Audi outback challenge

Audi is helping to put the South Australian Outback on the international map and deliver some economic benefits for our remote towns, by taking its across-Australia odyssey to international motoring journalists this month.

Known as the Audi Trans-Continental Crossing, this three-week journey sees 17 Audi Q7 and A6 Allroad Quattro vehicles undertake an extraordinary east-to-west coast crossing of the continent.

Now in its second year, the Audi Trans-Continental Crossing plays host to around 100 international media groups and VIP guests from eight nations, including Germany, France,  America, Japan and Korea.

Departing from Sydney, the 7500km journey is being undertaken in five stages, concluding in Broome, and will travel via Broken Hill, Birdsville, Coober Pedy, Uluru, the Kimberleys and then on to Broome.

As the creator of quattro, one of the foremost all-wheel-drive systems in the world, the Audi Q7 SUV and Audi A6 Allroad Quattro vehicles are ideal for the journey, which will showcase the tremendous performance capabilities of Audi's leading Torsen differential system.

The company has also flown two of its new Q7 4.2 TDI vehicles to Australia for the event, ahead of the local market launch in November.

Traversing famous outback tracks, including the Birdsville, Oodnadatta and Tanami, and the Mereenie Loop, the Trans-Continental Crossing takes in a mix of legendary routes, iconic stopovers, such Birdsville, Innamincka and Emma Gorge, inspiring natural formations, including Big Red, Simpsons Gorge, Uluru and Kings Canyon, and numerous Aussie characters, as well as outback luxury and bush camping.

Conceived in 2006 on a flight to Germany, Audi Australia's managing director, Joerg Hofmann, says the idea came to him from a book he was reading at the time about the Outback while flying for hours over the continent. Hofmann believes that Audi's Trans-Continental Crossing is the ideal way to showcase the capabilities of the brand, and the extraordinary beauty and vastness of Australia.

“Most people find it hard to comprehend quite how large and empty the Australian continent is, especially if you have never experienced it for yourself,” Hofmann says. “With our Q7 performance SUV, we are able to enjoy the country in a way that is truly Audi, making the most of its strong combination of sportiness, luxury and endurance.

“To bring international guests to a country like Australia, with its wide open spaces and harsh climate, we were able to create an unbeatable experience to demonstrate just how capable our vehicles are across this huge continent on a trip of a lifetime.”