Autoblog

Quick Spin: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel delivers torque and efficiency with negligible compromise

Michael Harley — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, SUV, Porsche, Diesel, Quick Spin

Porsche Cayenne Diesel - Click above for high-res image gallery

Porsche sells no fewer than seven different Cayenne models in the U.S. All share the same unibody platform and permanent all-wheel drive system, but each is differentiated by its powerplant, brakes, suspension, and accessory list. Whether you are a blasé soccer mom or an exec hell-bent on embarrassing the dude in the sports car at the traffic light, if you're willing to write the check, Porsche has a Cayenne model with your name on it.

The selection is generous, but there is something missing from the mix. As of right now, all North American-bound models have an appetite for premium unleaded fuel. With the price of high-test wavering on the expensive side, Porsche has been diligently engineering hybrid and diesel-powered Cayenne models to significantly reduce pain at the pump.

While the automaker has announced the sale of Hybrid Cayenne next year, it's on the fence about offering the diesel model on this side of the Atlantic. Proudly showing off its latest wares, and teasing us with what we can't have, Porsche let us sample a Euro-spec Cayenne Diesel model... on our own turf.

Gallery: Quick Drive: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel delivers torque and efficiency with negligible compromise

Quick Spin: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel delivers torque and efficiency with negligible compromise originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt Preview: Audi to intro clean A4 TDI, A3 TFSI, coming to America?

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel

Audi A4 TDI - click above for a high-res image gallery

Audi will be launching at least three new models next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, two of which seem like they have a good chance of coming to North America and one that doesn't. The A4 TDI clean diesel will make its debut at the German show with the latest edition of the firm's 3.0-liter diesel V6. While the TDI V6 has been available in the current generation A4 since it launched early last year, the new one adds the same 2,000 BAR common rail fuel system and urea injection found on the Q7 and VW Touareg now available in the U.S. market. The V6 TDI A4 has always seemed like a natural fit for the torque loving American market and it now seems likely to arrive, especially since the gas V6 was discontinued for 2010. In sedan form, it's rated at 34.6 mpg (U.S.) which is consistent with what we've seen driving the existing A4.

The A3 gets a new 1.2-liter TFSI (turbocharged and direct injected) gas engine with 105 horsepower and 129 lb-ft of torque. This little engine gets the A3 to 42.8 mpg (U.S.) although the 0-62 mph time is a more relaxed 11.1 seconds. This one could probably pass U.S. emissions with ease, but given Audi's premium position in the market, they are less likely to offer it here anytime soon.

Finally, Audi will also publicly show the new A5 Sportback which it has already said will not be offered in the States. The five-door hatch A5 will get the same 333 hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6 going into the new S4 to start, but it will also likely get the other engines available in the A4/A5 eventually.

Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2008 Audi A4 3.0 TDI Quattro

[Source: Audi]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Audi to intro clean A4 TDI, A3 TFSI, coming to America?

Frankfurt Preview: Audi to intro clean A4 TDI, A3 TFSI, coming to America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New diesels won't run when the urea tanks is dry

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:34:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Mercedes-Benz

Click above for a high-res gallery of the MB GL320 BlueTEC

Owners of the new crop of clean diesels will have another maintenance item to concern themselves with if their new cars are equipped with urea injection. The EPA requires that all diesels meet strict new emissions standards, which almost always requires the use of either a NOx trap or urea injection. To ensure that the system is working, a sensor checks both the level and the quality of the urea solution and will keep the car from starting if the tank is empty. The new VW Jetta TDI doesn't use urea, but the new Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC vehicles do. According to Mercedes, a counter will appear on the dash when there are twenty starts remaining. If the driver ignores the message, the car will not operate until at least two gallons of urea solution is added to the tamper-proof tank that resides in the spare tire well.

Engineers have designed the urea tanks to be large enough to last about 15,000 miles. This should be large enough that drivers never run out, as the tanks will be checked at every schedules service. As an alternative, small bottles of the urea solution will be available for owners who want to maintain the system themselves. The cost of the urea solution, which MB refers to as AdBlue, will mirror the cost of diesel fuel, so a refill shouldn't cost more than $30 or so. Before anybody asks, yes - urea is a component of urine, and no - peeing in the tank will not fool the sensors. You've been warned.

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz BlueTec SUVs

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

New diesels won't run when the urea tanks is dry originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: BMW diesels on sale in the U.S. mid-October

Michael Harley — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Green, BMW, Rumormill

Click above for more images of BMW's new diesels

The BMW X5 xDrive35d and 335d, both revealed live at the Detroit Auto Show, will be coming to the States in mid-October according to the latest rumor. The common engine will be BMW's dual turbocharged 3.0L inline-six diesel, good for 265 hp and 425 pound-feet of torque. According to BMW, these two vehicles will be among the most fuel-efficient and best performing in their respective classes. In addition, with their urea injection system and particulate filters, they should be among the cleanest too.

We called our contacts within BMW to confirm or deny the rumor, and as expected, our sources could only reiterate BMW's previous official statements that the cars would be "out by fall."

Gallery: Detroit 2008: BMW diesels

[Source: BMW Blog]

Rumormill: BMW diesels on sale in the U.S. mid-October originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW unveils next-gen TDI engine

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:13:00 EST

Filed under: Green, Technology, Volkswagen

Part of the consortium of German auto manufacturers developing the Bluetec diesel technology, Volkswagen just announced that its new TDI will the cleanest diesel on the planet. To be used in the 2008 VW Jetta (and other smaller VWs), the new 2.0 liter common rail diesel engine differs from the urea injection systems used in other Bluetec vehicles, in that a nitrogen oxide reservoir in the catalytic converter is used to help it meet even Californian's most stringent emission standards, the Tier 2 / Bin 5 levels. A filter of sorts in the catalytic converter absorbs NOx like a sponge and constantly cleans itself by alternating modes for a few seconds periodically. We're told to expect this VeeDub to achieve a 90% reduction in NOx levels. Pretty impressive. Curiously, however, there's no mention of either projected fuel economy or power figures.

For larger cars, like the Passat, VW will use the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converter. That's the one with the ~~piss~~ urea tank. The urea is sprayed through a mesh screen into the exhaust system. When it mixes with the hot exhaust gases it turns into ammonia, which breaks the NOx down into nitrogen and water. The goal is to make the tank large enough to last for one service cycle, at which point the service tech will refill it.

Check out the press release in full after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading VW unveils next-gen TDI engine

VW unveils next-gen TDI engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW refines U.S. diesel plan

Chris Tutor — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:06:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Technology, BMW

BMW is coming stag to the U.S. diesel party, despite hinting in October that they were close to joining fellow German automakers VW, Audi and DaimlerChrysler in marketing Bluetec technology in the U.S.

"We are in the process of thinking of a name that is different from Bluetec," a spokesman for BMW told Reuters on Wednesday.

Matt Davis over at Winding Road says you BMW fans yearning for diesel power should be appeased soon. But what BMW names their urea-injection technology remains to be seen. We'll probably find out for sure next week in L.A.

[Source: Reuters]

BMW refines U.S. diesel plan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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