Automotive

Audi A6 TDI Ultra driven through 14 countries without stopping for fuel

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Andrew Frankel and Rebecca Jackson set off from Maastricht at 9:48 am (GMT) on Tuesday, June 9, and finished at 12:44 pm (GMT) the following day in Hungary
Between the Netherlands and Hungary, Frankel and Jackson traveled through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia
Andrew Frankel and Rebecca Jackson set off from Maastricht at 9:48 am (GMT) on Tuesday, June 9, and finished at 12:44 pm (GMT) the following day in Hungary
The Audi A6 ultra dashboard at journey's end
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The RAC and Audi have set a new Guinness World Record for the most countries driven through on a single tank of fuel. After setting off from Maastricht in the Netherlands, an unmodified Audi A6 TDI Ultra was driven through 14 countries in a journey that clocked up 1,158.9 miles (1,865.1 km) and took nearly 28 hours.

The drivers for the record attempt, motoring journalist Andrew Frankel and racing driver Rebecca Jackson, left Maastricht at at 9:48 am (GMT) on Tuesday, June 9, and finally came to a standstill at 12:44 pm (GMT) yesterday in Hungary.

Frankel and Jackson traveled through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia. The route had been planned by the RAC to avoid built-up and congested areas and mountains. There were diversions along the way, however, due to heavy traffic and a closed tunnel, resulting in an unplanned mountain detour.

The Audi A6 ultra dashboard at journey's end

"The last few miles of the record attempt were nail-biting as the A6 Ultra’s computer was reading 'zero miles' with 16 miles (26 km) to go to reach Hungary to make it 14 countries," explains trip coordinator Simon Williams.

Nonetheless, the A6 TDI Ultra made it through using a mix of technological efficiency, prudent driving and careful route-planning. Low rolling resistance tires contributed to the success, as did ensuring optimal tire pressures during driver changes.

Source: RAC, Record Road Trip

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6 comments
liui
Unfortunately no news about Audi introducing this model in the U.S.
KobusConradie
Average speed, max speed, average fuel consumption? This article dosen't say much, my 2005 Touran 1.9Tdi will do 1500km+ on a brimmed, full tank, averaging 100km/h, with Climate control running in summer and loaded for a 2 week holiday..
Thane36425
That was one of the more annoying aspects of "Top Gear." The supercars were nice and all, but really annoyed me was all the really good cars for average folks, the ones that were safe, had good rides and great fuel mileage, that aren't for sale in the US.
Stephen N Russell
Now do same test X the US, then more PR for Audi
Ranscapture
Unfortunately euro mpg is 30% higher than US so it's not that incredible.
aviator97
Kobus Conradie the average mpg was 75.9 with a average of 45 mph. It is clearly visible in the photo of the dash board.