Record Setting A6 Ultra

Last week we told you about how Audi and RAC were teaming up to attempt a world record. The record was to drive through the most European countries on a single tank of fuel. To give themselves a good chance at success they decided to use an Audi A6 Ultra.

If successful they had planned to go over 1,000 miles and visit over 10 countries. Driving style was key in the nearly stock diesel powered sedan. The only changes were low resistance tires and a larger 73 liter tank (19.28 gallons).

To find out how they did in setting the record click past the jump (or scroll down if you came directly to the full article.

So, just how far did the team manage? They dove through 14 countries (15 if you include their starting point) and 1,158.9 miles. In the trip the average gas mileage was an impressive 75.9 mpg.

At the wheel were automotive journalist Andrew Frankel and race car driver Rebecca Jackson. To get the world record they drove the A6 Ultra almost non-stop for nearly 28 hours. They started in the Netherlands and then went to Hungary, passing through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia.

Andrew Frankel said: “I’m delighted to be part of the team that has set this record and would like to think it will stand for some time as we eeked out every last mile from the A6’s tank. From an endurance point of view the challenge actually proved to be far harder than both Rebecca and I imagined it would be.”

“Despite sharing the driving we were on the road almost continuously for 25 hours, focussed on maintaining an average speed of around 50mph. In order to do this you have to be fully aware of what’s going on around you and anticipate what could happen with the traffic ahead. While it was normal driving in one sense, it was also a very different type of driving, but nevertheless demanding.”

Racing driver Rebecca Jackson added: “I feel Andrew and I have helped the RAC and Audi set a record to be proud of. I’m known for driving pretty fast, but this challenge was naturally more about maintaining a constant, fuel-efficient speed and not being caught out by vehicles which would cause us to slow down and then accelerate to the optimum speed again. This was an amazing event and a very different long-distance driving challenge to what I’m doing next year when I compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2016.”

We congratulate Audi and RAC for making it into the Guinness Book of World Records. Now hearing that an Audi A6 Ultra can get just a little less than 80 mpg, with careful driving, I wonder if any Prius owners are thinking they could have a better car and still feel like they are saving the planet.

Source: RAC European Breakdown