Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 31

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M Minus 20, minus 30 – inus 20, minus 30 –
how cold is it?” asks how cold is it?” asks
Johan Ernst Nilson Johan Ernst Nilson
and pulls his hat off . and pulls his hat off .
His blond hair falls down over his sun-His blond hair falls down over his sun-
browned forehead. “Very nice here,” browned forehead. “Very nice here,”
he says, walking through the cold he says, walking through the cold
chamber in the Audi Wind Tunnel Center chamber in the Audi Wind Tunnel Center
in Ingolstadt. A thin sheet of ice has in Ingolstadt. A thin sheet of ice has
already formed on its steel walls, and already formed on its steel walls, and
the Swede has already been enjoying the the Swede has already been enjoying the
deep freeze for half an hour. Normally, deep freeze for half an hour. Normally,
it is car models that are tested here for it is car models that are tested here for
their winter resistance properties. In-their winter resistance properties. In-
stead, a tent has been put up in the mid-stead, a tent has been put up in the mid-
dle of the chamber. Nilson brushes ice dle of the chamber. Nilson brushes ice
from the tent and rubs it into the bristle from the tent and rubs it into the bristle
on his chin. Freezing? Certainly not! The on his chin. Freezing? Certainly not! The
fact that in a few weeks’ time it will be fact that in a few weeks’ time it will be
a whole lot colder – round the clock and a whole lot colder – round the clock and
for weeks on end – evidently warms the for weeks on end – evidently warms the
heart of the man from Stockholm.heart of the man from Stockholm.
Johan Ernst Nilson, 40, is by profes-Johan Ernst Nilson, 40, is by profes-
sion an adventurer and explorer. One sion an adventurer and explorer. One
morning fi nds him speaking to busi-morning fi nds him speaking to busi-
nessmen in Gothenburg about his polar nessmen in Gothenburg about his polar
expeditions, and the same evening he expeditions, and the same evening he
is heading for Tanzania to guide a group is heading for Tanzania to guide a group
of managers to the top of Kilimanjaro. of managers to the top of Kilimanjaro.
Just another regular working day in Just another regular working day in
Nilson’s life.Nilson’s life.
Over the last 17 years Nilson has been Over the last 17 years Nilson has been
on expeditions to more than 100 diff er-on expeditions to more than 100 diff er-
ent countries. He has climbed Everest ent countries. He has climbed Everest
and some of the world’s other highest and some of the world’s other highest
peaks, has crossed the Atlantic on a peaks, has crossed the Atlantic on a
jet ski and traveled by fl ying boat from jet ski and traveled by fl ying boat from
his home town of Stockholm to Africa. his home town of Stockholm to Africa.
But that’s another story.But that’s another story.
On this particular winter’s day, Nilson On this particular winter’s day, Nilson
is visiting the Audi plant to use the cold is visiting the Audi plant to use the cold
chamber to help prepare for what is chamber to help prepare for what is
probably his biggest expedition yet. A probably his biggest expedition yet. A
trip that will take a year. He wants to trip that will take a year. He wants to
travel from one extreme to another – travel from one extreme to another –
from the North Pole to the South Pole.from the North Pole to the South Pole.
On foot, on skis, by bicycle, pulled by On foot, on skis, by bicycle, pulled by
a kite and with a sailing ship. He will be a kite and with a sailing ship. He will be
accompanied on terra fi rma by an Audi accompanied on terra fi rma by an Audi
support vehicle. The car will contain the support vehicle. The car will contain the
camera team and journalists covering camera team and journalists covering
his odyssey.his odyssey.
It is not easy nowadays for an ad-It is not easy nowadays for an ad-
venturer to tread virgin territory. After venturer to tread virgin territory. After
all, there are hardly any adventures all, there are hardly any adventures
left that no-one has ever experienced. left that no-one has ever experienced.
All mountains have been climbed, all All mountains have been climbed, all
deserts crossed, all climatic extremes deserts crossed, all climatic extremes
explored. What makes Nilson’s missions explored. What makes Nilson’s missions
unique is the combination of challenges unique is the combination of challenges
he tackles. For example, he did not he tackles. For example, he did not
simply climb to the top of one of the simply climb to the top of one of the
8,000-meter-plus peaks, he opted to 8,000-meter-plus peaks, he opted to
scale the heights of the highest moun-scale the heights of the highest moun-
tain on each continent, and called the tain on each continent, and called the
undertaking his “Seven Summits Tour.”undertaking his “Seven Summits Tour.”
And now the route is from Pole to And now the route is from Pole to
Pole. Probably one of the last great Pole. Probably one of the last great
adventures still possible on Earth today. adventures still possible on Earth today.
Nilson calls this trek of almost 30,000 Nilson calls this trek of almost 30,000
kilometers his “Pole2Pole” expedition. kilometers his “Pole2Pole” expedition.
Should he in fact reach the South Pole Should he in fact reach the South Pole
in the spring of 2012 he would in the spring of 2012 he would
be following in the footsteps of the be following in the footsteps of the
great explorers.great explorers.
And exactly that pioneering spirit is And exactly that pioneering spirit is
what he and Audi have in common. what he and Audi have in common.
The carmaker has always blazed new The carmaker has always blazed new
trails: systematic lightweight design, trails: systematic lightweight design,
quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the
TDI diesel engine, or – most recently –TDI diesel engine, or – most recently –
all-electric cars. Audi is supporting all-electric cars. Audi is supporting
Johan Ernst Nilson on his expedition: Johan Ernst Nilson on his expedition:
with ultramodern technology, materials, with ultramodern technology, materials,
logistics – and with the cold chamber in logistics – and with the cold chamber in
Ingolstadt. It is here that he tests all his Ingolstadt. It is here that he tests all his
equipment, including his tent, sleeping equipment, including his tent, sleeping
bag and clothing. This might sound like bag and clothing. This might sound like
a camping holiday, but out in the eternal a camping holiday, but out in the eternal
ice these items are the diff erence ice these items are the diff erence
between life and death. “Some tents between life and death. “Some tents
simply collapse when the mercury drops simply collapse when the mercury drops
to -40°C,” Nilson reports. The session in to -40°C,” Nilson reports. The session in
the cold chamber helps him decide the cold chamber helps him decide
which tent he should take with him from which tent he should take with him from
Pole to Pole. “A day here off ers me as Pole to Pole. “A day here off ers me as
many insights as a trip to the Arctic,” many insights as a trip to the Arctic,”
he declares.he declares.
It is there, or to be precise at the It is there, or to be precise at the
geographic North Pole, that Nilson’s geographic North Pole, that Nilson’s
adventure will start: on April 6, 2011. adventure will start: on April 6, 2011.
He chose the date carefully, as it is He chose the date carefully, as it is
the anniversary of what is said to be the anniversary of what is said to be
Nilson tested his equipment
in the Audi Wind Tunnel
Center (right). These
preparations could be the
diff erence between life and
death. Nowhere else in the
world is it as stormy as in
the Antarctic, with winds
gusting at up to 300 km/h.
Nilson is heading from Pole to
Pole. On foot. On skis. By bicycle.
Pulled by a kite.