocky outcrops and castles, is around 18 miles long and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Going from A to B here is always beautiful. The floodplains of the River Danube provide a habitat for storks, while weathered loam earth provides the base for excellent wines such as Grüne Veltliner and an elegant Riesling. The ups and downs of the small country roads, the vineyard tractors, the little villages – all part of regular traffic, handled very efficiently by Challenge participants. In Joching, an area of Weißenkirchen, the Holzapfel Vineyard provides a welcome lunch stop.
The journey continues on the E 60 towards Salzburg. With its gorgeous location on both banks of the River Salzach, Mozart, the Salzburg Festival, the Cathedral, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the baroque old town – the city of 150,000 is yet another pearl on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Once in Salzburg, the Efficiency Challenge heads for the Alps on country roads and, via St. Johann in Tirol, the end of this stage in Kitzbuehel. The town has a big tradition as a first-class winter sports resort – Kitzbuehel has over 56 cable car and chairlift installations covering 104 miles, while the Hahnenkamm ski race attracts up to 100,000 visitors. The destination for Challenge participants the Grand spa Resort A-Rosa, the end point of a long day.
This is #11 of the series.
#1: Audi has another fuel economy challenge in the works... (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25158)
#2: The Audi Efficiency Challenge has begun! (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25205)
#3: Audi FE_Challenge Day 1 - A3 TDI’s average 67_mpg in cold, wet and windy conditions. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=234132)
#4: Audi_FE Challenge Day 2 - The A3 TDI’s Fuel Economy improves. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25264)
#5: Audi FE_Challenge Day 3 - The A3 1.6L TDI reaches 3.0L/100 km (78.4 mpgUS) (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=234508#post234508)!
#6: Audi Efficiency Challenge A to B: Demonstrating outstanding efficiency (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25306)
#7: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 4 - An A3 TDI pulls into Oslo at a respectable 73.5 mpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25316)
#8: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 5 - Where country meets city (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25343)
#9: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 6 – Berlin (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25362)
#10: Audi Efficiency Challenge Day 7 – Prague (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25395)
Audi FE Challenge A to B – Day #8
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Day_8_Collage_1.jpg
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Day_8_Collage_2.jpg
Wednesday will be another day filled with miles and miles of impressive sights. The final one-day leg winds for 345 miles from Austria, through Switzerland to Italy – from Kitzbuehel to the final destination, Bée! And with a fall out of the mountains, tomorrow should see the biggest numbers of the entire 9-Day tour!