Today marks the start of the 2008 Audi Mileage Marathon, a cross-country drive featuring the latest clean diesel offerings from Audi, including the U.S.-bound Q7 3.0 TDI set to hit dealerships next year. This drive will cover more than 4800 miles between October 6th and 20th and twenty-three Audi TDI vehicles will participate in the rally.

Other vehicles included in the Mileage Marathon are the new Q5 3.0 TDI, A4 3.0 TDI, and A3 2.0 TDI Sportback. While it's not confirmed if any of these models will be making their way to the States, we're looking forward to experiencing the performance and fuel efficiency that these TDI cars offer.

The NextAutos team will be jumping on board the Mileage Marathon later this week. We'll be posting pictures and impressions live from the road, so stay tuned for further updates. In the meantime, click through the post to read Audi's official press release -- and check the list of towns we'll be stopping through, as well.

… AND THEY’RE OFF!
AUDI’S CLEAN DIESEL VEHICLES BEGIN U.S. BARNSTORM

Top U.S. executive kicks off cross-country drive of Audi TDI vehicles
The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, a clean diesel SUV, hits American roads
Coast-to-coast rally to show TDI answers today’s energy challenges

New York, NY – Nearly two dozen Audi clean diesel vehicles began a coast-to-coast rally today, giving America its first glimpse of Audi’s landmark TDI technology. With sealed tanks filled with diesel fuel, the revolutionary vehicles pulled away from restaurant Tavern on the Green in New York City, kicking off the first leg of the real-world driving test, dubbed the Audi Mileage Marathon.

Marking the first U.S. test of the forthcoming Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, the Marathon will cover more than 4,800 miles from October 6-20 to showcase the efficiency, ultra-low emissions, and performance of Audi’s TDI clean diesel engines. Audi enlisted its top U.S. executive to lead the two-week drive, which will conclude in Los Angeles. The vehicles are scheduled to make their first pit stop tonight in Washington, DC.

Audi of America chief Johan de Nysschen will lead the rally of 23 Audi TDI vehicles along America’s city streets and highways to illustrate how Audi’s clean diesel technology answers concerns about fuel prices, energy dependence and global warming.

“The Mileage Marathon truly is where the rubber meets the road and driving Audi’s TDI vehicles across the country is the perfect way to show the amazing improvements we have made with clean diesel.” said de Nysschen, Audi of America's executive vice president.

Spotlight on the Audi Q7 TDI
The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI doesn’t just recast diesel for an American audience, it also represents the ultimate progress in SUV engineering.

“The Audi Q7 TDI makes driving a luxury SUV socially acceptable again because of its notable fuel efficiency and ultra-low emissions,” said de Nysschen. “The Q7 TDI will be one of America’s first clean, highly efficient, 7-passenger SUVs, providing a luxury option for U.S. drivers who are conscious of the environment and fuel economy.”

The Mileage Marathon’s TDI fleet will recast outdated perceptions of diesel vehicles. Gone are the days of loud, smoky, under-performing diesel engines. Due to its EPA estimated 25 miles per gallon on the highway, the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI offers highway driving range of more than 600 miles, far more than a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle. It also provides 406 lb-ft of torque, more than most exotic sports cars.

Audi TDI
By reducing up to 90 percent of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) from a vehicle’s emissions, the Audi TDI exhaust purifying system complies with the world’s most demanding emissions law – California’s LEV II Bin 5. The TDI system also meets the upcoming Euro 6 norm limits planned for implementation in 2014. Compared with the fleet average of gasoline engines typically found in the U.S., the TDI achieves a fuel-efficiency advantage of up to 40 percent. This means that today’s diesel technology is designed for tomorrow’s challenges and can make a greater contribution to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels than any other type of engine.

Just the Facts
Audi has now sold more than 4.5 million cars with TDI engines.
Audi’s first American TDI diesel introduction under the new 2008 emissions guidelines will be the company’s luxury Audi Q7 3.0 TDI sport-utility vehicle.
The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI sets a new standard for acceleration and power with 221 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, while seating seven.
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI is designed to meet emissions regulations for all 50 U.S. states.
Diesel vehicles typically get 20-40 percent more miles to the gallon than gasoline vehicles.

Efficient and Low-Emission System
Perfecting the TDI is just one part of Audi’s integrated technology strategy to further reduce CO2 and the emission of pollutants in all models. Audi has built this strategy on its state-of-the-art combustion engines and on the components of its modular efficiency system, including direct injection and turbocharging, the TFSI gasoline engines and TDI diesel engines. Audi’s powerplants provide convincing performance with comparatively low consumption now, while their innovative technologies form a solid basis for significant fuel consumption reductions in coming years.

The TDI Traveling Fleet
Along with the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI, the brand new Audi Q5 3.0 TDI debuts in the Mileage Marathon. The Audi A4, the sportiest sedan in its class, appears with the 3.0 TDI engine. The Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI – equipped with the innovative and efficient S tronic transmission – adds yet another highlight to the Mileage Marathon’s efficiency story.

The cars will be monitored during each leg of the journey and evaluated by speed, distance and fuel economy. Adding to the fuel-efficiency equation, each Audi vehicle on the Mileage Marathon is equipped with Michelin Green X® energy saving tires as standard equipment. Michelin tires carrying the Green X sidewall designation – including the Latitude® Tour HP and Primacy™ HP featured on the marathon – guarantees a level of energy efficiency among the highest in the market and reduced CO2 emission while maintaining all the advantages of long wear, safety, and other performances.

The Mileage Marathon is working with four sponsors throughout the program. The fuel sponsor for the drive is Shell, a global leader in diesel technology and technical collaborator to Audi. The marathon is fueled with ultra-low sulfur diesel and participants will refuel at Shell-branded stations along the route. However, two vehicles kicked-off the marathon fueled with Shell GTL, a synthetic fuel made from natural gas and one of the components of Shell V-Power Diesel race fuel, which fuels Audi in the Le Mans series.
The two vehicles will test this revolutionary gas to liquid technology, which is synthesized from natural gas and has outstanding cetane quality and exceptional purity to burn more clearly and efficiently than conventional diesel. Additionally, Michelin is supplying all of the tires and will provide Michelin Maps & Guides Products as in-car and online reference sources for the event. The European clothing company Belstaff is sponsoring the staff clothing. Lastly, Sirius Satellite Radio is a sponsor and Audi installs Sirius exclusively in all of its vehicles sold in the United States.

Coming to a City Near You
The route of the Mileage Marathon leads across America from New York to Los Angeles, passing major cities like Chicago, Dallas and Las Vegas as well as vistas, including the Rocky Mountains, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon.

The route includes a realistic mix of city driving and rural driving on urban streets, interstate highways and country roads. In this environment and under conditions that mirror everyday driving, the TDI will be able to clearly show off its superiority over every other efficiency technology.

Driving enthusiasts are welcome to follow Audi’s Mileage Marathon online by visiting www.audimileagemarathon.com <http://www.audimileagemarathon.com> and media can find more information at www.audiusanews.com <http://www.audiusanews.com> .

Mileage Marathon Cities & Dates:
New York, New York: October 6 Start
Washington, D.C.: October 6 - 7
Cleveland, Ohio: October 7 - 8
Chicago, Illinois: October 8 - 9
Memphis, Tennessee: October 9 - 10
Dallas, Texas: October 10 - 11
Amarillo, Texas: October 11 - 12
Denver, Colorado: October 12 - 13
Durango, , Colorado: October 13 - 14
Sedona, Arizona: October 14 - 15
Las Vegas, Nevada: October 15 - 16
Mammoth Lakes, California: October 16 - 17
Monterey, California: October 17 - 19
Los Angeles, California: October 19 - 20