Since time immemorial, the Europeans always kept the coolest stuff for the home market (more or less). Sure, in the past, a lot of this could be blamed on various Euro car makers not wanting to deal with stuff like North American emissions regs (as in the lack of Ferraris in the late 70s). But as the EU has found itself more and more closely aligned with America on things like airbags and safety glass, whether a European car ends up over here in this day and age has more to do with marketing than anything else.
Case in point, Audi’s A4 2.0 TDI e.
“American’s don’t like diesels as much as Europeans do.” You hear that a lot, and it’s pretty accurate. You don’t see as many diesels on the roads of the U.S.A. as you do in Europe. Sure, a lot of that has to do with the fact that their gas is five times as expensive as ours, but there’s also other factors. We perceive diesels as being messy and smelly and the fuel as being harder to find. And as long as our gas prices stay low (and I’m not advocating they should be artificially raised) then diesels will probably stay off the radar of the average American car buyer.
That’s a shame really, because you can do great things with diesels. Just ask anybody who’s gone up against the factory Audis at Le Mans the past couple of go-rounds. Those are diesels, and they’re stomping the competition without mercy.
Look at the new Audi A4 2.0 TDI e. It’s an A4 with an oil burner under the hood, and you know the little guy handles good and brakes really well. And with the diesel, it can pull in over 51 mpg. It cranks out 136 bhp, which isn’t stellar, but it’s OK, and can hit zero to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and tops out at 133.59 mph. It’s not exactly cheap at 30,800 euros, but given the build quality and materials that Audi uses, you’ll see all of that dough.
Of course, there’s an aftermarket upside, or there could be, to this car. I’ve seen more than a few VW Golf TDis running around that have been tricked out. And if you look into it, chip tuning those things can raise the horsepower a little, but can elevate the torque to highly impressive levels – like nearing 300 pound feet and STILL giving you over 40 MPG. I bet that’s the same engine that corporate sibling Audi is using in this ride, or at least something close to it. And if it is completely new or different enough, it’s not like a bunch of German aftermarket tuners are just going to let it slip by. In other words, I bet that you could build out an Audi A4 2.0 TDI e that’s pretty damn impressive.
Or you could if you lived in Europe, because Audi isn’t bringing this car over here yet, which is bad and stupid and kind of pisses me off.
But, if I had to guess, I bet that will change. You don’t have to be a Las Vegas bookie to know it’s a pretty safe bet that CAFE standards are going to get raised. On top of that, carbon emissions are going to have to drop, which will translate into another reason for more efficiency.
So put yourself in Audi’s shoes when faced with those two probabilities. A pretty easy answer will be “OK, time to send more diesels to America.”
Here’s Audi’s presser:
A4 2.0 TDI e: Audi Unleashes the Most Efficient Standard-Size Sedan The new diesel-powered Audi A4 consumes a mere 4.6 l/100 km (51.13 US mpg)
Emissions of just 119 grams of CO2 per kilometer (191.51 g/mile) Market launch in early June at a price of 30,800 euros A4 Avant also available as an ‘e’ model Ingolstadt – Audi will soon launch the most efficient standard-size sedan. The Audi A4 2.0 TDI e will be available at dealerships starting in early June. Equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, this sedan sips 4.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (51.13 miles per U.S. gallon). It consequently emits a mere 119 grams of CO2 per kilometer (191.51 grams per mile): the best value of any vehicle in its class. “Efficiency is standard in every Audi. The A4 2.0 TDI e is particularly persuasive proof that efficiency, outstanding performance, comfort and driving enjoyment are not mutually exclusive,” says Michael Dick, Board of Management Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG. This ‘e’ model develops an output of 136 bhp (100 kW); it reaches 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 9.5 seconds and swiftly tops out at 215 km/h (133.59 mph). The sedan can be ordered now and costs 30,800 euros. This remarkably efficient A4 is also available as an Avant. The combined impact of several features facilitates the vehicle’s increased efficiency. The standard start-stop system is especially effective during city driving.
As soon as the vehicle comes to a stop, the shift lever is in neutral, and the driver removes his or her foot from the clutch pedal, the system turns the engine off. The engine then turns back on as soon as the clutch pedal is depressed. The start-stop system functions extremely quietly, smoothly, and quickly. While the driver is stepping on the clutch pedal to shift into first gear, the engine instantaneously returns to its idle speed. In the standardized driving cycle, the start-stop system reduces fuel consumption by some 0.2 liters/100 km, which equates to about 5 grams CO2/km (8.05 g/mile).
Furthermore, this ‘e’ model features a 6-speed manual transmission with a final-
drive ratio of the rear axle higher by five percent — enabling a reduction in engine
speed in each of the six gears. The engine-management system has also been modified for maximum efficiency. The fuel-saving low-resistance tires (205/ 60 R 16) improve rolling resistance and are exclusive to the A4 model line’s ‘e’ model. Standard equipment also includes the recovery of braking energy. Aided by intelligent alternator regulation, this system converts surplus kinetic energy to electrical energy during a vehicle’s braking phases. This electrical energy is temporarily stored in the electrical system’s battery. When the vehicle resumes acceleration, the battery supplies this stored energy to the vehicle’s network —reducing the load on the alternator and thus saving fuel. An on-board computer with efficiency program is also part of the standard-equipment package. The driver information system with gearshift indicator and efficiency-data display notifies the driver when it is sensible to shift gears to conserve fuel. The on-board computer displays all fuel-efficiency data on the center screen. These recommendations enable drivers to conserve fuel to the tune of 30 percent — simply by modifying their particular driving habits. Audi’s efficiency program continuously analyzes the vehicle’s energy consumption and gives the driver situation-specific advice on how to optimize fuel efficiency based on the given driving situation or driving style.
The A4 2.0 TDI e also consumes less fuel thanks to enhanced aerodynamics made possible by additional aerodynamic-drag optimizations such as an underbody trim panel, the partially enclosed radiator grille, and the reduction in ride height of 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) facilitated by the sports chassis. The A4 2.0 TDI e is also available as an Avant. Its combined fuel consumption amounts to just 4.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (48.00 miles per U.S. gallon). This Avant consequently emits 129 grams of CO2 per kilometer (207.61 grams per mile). The basic price for the Avant is 32,800 euros.
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