Audi Successful At Michelin Challenge Bibendum

ZETLAND, AUSTRALIA – Jun 3, 2010: Audi has made a successful start to the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2010.

Right at the start of this forum for sustainable mobility in Rio de Janeiro, the brand recorded two victories. Audi is very proud of these two main prizes – overall victory in the rally with the lightweight A5, and the design award for the Audi e-tron electric sports car.

The standard version of the A3 1.6 TDI, the brand’s third model in the Challenge Bibendum, also put in an outstanding performance.

Audi interprets these successes as confirmation of its strategy for the future shape of mobility.

Audi’s lightweight A5 clinched overall victory in the eco rally over a distance of 350 kilometres. The race, involving a field of around 80 participating vehicles, is the showcase competition of the Michelin Challenge Bibendum and formed the first highlight of the five-day forum.

The prototype was also in the leading group in the individual categories CO2 emissions, overall emissions, efficiency, acceleration and handling. Thanks to its mainly aluminum body, the lightweight A5 weighs just 1,310 kilograms. Its 2.0 TFSI engine developing 132 kW is also designed to run on bioethanol, which is very popular in South America.

The Audi e-tron, the second vehicle entered in the competition by Audi, won the design award. The electrically-powered high-performance sports car, which immediately became the star of the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, proved its efficiency and took one of the top places in each of the categories CO2 emissions and overall emissions.

With 230 kW from its four electric motors, the e-tron is an ultra-dynamic Audi. Its lithium-ion battery makes 42.4 kWh of usable energy available – enough for an operating range of about 248 km.

Finally, the standard Audi A3 1.6 TDI developing 77 kW, the brand’s third candidate, was also very successful. It was consistently among the best entrants in the four criteria CO2 emissions, overall emissions, noise and handling.

The Michelin Challenge Bibendum was first held in 1998, since when it has become established as one of the world’s most important forums in the domain of sustainable mobility. Audi already emerged as overall winner on one previous occasion, in 2007, when the competition was held in Shanghai.

This year the Challenge made its first visit to South America. Some 5,000 participants from 80 countries have traveled to Rio de Janeiro. The central focus of the event is formed by the test drives involving around 150 eco models. These are accompanied by round table meetings, themed discussions and a major exhibition.