Audi has a brand-new A4 for 2009, and the automaker has big plans in store of the new model's efficiency. Being shown as we speak in Paris is the A4 TDI concept e, which uses a 120-horsepower TDI engine from the VW parts bin that's been tweaked with light-pressure valve springs, a revised cooling system and the lack of a power steering pump, which is now electric. While slowing, brake energy is recaptured and stored in a secondary battery that powers the car's systems while the engine is shut down, which will be much more often due to the stop/start system that has also been added. Aero-tweaks including an underbody pan and low rolling resistance tires round out the mods. Desipte the slow 10.5-second run to sixty, the powertrain combination really scores big with its 59 mile per U.S. gallon rating on the combined EU cycle and carbon emissions of just 105 g/km. We'd wager that a production version of this concept can't be far behind. See the full press release after the break.

[Source: Audi]

click the Mileage Marathon vehicles for a high res gallery

Audi has announced plans to demonstrate the fuel efficiency of its new diesel vehicles by running a cross-country marathon this fall. The automaker is providing 23 TDI vehicles that will be driven by up to 184 drivers from around the world, including some of the crew from AutoblogGreen and Autoblog. The vehicles will include the Q7, Q5 and A4 with the 3.0L TDI V6 and the A3 with the same 2.0L four cylinder TDI used in the new Jetta. The Marathon will kick off October 6 in New York City and wind its way to Los Angeles via Chicago, Denver and Monterey. The drivers will all be trying to outdo each other to earn daily rewards for lowest fuel consumption.

For now, Audi has only announced that the Q7 will be offered for sale in the U.S. starting sometime in the first quarter of 2009. It will be equipped with a particulate filter and urea injection system allowing it to pass Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions in all 50 states. Audi is considering other diesels for U.S. sale but hasn't made any decisions or announcements yet. The Q5 which was announced last spring at the Beijing Motor Show will go on sale in the U.S. with a gasoline V6 next summer and makes its debut on U.S. soil during the Marathon. A hybrid Q5 is expected to go on sale as early as 2010 and it could be joined by a diesel for the U.S. market.


[Source: Audi]

Twenty-two teams of drivers this week are attempting to demonstrate the efficiency of the new Audi A4 with the 2.0L TDI diesel engine. The teams are driving the cars over a 1,025-mile course between Basel, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria while consuming less than 4L/100km (59.9mpg (U.S.)) of diesel fuel. The 120hp 2.0L TDI is normally rated at 46.12mpg (U.S.) but these crews will be light-footing it all the way. The goal of the teams competing in the two round trips that go through Switzerland, German and Austrian (and back again) is to complete the journey on a single tank of fuel.

In the first round already completed, the eleven cars all made it back to Basel with 5-9 liters of fuel left in the 65L tank. The winning team managed 68.3mpg (U.S.) and even the worst car managed 64.4mpg (U.S.). Not to shabby for a very nicely equipped mid-sized sedan. Most of the route is on motorways although some lesser roads and in-town driving is included. Audi organized the event with German car magazine Auto Bild and the second group of eleven teams is not preparing to set out on the same journey.

[Sources: Audi, Auto bild]

Click the A4 for a high-res gallery

Motor Trend may be one of those stalwart publications that still sends out bound and printed piles of paper every month but they aren't complete luddites. The boss man over there, one Angus MacKenzie just spent a few days back on the continent and took a road trip in a new Audi A4 TDI. Unlike the 3.0L V-6 diesel I drove recently, Angus got the 2.0L four cylinder engine (essentially the same unit coming to the VW Jetta this summer). On a 525-mile jaunt up and down the length Portugal, Angus certainly did not spare the whip with an average speed of 83 mph and he still averaged 34mpg. On a lower speed stretch he got 47mpg. The gist of his story is that diesel power can make for a great all around car with great fuel efficiency that doesn't have to sacrifice driving pleasure. This correlates perfectly with our own recent diesel experiences. Now, if MT would just get out of the tree killing business.


[Source: Motor Trend]

In my write-up on driving Audi's new A4 3.0 TDI the other day, there were some comments on why Audi would choose to offer the 3.0L V-6 diesel. The fact is that Audi actually offers an array of six different engines and four transmissions in various combinations. With gasoline engines of 1.8L, 2.0L and 3.2L or diesels of 2.0L, 2.7L and 3.0L European buyers get plenty of choice. They also get to choose among six speed automatic or manual transmissions, a seven speed dual clutch gearbox or a CVT. Here in the U.S., not so much. The combination of America's aversion to diesel or small engines in luxury cars and highly unfavorable exchange rates means that Audi is simplifying their product lineup to keep costs down. That's why we won't be getting the 1.8L engine or any of the diesels.

At the U.S. launch this September, the new A4 will only have the 2.0L and 3.2L gas engines available and only the 2.0L engine will be available with a manual transmission. The four cylinder manual combo will only be offered in the sedan. The Avant wagon will only be available with the 2.0L automatic transmission Quattro setup. Audi has been working on a hybrid system that was shown in Detroit last January. However according to Audi's Udo Rügheimer the company is not satisfied with the performance of current nickel metal hydride batteries.



Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Just as Audi's cousins at Volkswagen have their BlueMotion range of models (as well as the ECO2 from Renault or the ECOnetic from Ford, just to name a couple), Audi is introducing a low-emission concept in Frankfurt, called e Concept. The picture shows the presentation of the 2008 A4.

The model is based on the current 2.0 TDI engine (which I think is the best-seller at the VAG group in Europe). The car has an impressive consumption for a compact sedan of about 4.9 liters/100km (48 MPG) and CO2 emissions under 129 g per km, which is less than the average the EU plans to become mandatory in 2012. The engine is good for 143 HP at a peak torque of 320 Nm (236 ft lb).

Audi manages those respectable figures by installing piezo-electric injectors in the engine and modified piston geometry to improve thermodynamics and reducing internal friction. To make it the cleanest diesel available, Audi added an ultra low emissions system which will be standard on the 2008 3.0 TDI engine. This engine meets mandatory regulations expected from 2014.

The car has a lower friction manual gearbox with longer rations from third to sixth gears as well as a new Start/Stop system that shuts the engine off when the car comes to a standstill and the driver presses the clutch. Once the driver releases the clutch to start, the engine comes back to life in less than two tenths of a second.

In addition to that, the car stores kinetic energy into gel batteries, making it a micro-hybrid although this energy is used only to power the alternator, so the car saves some energy from the engine at coasting or higher demand (like BMW). Since it's not only the engine that creates pollutants in the car, the A/C system uses a heat exchanger which saves 20 percent of fuel.

Finally, the A4 has some aerodynamic tweaks such as lowering the body about 20mm and installing better wheels.

Full press release after the jump.

Related:

• Audi's "Electronic Driver Trainer" can help drivers reduce fuel consumption
• Audi redesigns the A3 to run free under new London congestion charges
• Audi adds the 1.4L TFSI engine to the A3 lineup
  

[Source: Audi]