The order includes 44 Leopard 2 A8 tanks and upgrades for 66 existing tanks. "This is an absolutely necessary investment," Swedish Defense Minister Pal Johnson said to public broadcaster SVT.

Under normal conditions, Audi says, the A8 will get about 17.5 mpg (U.S.). In order to make the trip on a single tank Clarkson would have to average about 33.6 mpg for the 800 mile journey.