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.

Without a doubt Audi is one of the most innovative auto makers in the world, with highly efficient, clean, diesel engines, The Audi Quattro four-wheel-drive 7 speed S-tronic transmission, just to name a few. But it is not just under the hood that Audi innovates, hence the creation of the Avant concept and recently, the Sportback concept already seen on the Audi A3 and Audi A5.

The Audi A3 Sportback has been on sale for a while now and the Audi A5 Sportback is due to hit Audi dealerships in September, but sales have already begun, for Audi contract hire and Audi Leasing options contact Audi Nationwide.

The Audi A5 Sportback joins the Coupé and Cabriolets models to complete the Audi A5 family, for now. Could we see an Audi A5 Avant in years to come? I believe that is a question not even Audi has an answer too.

So for now, let’s have a closer look of what the Audi A5 Sportback has to offer. First, all six engines are highly efficient direct injection and are equipped with Audi’s exclusive energy recuperation system, this combination helps all 6 engines comply with the Euro 5 emissions standards which could save you money with your company car tax. Out of the 6 engines available, only the 2.0 TDI and the 2.0 FSI come with Audi Start/Stop technology.

As mentioned above, the Audi A5 Sportback reinforces Audi’s leadership in innovative automotive design. With a combination of elegance with flowing stretched lines and progressive styling the A5 Sportback impose a powerful figure on the road.

Fourtitude describes the Audi A5 Sportback with perfection:

“A five-door model with the long, flowing rear end unites the best of various vehicle genres: the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon.”

Audi has just released details of the brand new Audi A5 Sportback.

The model is based on the A5 coupe, but has a more practical five-door body. Audi says it’s ‘as emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a sedan and as practical as an Avant’.

It has a coupe-style roofline and rear end design, but Audi promises a 480-litre boot and 980 litres of load space with the rear seats folded, according to What Car?

Despite a lower height than the A4 saloon, Audi says the A5 Sportback has comparable head- and legroom.

Five engines will be on offer from launch: 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6 petrols and 2.0 TDI, 2.7 TDI and 3.0 V6 TDI diesels.

The 3.2 and 3.0 TDI V6s both come with four-wheel drive and the 2.0 TDI has a stop-start system to save fuel.

A further entry-level model will follow in 2010.

The new 5-door coupe will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show and be available from September 2009.

For a full specification on all of our Audi A5’s available at Audi Nationwide please click visit our product page.