Audi Tunes 2009 A3 for Improved Efficiency; E85 Option
10 May 2008
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| New generation Audi A3. |
Audi is introducing the 2009 model year A3 series equipped with wholly new or revised engines delivering reductions in CO2 emissions of up to 15%. The output of the 1.8 TFSI S tronic model, for example, drops from 179 g/km to 153 g/km.
As before, Audi is bringing the A3 and A3 Sportback onto the market with eight different engines—five gasoline and three diesel versions—six of them being four-cylinder direct injection units with turbocharging. The 1.6-liter gasoline engine can also be supplied in conjunction with a manual transmission for running on ethanol E85 fuel.
The 1.6 unit develops 75 kW (102 hp); the 1.4 TFSI 92 kW (125 hp); the 1.8 TFSI 118 kW (160 hp); and the 2.0 TFSI 147 kW (200 hp); while the 3.2 quattro with its six cylinders delivers 184 kW (250 hp). The 2.0 TFSI recently was named Best Engine of the Year in the 1.6 to 2.0-liter category. (Earlier post.)
The 1.9 TDI delivers 77 kW (105 hp) and the 2.0 TDI 103 kW (140 hp) or 125 kW (170 hp), depending on specification. Both 2.0L diesel engines have been extensively re-engineered, with a new common rail piezo fuel injection unit first seen in the new A4 Saloon.
Audi expects the 103 kW variant of the 2.0 TDI to be the most popular overall in the range. The new unit replaces the older 2.0-liter pump jet injection engine. Fuel consumption for the this version of the A3 2.0 drop to 5.09 L/100km (46 mpg US) from 5.4 L/100km, while its CO2 output falls from 143 g/km to 134 g/km.
The 1.9 TDI e version, with special fine-tuning measures, offers fuel consumption of 4.5 L/100km (52.3 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of 119 g/km. Most of the other engines likewise cut fuel consumption by as much as 15%. The 1.8 TFSI and the technically closely related 2.0 TFSI have been frictionally optimized and have new cylinder bores, pistons and oil pumps.
Audi also extended the range of transmissions. Almost all engine versions are supplied as standard with six-speed manual transmission. The 1.6 and 1.9 TDI are outfitted with five-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2 is available exclusively with the S tronic dual-clutch transmission, now also available optionally for all engine versions.
The S tronic on the six-cylinder engine, the 2.0 TFSI and the diesel versions has six speeds, whereas the 1.6, the 1.4 TFSI and the 1.8 TFSI feature a newly developed seven-speed S tronic. Both its clutches are dry-running, meaning that they do not need a separate oil supply, further adding to their efficiency. The seven gears are closely spaced for a sporty response, though the top gear is sufficiently high-geared to reduce the engine speed, cutting fuel consumption as a result.
This is good stuff.
If every company brought about a 15% improvement / generation, we would all be in better shape.
Stop/start or mild hybridisation would be a good next step.
Posted by: mahonj | 11 May 2008 at 12:25 PM
I am missing a revised A2 more which had about half the CO2 ( 3 liter Diesel Fuel / 100KM 81-86 CO2 ) already years before .
Posted by: King | 12 May 2008 at 04:11 AM
The Ethanol suitable motor should be standard today . In Germany we pay only about 60% for E85 .
Posted by: King | 12 May 2008 at 04:18 AM
It will be interesting to hear what they plan specifically for the US market in 2009.
Posted by: Patrick | 12 May 2008 at 08:39 AM
Audi have nice diesels but their gazoline engine are disapointing in term of efficiency and mileage. Anyway german cars are way overpriced for what they really worth, the confort of Audi 3 and 4 are really bad as well as BMW 3 an 5.
Posted by: treehugger | 12 May 2008 at 09:55 PM