Audi Launches Australia's Most-Efficient Mid-Size Sedan
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ZETLAND, AUSTRALIA – February 26, 2010: Audi Australia is set to unleash the most-efficient mid-size sedan in Australia with the local launch of the new A4 2.0 TDI e model this week.
The Audi A4 2.0 TDI e, equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, sips just 4.8 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres and emits a mere 124 grams of CO2 per kilometre, making it the best value of any vehicle in its class.
The new Audi A4 2.0 TDI e is available as a sedan only for Australian customers and is priced from $49,900 (MLP).
According to Immo Buschmann, Audi Australia’s General Manager Marketing, efficient and progressive combustion engines are a clear focus for the company’s product strategy in Australia.
“While Audi has a clear focus on fully-electric vehicles for future sustainable motoring, our mid-term philosophy is to continue reducing the consumption of our excellent combustion engines. These engines become more efficient with every new generation, and there’s still more room for improvement in the future,” Mr Buschmann said.
“Our TDI engines in particular are strong sellers in Australia. Audi is very committed to TDI technology globally, and particularly for Australia. It is part of what we call ‘Progressive Performance’ or the intelligent use of every single drop of fuel. We believe that Audi TDI technology is the right technology for today. It is efficient, clean, carries none of the negatives of the diesels of old and even facilitates dynamic performance.”
“This latest TDI e model clearly demonstrates our commitment to improving consumption and performance with everyday motoring solutions,” Mr Buschmann said.
Following in the successful footsteps of the A3 1.9 TDI e, launched in Australia in May 2008, the Audi A4 2.0 TDI e model highlights the brand’s goal to reduce consumption by at least 10 percent with every new model generation. In fact, Audi’s goal is to reduce overall consumption by 20 percent by the Year 2012.
Its Australian introduction brings the number of vehicles currently available in the Audi range with consumption of 7.0 litres/100km or less, to a total of 22. The vehicle is wholly-exempt from Luxury Car Tax thanks to its extreme efficiency.
Michael Dick, AUDI AG’s Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development believes efficiency is standard in every Audi.
“This latest e (efficiency) model is particularly persuasive proof that efficiency, strong performance, comfort and driving enjoyment are not mutually exclusive,” Mr Dick said.
The new A4 2.0 TDI ‘e’ model develops an output of 100 kW and reaches 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds. Top speed is a handy 215 km/h and yet fuel consumption is a very low 4.8 litres/100km.
The engine, however, is only responsible for half the fuel consumption of the vehicle, and only a fraction of this can be optimised. This highlights the importance of examining every single vehicle component for its potential to reduce consumption.
For the A4 2.0 TDI e, it is exactly this combined impact of several key efficiency features that facilitate the vehicle’s extremely low consumption.
New for Australia, the standard Start-Stop system is especially effective during city driving. In fact, around 1.5 litres/100km can be saved with the use of start-stop in city traffic. In the standard ‘highway’ driving cycle, the start-stop system reduces fuel consumption by some 0.2 litres/100 km, which equates to about 5 grams CO2/km.
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.
The A4 2.0 TDI e also features a 6-speed manual transmission with a final drive ratio that is 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.
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 Driver Efficiency Program is also part of the standard equipment package. The Driver Efficiency Program notifies the driver when it is sensible to shift gears to conserve fuel. The on-board computer displays all fuel-efficiency data on the centre Driver Information screen, and offers fuel saving hints while driving in real-time.
These Driver Efficiency aids, or recommendations, enable drivers to conserve fuel to the tune of 30 percent — simply by modifying their particular driving habits. Audi’s efficiency program continuously analyses the vehicle’s energy consumption and gives the driver situation-specific advice on how to optimise fuel efficiency based on the current driving situation or driving style.
The A4 2.0 TDI e also consumes less fuel thanks to enhanced aerodynamics including additional ‘drag’ optimisations such as an underbody trim panel, the partially enclosed radiator grille, and the reduction in ride height of 20 millimetres which is facilitated by the sports chassis.
The new Audi A4 2.0 TDI e - Summary of ‘efficiency’
measures
The ‘e’ models from Audi
The Audi ‘e’
models are particularly progressive examples of the company’s drive
to reduce consumption within its range, combining maximum efficiency with
excellent dynamics.
The original Audi A3 1.9 TDI e achieved a combined fuel efficiency figure of 4.5 litres per 100 km and a CO2 value of only 119 grams per km with an output of 77 kW and a top speed of 194 km/h.
The Audi A6 2.0 TDI e is equipped with a 100 kW diesel engine, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds, with a top speed of 208 km/h. Average fuel consumption is only 5.3 l/100 km.
The A8 2.8 FSI e, with its 154 kW V6 on average consumes only 8.3 litres of fuel, making it the most efficient gasoline engine in the luxury class. With the launch of the brand new generation Audi A8, the 3.0 TDI version will be the most efficient luxury sedan with consumption of just 6.0 litres/100km.
Audi plans to continue the expansion of its ‘e’ model line in the near future and continue to put its modular efficiency technologies into production cars, such as Start-Stop and energy recuperation to name a few.
By the year 2012, the brand with the four rings will once again have significantly reduced CO2 emissions while continuing to hone its sporty, elegant profile.
