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Given the Fuel Economy achieved so far, they could afford to lose a little at the slots :) (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=158081)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Audi_Q7_s_on_the_way_to_Mammoth_Lake.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (CleanMPG.com) – Oct. 18 2008

Group of 2009 Q7’s leaving Death Valley, CA.

With the third stage of the Audi Mileage Marathon now complete, the 23 Audi’s reached Vegas readying for the fourth and final leg heading into CA.

The soon to be available Audi A4 with its 3.0L TDI is not just a midsized sedan but a fuel efficient sports car that has proven its worth with a best segment achieved to date of 44.4 mpgUS.

The Audi A4 TDI does not just include a modern diesel engine but carries a whole host of new to Audi, technology meant to stretch the fuel economy envelope of this luxury car far beyond what some may have first imagined. This new Hardware includes a regenerative braking system, a controlled A/C cooling circuit and an on-demand power steering pump.

Weather and terrain has hampered the third legs Fuel Economy somewhat as the Audi’s crossed the Rockies to a maximum elevation of 10,200 feet. Once clear of the Rockies, the pack took a detour through Utah’s Monument Valley and into Las Vegas.

The seven-seat Audi Q7 equipped with the 3.0L TDI is averaging > 29 mpgUS. The Audi Q5 Cross-over with the same 3.0 TDI’s best segment is still 37.9 mpgUS while the compact Audi A3 2.0 TDI's best fuel economy to date is above 47 mpgUS.

The fourth and final stage of the Mileage Marathon takes the cars through Death Valley to California. They will reach their destination in Santa Monica, near Los Angeles, on Sunday.

As of this evening, they are bedded down in Monterey, CA.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_in_Death_Valley.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Q7_at_Mammoth_Lake.jpg
Q7 driving through Death Valley, CA.------------------------------------Q7 parked at Mammoth Lake, CA.

Previous coverage of the Audi Mileage Marathon results from the launch in NY City to the last update as entourage neared Denver can be read in the following:
VW’s busy with Fuel Economy marathons as of late (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15705)
Audi’s diesel mileage marathon is finally underway (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16512)
Audi Mileage Marathon continues… (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16680)

Great stuff, although IMO it does show that the newest TDIs are overpowered and use more fuel than they should for the size of car they're put in. The A4's best segment is 44.4mpg? The A4 is basically a Jetta, and our similarly sized TDI averages better than that on the highway. On biodiesel no less, a decision which alone costs about 4mpg.

I don't mean to be critical. More TDIs is a good thing (and I'm bummed Honda appears to be scaling back its own diesel plans). Just reflecting on how much more should be possible.

Those are brand new vehicles, correct? My TDI's took a LONG time to break-in and achieve maximum MPG, ~60,000 miles.


http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=48940&highlight=drivbiwire+breakin

I've never owned a diesel before, but I will purchase my first if Honda ever brings the diesel civic (or even the impreza diesel). But since they both seem unlikely, guess I'll stick to the hyrbrid as the next purchase.