When it comes to fuel efficiency, low CO2 emissions and high performance, Audi leads the way among the premium car manufacturers. To confirm the efficiency excellence of its models, Audi has put 20 models to the test in a long distance trip through Europe which the company named “Efficiency Challenge A to B”.

“Audi’s Efficiency Challenge A to B” will cover exact 4,182Km through Europe in 9 days, from A on the Lofoten archipelago in Norway to Bée on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy.

To prove that efficiency is a standard in every Audi, the company is not only putting to test its optimised fuel efficient models but also the top sporty models of each line, in total Audi has lined up five model series for this Efficiency Challenge.

The Efficiency challenge will also mark the day view for the ultra-efficient Audi A3 1.6 TDI with CO2 emissions of only 99g/Km who will be joined by other models including the more sportive S3 Sportback.

Other models taking part on “Audi’s Efficiency Challenge A to B” are the Audi A4 TDI e, the 333hp Audi S4, Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 TFSI, the Audi A5 Sportback 3.2 FSI. Representing the Audi Q7 family will be the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro and the more powerful Audi Q7 6.0 TDI quattro.

The TT range is also taking part on the Challenge with models like the Audi TT 2.0 TDI quattro and the top of the range Audi TT RS.

This Efficiency Challenge will also serve to highlight even further the effectiveness of Audi’s modular efficiency platform which brings together a broad portfolio of highly effective technologies.

The tour which already started the past Tuesday September 22nd has been broken down into three stages, each consisting of several days. The first runs from Å to Trondheim in southern Norway; the second to the German capital city of Berlin; and the third ends at the final destination on Wednesday September 30 at the town of Bée overlooking Lake Maggiore. The tour includes a wide range of roads and landscapes, taking participants along the coastal roads on the Lofoten islands and across Germany’s autobahns. The route encompasses impressive cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen and Prague as well as the towering mountains of the Alps.

We want to hear from you now. Which Audi model do you think will have the best fuel efficiency?

Leave your opinion in our comments section and make sure you don’t miss our follow up article with the challenge figures.

Social Media is an online phenomenon that can not be avoided anymore and an essential part of any successful online marketing campaign nowadays, be it for a small company or a huge corporation.

Audi is well aware of that and is it seems to be doing a pretty good job with its social media efforts, prove to that are the 300,000 fans on Audi’s Facebook fan page.

Such a powerful community can bring great ideas and enormous feedback, with that in mind Audi teamed with online video creation and advertising company, TurnHere, to create a video driven social media package profiling Audi’s participation in the “Youth Mobile 2030” design challenge.

Audi is asking its Facebook community to provide insight on the features and functionalities they’d like to see in the year 2030, and the videos are to serve as inspiration and encourage fans to participate in Team Audi’s effort.

For a full details on how to participate in this discussion read Audi Asking its Facebook Fans for Ideas or visit Audi Facebook Fan Page here.

Audi has done it again! Audi has raised the efficiency bar once again by increasing fuel economy and lowering CO2 emissions to impressive 99g/km for one of its most popular models, the Audi A3.

The soon to be released Audi A3 1.6 TDI will be powered by a four cylinder TDI engine capable of doing 74mpg while emitting only 99g/km of CO2, this puts the Audi A3 1.6 TDI in Band A of the new VED Rates to take place next year. For more information about Company car taxes visit: Company car tax.

As we all know Audi can improve fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emission without affecting the engine performance and the story remains the same with this four-cylinder TDI engine. With a max output of 105hp and a powerful 250 Nm of torque, the 3-Doors Audi A3 1.6 TDI sprints from 0-62 in 11.4 while the Sportback version reaches 64mph in 11.7.

The exemplary fuel efficiency of only 74mpg and the extremely low CO2 emissions are only possible thanks to Audi’s modular efficiency platform, features like the exclusive Start/Stop technology and the innovative energy-recovery system play an important role in improving the above figures.

The Audi A3 1.6 TDI will be released in two versions: 3-Doors and Sportback, both will have manual five-speed transmissions and a gear-change indicator to help drivers select the most appropriate gear; studies conducted by Audi reveal that 30 percent of fuel consumption depends on a given driver’s decisions and driving style.

Audi hasn’t released prices for the A3 1.6 TDI and the A3 Sportback 1.6 TDI, but we believe they will the similar to models already offering the same performance. Both models are expected to hit Audi Dealers around the UK in the first half of 2010.