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Off the showroom floor. 1139 km (708 miles) 14 gals= average speed of 68.95 mph
12.7k !!?? If so this will be SOOOOOOOOOOOO hard to beat for those hyper milers !!
Audi today announced that TDI clean diesel technology will be a featured
segment on the Discovery Communications program, "How It's Made" premiering on
Science Channel on Friday, September 18, 2009, 9 p.m. ET/PT, with an encore
broadcast on the Discovery Channel on Thursday, September 24, 2009, 7:30 and
11:30 p.m. ET/PT.-end
Audi diesel on "How it's Made"
Should be interesting to see!
Q7 & ML320
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
quote-
At the other end of the performance spectrum is Volkswagen's L1 concept, a hyper-light, tandem-seat oil-burner, like a bobsled for the road. Getting its world premiere in Frankfurt, the L1 is powered by a small, two-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection (TDI) diesel engine and a small electric motor.
The L1's marquee number: 170 mpg, or about four times that of a Honda Insight hybrid. If it comes to market as planned in 2013, the VW L1 could claim the title of most fuel efficient passenger car on the road.
It would also be one of the cleanest. On a carbon-gram-per-mile basis -- that's the emissions metric that Europeans are most concerned with -- electro-diesels can outperform the thriftiest gas hybrids on the planet.
-end
Wolfsburg / Frankfurt, 15 September 2009 - Technological breakthrough for the 1-litre fuel consumption car: International Motor Show (IAA), Volkswagen is presenting the concept of the future L1 in a world premiere that points the way toward the production version. The full hybrid vehicle weighs just 380 kilograms thanks to its carbon-fibre reinforced body (CFRB). With a combined fuel consumption figure of 1.38 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, this extremely aerodynamic (Cd 0.195!) Volkswagen suitable for everyday use is intended to become the most fuel-efficient automobile in the world. CO2 emissions of the 160 km/h L1 are similarly low at 36 g/km.
Volkswagen is making a clear statement at the IAA in Frankfurt (September 17 to 27) with the second generation of this ingenious car: The L1 represents a step forward into the future with completely new technology and a new design; revolutionary yet close to production readiness.
That is a whopping 170 MPG US.
Apologies for the chrome quip. That was a cheap shot and I guess most consumers view excess chrome in the same way that bees view aqualungs.
What an impact GM has made on diesel in North America!
quote NYT-
Volvo’s first production plug-in hybrid, to be on European roads by 2012, will be a diesel with 30 miles of all-electric range. It will also have a whopping 745 miles of range on batteries plus the diesel engine and what Volvo says is the fuel economy equivalent of more than 120 miles a gallon. No decision has been reached about a possible American version. -end quote
Which is okay, except the Q7 is still down versus last year. So while its not exactly 'propping up' sales, it is:
a few more dollars in Audi's pocket,
more cause to continue producing TDIs for the US, and
more diesels on the road (good for word-of-mouth and PR),
http://www.audiusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=1544
So hopefully those lucky ~300 owners are enjoying it.
And yes, Wow!
Anyone have the US or total NA break-out for VW?
The ’10 Audi A3 turbodiesel goes on sale in late November, but it will take six months for new buyers to take delivery.
That's because Audi dealers have a half-year of advance orders to fill before new customers can be accommodated, says Carter Balkcom, product manager for the new model.
Jetta TDI SportWagen Overwhelmed
Diesels won't sell in NA, wagons don't sell in NA say the naysayer's.
Shhhh, don't tell VW.
Cruze diesel
There are no plans for Ford, GM or Chrysler to offer diesel in NA cars any time soon.
If Chevrolet offered a diesel in the NA Cruze as they do in other markets I'd bet it would be a hit.
Automatic fail. Next...
Which should mean they haven't fully completed integrating the engine for Audi. Even VW can mate a 6MT to a TDI.
Hopefully they'll have an A3 TDI quattro manual in 2010.
Which should mean they haven't fully completed integrating the engine for Audi. Even VW can mate a 6MT to a TDI.
Hopefully they'll have an A3 TDI quattro manual in 2010.
I can only presume that the "Auto only" stance is purely Marketing driven; ("Hey guys, Americans prefer auto 'boxes so don't bother with the manuals, they're only a niche market"). Pure guesswork on my part.
However, it is definitely not a technical problem. There are lots and lots of manual A3's here in Europe; gasser or diesel. In fact, on some of the lower-spec models, auto is not even an option. The Quattro versions exist in gasser, diesel, manual or auto. Just tick the boxes you want.
Same tech stuff is offered throughout the whole family : Audi, VW, SEAT, Skoda. Just different body design/trims. Because you guys in The Colonies, (sorry), don't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
AAHHH ! I love that dry British humor ! Always good to hear from our brother from across the pond.
As I understand it the A3 uses VW underpinnings, is this correct? If so, I believe I would opt for the VW variant instead and drive around with a smile on my face along with a big sack of cash as ballast.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I wasn't implying that it didn't. I just didn't clarify that I meant for the US.
Should have said: if VW can put a manaul FWD in the Jetta... in the US... they ought to be able to do it in an A3.
I was only emphasising that it could be done, and is done. In the US. Already.
But all 3 German manufs. not only hold back on models, but options when combined w/ diesel.
Examples:
335d in auto/RWD only
A3 in auto/FWD only
not in 1-series, 5-series, A4, A6, Q5, at all. They must believe the sampling represents the whole, and are taking a 'wait-and-see' approach.
If they just offered what you had here, my hardest decision would be which one to buy; 535d, A4 TDI, or A3 TDI quattro.
It does not have a diesel. It is a Honda Truck.
Volvo Cars of North America Inc. will offer a U.S.-market version of its plug-in diesel hybrid planned for Europe in 2012.
Doug Speck, VCNA president and CEO, confirms the rollout in an interview with Ward’s. But he declines to reveal when the PHEV, based on the Volvo V70 wagon, will hit U.S. shores.
Volvo says the PHEV will be able to run up to 31 miles (50 km) on electric power before its diesel engine kicks in. The car’s lithium-ion battery will take about five hours to recharge from a household wall socket. A battery supplier for the vehicle has yet to be announced.
Volvo expects costly batteries will push the price tag on its PHEV “considerably higher” than a conventional diesel-powered car.-end
Plug-in diesel hybrid
You folks are poorly served by the German manfrs and their "Marketing" people. Their sampling would seem to be woeful...............always assuming they do any, of course.
For houdini1 - yes the underpinnings are common across the whole VAG range of marques; Audi/VW/Skoda/SEAT. They each have their own body styles and trims, (but share lots of parts-bin stuff), and little tweaks but strip the glitz away and you'd be hard-pressed to tell 'em apart. Here in the UK, Skoda is generally perceived as better quality than VW, (and Audi), both in terms of build and dealer service but is a lower cost marque, (as is SEAT). In terms of cost the pecking order is Audi - VW - Skoda/SEAT. Money buys the Audi, common sense buys the Skoda or SEAT. Until recently there were three Skodas and a Jazz (Fit) in my family; now there are just two 'cos I bought a Volvo S60 D5. My wife would offload me before the Jazz and the two Skodas just plough on regardless.
With the anti diesel political climate in the U.S. it is hard to fault the Euro Mfgs. for not wanting to invest in diesel in the U.S. The various Fed. enviro regulators raise the bar each year as to what they will allow...and then each indiv. state has the option to make the regs. even more strenuous, so it is nearly impossible for them to hit the continuously moving target. IMO our big oil/gas companies are content to sell gasoline and stay away from diesel...and have the politicians in their pocket.
I will not take the oil shortage seriously when we could change over to diesel and save 35% of our usage almost overnight. Special interest groups and corrupt politicians have almost ruined us. It goes far beyond energy. It is pervasive.
The most obvious examples of corruption can be found in oil, finance, health care, and real estate. The reason for this are the same as that famous bank robber once quipped, "Because that is where the money is".
The golden goose is almost cooked. Our government is essentially in the process of nationalizing our health care (insurance) industry, our auto mfg. industry, our finance and banking industry our mortgage/real estate industry, and our energy industry. What's left?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
My frustration is indeed with the German marketing people. Now that they sell 4 diesel engines in the US:
2.0TDI ,
3.0TDI,
3.0 Advanced Diesel ,
3.0 CDI....
why can't we even order any car with these engines? Why does it have to be a pre-allocated vehicle? i.e. one that the marketing geniuses allowed to enter the US?
US techs already know how to service the same engine in say, the 335d. Why can't I order a 335d x-drive with European delivery? Costs them $0.00 for me to go pick it up. I'm sure servicing the engine is no different. And yet it is not allowed.
:confuse:
It just seems so odd that 3 german luxo-car makers that make their profit off of options... don't allow much optioning of diesel vehicles. Its backwards from all their other cars, and a big turn-off for me.
How is this a bad side of new diesel technology? Wouldn't the opposite be true, that all gasoline-powered vehicles have a 'bad side' because they don't like drinking diesel?
Yes, all gasoline engines are poorly built because they don't accept other fuels.
LOL-FAIL!
I'm not sure if it is still possible with all the emissions controls on modern diesels, but some people I know used to cut heavy-duty diesel fuel with kerosene, benzene, even gasoline in the winter to prevent gelling.
I'll bet on an MB they would not cover it under warranty if they found out you were running it on anything other than 100% highway diesel.
How much would say 10% gasoline in a diesel fuel mix hurt it? Fuels are hydrocarbon mixtures anyway, there is no specific 'diesel' molecule. Just curious if anyone has references.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460