With Phase One officially underway, the test drivers found themselves face-to-face with a sprawling lineup of sedans, SUVs, pickups, and more. Every kind of consumer vehicle eligible for the Ward's 10 Best Engines competition was present.
Except, of course, for exotic sports cars. That level of performance wasn't the point of this event.
As the draw began, each driver was randomly assigned a vehicle. Some lucked out with high-displacement machines. Others ended up with small engines requiring surgical precision. Roland was among the latter, handed a 2.4L naturally aspirated engine that was exceptionally well-tuned for a civilian setup.
"First, disable ESP," he instructed. "We're testing torque surge and top-end launch speed."
It was standard protocol. Every driver began with ESP off. In a test like this, your right foot, not stability software, was your control system.
The 2.4L hummed to life. Roland floored it. The noise profile remained tight and refined.
"Nice," he murmured. "Sound isolation's solid. Doesn't top the charts, but a 9 out of 10."
His co-driver nodded in readiness.
"This is a full-time AWD platform. Let's run launch control."
Roland switched the transmission to manual, locked in first gear, and slammed the accelerator while holding the brake.
The tach needle jumped: 3,000 rpm… 4,000… 5,000…
At 7,000 rpm—the redline—he released the brake.
The tires shrieked. Then came silence.
Then came violence.
The No. 15 vehicle shot forward like a missile. Roland grinned.
"400 Nm of torque—clean and aggressive. Whoever tuned this engine knew what they were doing. The 2.4L block and the AT gearbox are perfectly matched. Transmission efficiency has to be at least 95%."
He gave it a full score without hesitation: "Ten out of ten."
Back in the Ward's competition lounge, engineers from every major automaker watched the screen feeds anxiously. Evaluations were ongoing, but no results would be finalized until the whole 50-kilometer track, terrain, conditions, and free run included, was completed.
That would take hours.
Haifeng wasn't worried. Not even slightly. He had complete faith in what Tang San had built.
"If Tang San's powertrain doesn't win an award," he thought, "no one deserves to win."
It sounded arrogant, but it wasn't bluster. It was certain.
His confidence wasn't just technical. It was strategic. Winning at Ward's meant more than a trophy.
It meant legitimacy.
The prize package alone—20 billion yuan in interest-free loans over 20 years and 2 million square meters of industrial land—was enough to supercharge China Star's global ambitions.
More importantly, it was an opening salvo—a chance to plant the Audi brand in the minds of car lovers worldwide.
Haifeng had no intention of keeping Audi small. His goal was simple: crack the Western luxury market monopoly and open it up forcefully.
Once that was done? He'd expand outward—layer by layer—until Audi had enough momentum to stand alongside legacy giants like Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, and General Motors.
The mission was clear. The road was long.
But Haifeng didn't flinch.
"This is only the beginning."
Around him, the other engineers chatted and smiled, but underneath, they were on edge. Their bonuses—and their reputations—were riding on test scores.
Meanwhile, Ward's had laid out a full spread in the lounge: wine, fresh juices, grilled steaks—all complimentary.
Haifeng hadn't eaten since breakfast. Neither had most of the Audi team.
"Don't just stare," he said to his crew. "It's going to be a few hours. Go eat something."
He, Tang San, and Xu Zhilin ordered three steaks and sat down.
That's when Junko Toyota appeared.
Uninvited, but perfectly timed.
She sat down beside Haifeng as if they were old friends.
"Mr. Lu, do you mind if I join you?"
She asked it sweetly, with a playful tilt that turned heads across the room. Even single staffers from Audi couldn't help glancing over.
There was no denying it—Junko was the textbook definition of dangerous charm: wealthy, brilliant, beautiful, and ruthlessly strategic. She knew exactly how to wield her advantages.
Xu Zhilin[1] frowned from across the table.
'This woman… is she seriously eyeing Haifeng? With her looks and background, any young man would have difficulty resisting. I need to get Xiaoxin back to China—fast.'
His expression said everything.
The game wasn't just on the track anymore.
[1] anyone know who this is??