Not the sort of scenery you usually get when driving your 59-plate Golf TDI... Chris Chilton's Bluemotion Golf was shipped from the UK especially for CAR Magazine's feature in the new March 2011 issue - where we crossed America to hunt down an audience with outgoing California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

 
A sight VW hopes will become more common in America: Golf TDI cruises across the country.

 
Golf makes an appearance in New Orleans in our 10-page drive story. Louisiana residents mistake our man for a college kid in his little VW 'Rabbit'.

 
The Chiltonator continues his charge across America. 

Leaving the weight-training a little late if you want to impress Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris.

 
When Arnie raided the gun shop in Commando, he didn't need to deal with blister-packaging...

Chris finds inspiration amongst the men's fitness mags. Although he's more of a Men's Health 'killer abs in just minutes a day' reader usually. 

Audition for the next series of CSI: Miami not going well.

The UK suburban family car of choice looks a bit lost in the backstreets of Miami.

Golf TDI says: 'If my owners can have tropical package holidays, why can't I?'

 
Golf TDI flashes its eco-credentials. US gas-pump unimpressed. Chris actually struggled to find diesel in many gas stations in the US.

Uncle Sam remains unmoved by show of British muscle. Chilton not shy of making fool of himself to fuel the Schwarzenegger theme of his story.

Redonkulous - a Chevrolet Monte Carlo in 'hi-riser' custom spec. Yes, people do that to their cars on purpose.

Golf TDI driver needs more firepower if he's going to impress his '80s action hero.

A different kind of Blue motion. 

Behold the cheapness...smaller gallons than the UK, mind. CAR's publisher ponders moving editorial team to the US to cut our fuel bills.

 
Don't make him angry...you wouldn't like him when he's angry

Chilton really is Schwarzenegger's No.1 fan... don't share a room with him at press events, it might get rough. Photographer ended up sleeping on the floor to make space for Arnie.

You have to have at least one epic sunset on a road trip, and this was ours.

Passing through so many cities on our cross-the-USA jaunt it's all a bit of a blur.

 
Newly delivered white goods at the general store.

 
Photographer Greg Pajo was very pleased with this shot until he realised the Chiltonator wasn't stopping to pick him up afterwards.

Golf TDI's audition for remake of Duel off to a flying start.

They always come out of the sun, don't they?

Bluemotion TDI tech should appeal to the eco-conscious hipsters of Austin - perhaps the most un-Texan city in Texas, and the state capital.

 
Golf goes into the desert to find itself on gap-year holiday to America. Looks small in America, doesn't it?

 
COME WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE. What, in a Golf!?

 
It's a homage to Arnie and rave culture - with a flouro AK-47.

 
Just be glad we didn't publish the Conan the Barbarian homage shot where our man strips down to fur underpants. Seriously.

 
Diesel power puts the Golf in some rather rough company in America.

 
'For a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself....'  Classic Radiohead video remake did stop before setting fire to the car, though. 

Are we there yet... are we there yet... are we there yet...

Potential winner in the VW Press Office 'Make the Golf TDI look cool' competition.

It's not a Schwarzenegger film, but Chilton tries to hit 88mph for a bit of time-travelling anyway.

 
No, Arnie wasn't in The Crow, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, Bird on a Wire or To Kill a Mockingbird.

  Attacking the freeway system... in a Golf.

 
Smog? Must be in Los Angeles then.