Autoblog

Audi A3 G-Tron offers big range, few emissions

Zach Bowman — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi is exploring a variety of sustainable transportation technologies beyond the traditional diesel, hybrid, plug-in and electric options, including the compressed natural gas A3 Sportback G-Tron that debuted today at the Geneva Motor Show.

The most interesting thing about this rather innocuous-looking A3 Sportback is that when run on Audi e-gas, the car becomes completely carbon neutral, emitting no more CO2 than was chemically input in this special fuel's production. Audi has already broken ground on a new plant - powered by renewable energy, of course - that uses electrolysis to produce e-gas, which could then be made available through any natural gas distribution network.

A turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine burns the e-gas, or any garden variety CNG, for 110 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, but the real story lies in the machine's natural gas tanks. The two light-weight composite vessels weigh in at just under 60 pounds each and can store a shave over 30 pounds of fuel combined and 2,900 psi. The tanks are made from a four-layer composite comprised of a gas-impermeable polyamide polymer, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, glass fiber reinforced polymer and a high-strength epoxy resin.

The A3 Sportback G-Tron also features a new gas regulator to keep the fuel at the correct pressure for any given engine speed. If the tank pressure falls below 145 psi, the engine automatically and seamlessly switches over to gasoline operation. With its two on-board fuel sources, the five-door offers a bladder-busting range of approximately 807 miles.

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Audi A3 G-Tron offers big range, few emissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi unveils A3 Sportback G-Tron with bi-fuel power, 808-mile range

Jeffrey N. Ross — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Technology, Hatchback, Audi

By this time next year, the Audi A3 Sportback will be offered with a variety fuel-efficient powertrains ranging from diesel to the all-electric E-Tron, but perhaps the most interesting is the all-new G-Tron model, which uses Audi's innovative carbon-natural compressed natural gas called e-gas. Previously called A3 TCNG, we first heard about this technology last year, but now Audi has confirmed that this low-emission, sustainable-fuel will debut by the end of this year on the A3 Sportback G-Tron.

To create this e-gas, a plant in Werlte, Germany uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. As hydrogen fuel cell vehicles become more popular, Audi says that this process could also be used to produce hydrogen fuel, but to create CNG, it mixes the hydrogen with carbon dioxide to create "synthetic methane." Since it is identical to the CNG available today, Audi's e-gas can be shipped and stored using the existing CNG infrastructure. Making the whole process even greener, Audi obtains the CO2 for this process from a nearby biogas plant, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

Differentiated from the regular versions of the A3, the G-Tron features a pair of tanks under the rear cargo floor holding 15.43 pounds of CNG, which can power the car for almost 250 miles. What's more, the A3's conventional gasoline tank is still in place, giving the car an addition 560 miles of range. In total, that means the A3 G-Tron has a driving range of more than 800 miles. To run on both CNG and gas, Audi made changes to the car's 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine (including the turbo, cylinder head and fuel injection system) and catalytic converter.

It isn't clear how many G-Tron models Audi is planning to build, but the press release posted below says that its e-gas plant can provide enough fuel for 1,500 cars to travel about 9,300 miles (15,000 kilometers) per year.

Continue reading Audi unveils A3 Sportback G-Tron with bi-fuel power, 808-mile range

Audi unveils A3 Sportback G-Tron with bi-fuel power, 808-mile range originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi working on new fuels to make cars carbon neutral

Matt DeLorenzo — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Audi

A car can be considered CO2 neutral if the amount of greenhouse gas used in creating the fuel is balanced against the CO2 emitted by the vehicle in operation.

Even as automakers move to increase the number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), fuel cell vehicles and hybrids, internal combustion technology is not standing still. In fact, Audi believes that the future will see a mix of propulsion technologies and that internal combustion can play a role in producing vehicles that have minimal CO2 impact on the environment. As shown by Toyota's recent announcement to slow-walk EVs, the industry is looking into other alternatives besides pure electrics to meet ever-tightening Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards and zero-emission mandates like those enacted by California.

Rupert Stadler, Audi's chairman, asserts that "the future of mobility will be multi-faceted." And while Audi will offer pure electrics, like the R8 E-Tron, officials from the company insist that the combustion engine still remains an important element in the overall picture. Key elements in this strategy include more fuel efficient gas and diesel engines using such advanced technology as electric forced induction and stop-start technology that includes shutting the engine off when the vehicle is coasting. Audi will also offer a unique dual-fuel A3 that uses both compressed natural gas (CNG) and gasoline power that promises a range of around 750 miles in an A3.

Beyond the approach of upgrading the hardware, Audi is also looking at vehicle fuels themselves as a means to reduce carbon emissions. The company believes that an internal combustion car can be considered CO2 neutral if the amount of greenhouse gas used in creating the fuel is balanced against the CO2 emitted by the vehicle in operation. The argument goes that a BEV is only CO2-free if its electricity comes from nuclear, hydro, wind or solar sources and actually contributes to CO2 emissions if the electricity comes from a coal- or gas-fired generator. Following this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, Audi is now involved in several projects to make ethanol, diesel and natural gas that uses CO2 in the production process.

Matt DeLorenzo is the former editor-in-chief of Road & Track and has covered the auto industry for 35 years, including stints at Automotive News and AutoWeek. He has authored books including VW's New Beetle, Chrysler's Modern Concept Cars, and Corvette Dynasty.

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Audi working on new fuels to make cars carbon neutral originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel

Zach Bowman — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:44:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Audi, Luxury

Audi has revealed its 2013 A3 Sportback in Munich ahead of the model's official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show later this week, and Autoblog was on hand for the early unveiling. Like its three-door cousin, the third-generation five-door wears subtly evolved styling inside and out as well as a longer wheelbase, more interior room and a commendable weight savings of around 198 pounds over its predecessor. This particular model wears the line's optional LED headlamps and features a bi-fuel powertrain as part of the Audi e-Gas project. The exercise uses electrolysis to generate hydrogen, which is then combined with carbon dioxide to create methane, or natural gas. The result is what Audi is calling a "carbon-neutral" fuel.

Since compressed natural gas stations can be few and far between, however, the A3 also makes use of a 13-gallon gasoline tank to help give the machine an effective range of around 745 miles. The 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine features injectors for both natural gas and gasoline and can seamlessly switch between the two fuels while driving. After perusing our high-res image gallery, you can take a look at the full press release on the 2013 Audi A3 Sportback below.

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2013 Audi A3 Sportback e-Gas Project shows off carbon-neutral fuel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Melbourne '08 Preview: 2008 Ford FG Falcon swoops in

Alex Nunez — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:50:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Truck, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows, Australia

click above for high-res gallery of the new Ford FG Falcon

It's a couple of years late to the party, but the all-new Ford FG Falcon is set to arrive in Australia later this year, when it'll match up with GM's Holden Commodore sedan and Ute offerings on the sales charts and at Aussie stop lights for years to come. Like the Holdens, the Falcons are rear-wheel-drive. The FG is all-new, with a more rigid architecture, new and/or upgraded powertrains, increased variety in terms of visual and interior options, and improvements in fuel economy as well. The factory performance wing, FPV, will also introduce a full range of FG-based sedans and Utes as well. We'll bring you more on the FPV cars when additional info and the all-important photos are released.

As for the standard FG Falcon offerings, the sedan will come in XT, G-Series, and XR trim levels, with the Ute joining it in base, R6, and XR Trims. As before, powerful inline six-cylinders (normally-aspirated and turbocharged) are joined by a range-topping V8 -- this time, it's the hand-built FPV-supplied 5.4L Boss 290. As impressive as the V8 is (388 hp / 383 lb-ft), however, the turbo six (362 hp / 393 lb-ft) makes a hell of a case for itself. An LPG-fueled E-Gas version of the I6 is also offered on the Falcon XT sedan and the XR6 Ute. Follow the jump for a quick-and-dirty rundown on the engines, as well as the overview press release sent out by Ford.

Gallery: Ford FG Falcon XR Series

Gallery: Ford FG Falcon G-Series

Gallery: Ford FG Falcon Ute

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Melbourne '08 Preview: 2008 Ford FG Falcon swoops in

Melbourne '08 Preview: 2008 Ford FG Falcon swoops in originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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