Click above for high-res gallery

Following the official introduction of the Audi A4 Avant in Geneva, Audi is ready with the station wagon version. In the European markets, two gasoline engines and three diesels are available, offering between 143 and 265 HP. All engines have direct injection technology (FSI for gasoline, TDI for diesel). The three four-cylinder have also turbochargers. Audi claims that the new compact station wagon is 10 percent lighter than the previous model. All of these improvements give the A4 Avant wagon solid mileage numbers (all rating in this post are in U.S. gallons). The 1.8 TFSI produces 160 HP while consuming 7.2 l/100 km (33 mpg). The other gasoline version is a 3.2 V6 FSI that consumes 9.1 l/100 km (26 mpg).

The TDIs come in three different flavors, all featuring piezo-electric injectors: 2.0 liter 143 HP (an engine found in Seats, Skodas and Volkswagens) and 320 Nm (236.02 lb-ft) of torque, with an impressive consumption of 5.7 l/100 km (41 mpg). Then there's an more powerful 2.0 liter with 170 HP and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of torque that burns 5.8 l of diesel every 100 km (40.5 mpg). For motorists with higher needs, Audi installed the 3.0 TDI V6 good for 240 HP and 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque, while still getting 7.1 l/100 km (33 mpg) to run.

Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Q7 V12 TDI

The next stage of Audi's performance diesel onslaught is about to begin at the Geneva Motor Show. A year before we saw the mighty Audi R8 V12 TDI at the Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen's premium brand showed the same engine in the Q7 V12 TDI Concept SUV. Just in time for Geneva, Audi has confirmed that they will indeed put the Q7 V12 TDI quattro into production. The monster 6.0L V12 diesel dishes out 500 horsepower and can possily alter the rotation of the Earth with with its mammoth 758 lb-ft of torque. All that twist is transmitted to the 20" alloys via quattro and helps propel the seven-seat SUV to 100km/h (62 mph) in a scant 5.5 seconds.

Even with that performance capability, the big diesel still manages to get 19.8 mpg (US). Of course, it probably won't come near that number if you were to actually utilize all that torque. That mileage is also only good in the context of the vehicle's capabilities, while in absolute terms it's obviously nothing special. Audi will start taking pre-orders in the second half of 2008. So far it isn't saying how much this beast will cost, nor does it say if US buyers will get a chance to partake. We won't hold our breath re: the latter.


[Source: Audi]