2008 L.A. Auto Show: Audi: Still Not a Failure

Audi, which presumably didn't have any crucial product news to discuss today, proudly announced that despite the current state of the world economy, its global sales were up 7 percent in October and that November is looking promising. In fact, the company says it will sell 1 million cars this year. Nothing like a little corporate back patting at an event where many companies are lucky to even attend.

Presenters went on to tout the benefits of Audi's clean diesel engines and its commitment to using this technology in lieu of electric or hybrid-powered cars and trucks. We also heard all about the Audi Mileage Marathon in which journalists drove a fleet of TDI-powered cars and SUVs from New York to Los Angeles in a grossly consumptive effort to promote diesel power.

Audi claims its diesel engines, as a whole, consume 30 percent less fuel than gasoline engines of equal power. This claim is supported by the fact that on the Mileage Marathon the Audi Q7 TDI produced an impressive 33.1 mile per gallon peak.

Diesels might not be as popular with the green crowd as hybrids and electrics, but there are two simple, undeniable facts about diesel fuel which can't be ignored: (1) It doesn't pass the power-producing buck down to coal or nuclear power and (2) the infrastructure to deliver the fuel already exists.

Josh Jacquot, Senior Road Test Editor