Audi clearly demonstrated the efficiency and clean emissions of their TDI power-train system last week when the new A5 TDI was declared the overall winner in the prototype vehicle class of the Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai last week. They used their experience with efficient high-performance diesels to create the A5 coupe that was powered by the latest version of the 3.0L V-6 diesel equipped with the urea injection exhaust after-treatment system. The A5 TDI finished first overall the handling, acceleration and emissions categories and did well enough in other areas to capture the class victory. In the fuel consumption tests, the A5 managed 40.6 mpg (US) which is pretty respectable for a mid-sized sport coupe.

That same engine and exhaust system will be installed in the new A4 and Q7 TDI models that are coming to the U.S. in 2008. The A4 and Q7 will be fifty-state legal under the Tier2 Bin5 standards. In addition to the A5, Audi also ran an A6 wagon with the 2.7L V-6 TDI and an A3 with the 1.9 TDIe. The A6 had a mild hybrid system that helped it achieve 50.2 mpg in the fuel economy test which was only good enough for 25th place in the prototype class. The A3 pulled out a 62.2 mpg result in the production class which earned it fourth place behind the Mercedes E300 Bluetec, VW Passat Bluemotion and BMW Hydrogen 7.

[Source: Audi, thanks to Christian for the tip]

The lucky dogs over at MSN Cars in the UK got a chance to sample Audi's curvy new coupe, the A5, which is powered by the 3.0L V-6 TDI. This is the engine that US drivers will get in the Q7 and VW Touareg in 2008 as well as the A4. Hopefully we'll get it in our A5 too. When the Brits drove it they averaged 37 mpg (US) and even more aggressive driving only brought that down to about 33! Pretty impressive with such looks and performance. Of course that car was equipped with a manual transmission so Americans who are so averse to shifting for themselves will be stuck with an automatic and slightly lower mileage. Hopefully they will soon have a DSG that handle the 368 lb-ft of torque so we can get the best of both worlds.

[Source: MSN Cars UK via German Car Blog]