Autoblog

Audi torques the floor in LA with four new TDI oil burners

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Sedan, Crossover, Hatchback, Audi, Diesel, Luxury

The diesels are coming. Well, one diesel engine sitting pretty under the shapely hoods of five Audi models: the A6, A7 and A8 sedans along with the Q5 crossover are joining the already available Q7, each powered by a 3.0-liter TDI engine offering up 240 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Suffice it to say, we're pleased.

Audi promises improvements up to 30 percent in both fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions when compared to its gasoline engines. Not all figures are available quite yet, but the A8, which is coming first in the spring of 2013, will score an estimated 24 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The run to 60 miles per hour is expected to take just 6.4 seconds in the big sedan.

Not to play favorites or anything, but we're definitely looking forward to sampling the Audi A7 TDI when it comes to market in the fall of 2013, along with the A6 and Q5. Pricing is not yet available, though the Q7 has carried a $52,000 base price since it went on sale last September.

See the four new Audi TDI models in our high-res image galleries live from the LA Auto Show above and below, and there's a press release below if you're in the mood for some more reading material. Enjoy all that torque-filled goodness!

Continue reading Audi torques the floor in LA with four new TDI oil burners

Audi torques the floor in LA with four new TDI oil burners originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: All Audi models to be available with diesel engines by 2015

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Audi, Luxury

2010 Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Diesel is slowly making an impression here in the United States and Audi has been paying attention. Parent company Volkswagen has been selling a steady stream of diesels for many years, and the enthusiasm for the oil-burners has filtered up into the luxury segment. By 2015, Audi plans to have a diesel variant available for every volume product in its lineup.

This means we still won't see a production R8 V12 TDI, but it does mean we can look forward to seeing the A4, A6, A8 and Q5 with TDI variants. Currently, the A3 and Q7 are the only US Audis available with diesel engines. You've no doubt seen A3 TDIs rolling past you as you stop for gas, since the diesel version now accounts for nearly half of all A3 sales. 40 percent of Q7s have the diesel engine under the hood, and Audi is having trouble keeping either model in stock.

Automakers face stricter fuel economy targets in the coming years, and one way to improve their lineups' mile-per-gallon figures is by adding diesel versions across the entire range. Audi believes that by 2015, diesels will make up 20 percent of the U.S. sales volume - a vast improvement over the current 5.5 percent.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: All Audi models to be available with diesel engines by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Audi Q7 gets three new V6s, eight-speed transmission in Germany

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:53:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Audi, Diesel, Luxury

2011 Audi Q7 (Germany) - click above for high-res image gallery

Along with blessing us with a revised TT for 2011, the Audi Q7 gets a few choice upgrades in its home market of Germany, including a few new engines and an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

The upgraded Q7 doesn't benefit from any new sheetmetal, though Audi has seen fit to put the S4's supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI V6 to good use under the hood of its behemoth SUV. Available in two states of tune, the blown V6 puts out 272 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the base version, and the upgraded mill produces the same 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque as its sports sedan sibling.

A new 3.0-liter TDI is also available for the 2011 model year, delivering 240 hp and a more-than-adequate 406 lb-ft of twist from 1,750 to 2,500 rpm. Not only does the new diesel deliver respectable performance times (0-60 in 7.9 seconds) and above average fuel economy, but the weight of the oilburner has been reduced by 44 pounds.

All revised, German-bound Q7s receive a new eight-speed automatic gearbox based on the outgoing six-speed cog-swapper, with higher ratios and Tiptronic actuation, along with standard Drive and Sport modes. There's no word on whether this transmission is bound for the U.S. market in the near future, but we'd suspect Stateside Q7s will benefit from the new 'box by the end of the year. Full details in the press release after the jump.

Update: An Audi USA spokesman tells Autoblog that the 2011 Q7 V6 TDI will retain its 225 hp / 406 lb-ft rating and launch with the new eight-speed in September. The gasoline V6 TFSI will also be available here in both 272 and 333 hp flavors beginning in November 2010.

Gallery: 2011 Audi Q7 (Germany)

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading 2011 Audi Q7 gets three new V6s, eight-speed transmission in Germany

2011 Audi Q7 gets three new V6s, eight-speed transmission in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiVo Alert: Audi TDI clean diesels to be featured on "How It's Made"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Audi, Diesel

2009 Audi Q7 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Time to fire up the TiVo. Tomorrow night, the Science Channel will debut a new episode of "How It's Made" that features the Audi TDI clean diesel engine range. What's the big deal, haven't diesels been around since the death of the dinosaurs? Well, sorta. While they still share the same basic architecture that Rudolph Diesel invented all those years ago, today's modern diesel powerplants are a far cry from the old smoke belching, shake-themselves-to-pieces lumps of yore.

The actual engine featured in the segment will be Audi's 3.0-liter TDI V6, which puts out 225 horsepower and a whopping 406 lb-ft of torque in the engine bay of the 2009 Q7 TDI while still maintaining class-leading fuel efficiency. Soon the German automaker will introduce its second clean diesel-powered vehicle here in the States in the form of the 2010 A3 TDI, which you can read about here.

Anyone interested in what goes into building a modern diesel powerplant will want to tune in to the Science Channel at 9pm (Eastern and Pacific). Click past the jump for the press release.

NOTE: BMW North America contacted us to correct the statement that the Audi Q7 TDI offers class-leading fuel efficiency. With an EPA mpg rating of 17 city/25 highway, the Q7 TDI is bested by the BMW X5 xDrive35d at 19 city/26 highway. The BMW's 3.0-liter diesel is also more powerful with 265 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque.

Gallery: Audi Q7 4.2 TDI

Continue reading TiVo Alert: Audi TDI clean diesels to be featured on "How It's Made"

TiVo Alert: Audi TDI clean diesels to be featured on "How It's Made" originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi Q7 to get Le Mans-derived V12 TDI

Alex Nunez — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:21:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Europe, Audi

Audi's gonna do it. According to a German report, they're putting a race-derived 6.0-liter V12 TDI in the Q7 SUV for 2008. The street version of the V12 TDI will be the most powerful passenger car diesel in the world, with -- get this -- 500 horsepower and a staggering 720 lb ft of torque on tap. And it doesn't end there. According to the same report, the monster diesel will find its way into the next A8 sedan, due in 2010.

Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that the V12 TDI is the engine that led the Audi R10 to American Le Mans Series dominance this year, and powered Audi to overall victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans.

Now, the million-dollar question is this: Will we see this engine here?

We sure hope so. Keep your fingers crossed...

[Source: Stimme.de via German Car Blog]

Report: Audi Q7 to get Le Mans-derived V12 TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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