Audi A3 TDIe crosses Australia at 71.3 mpg!
The World Solar Challenge in Australia this year featured a Greenfleet Technology division for high mileage alternative fuel vehicles. One of the top competitors was the Audi A3 TDIe powered by a 1.9L four cylinder diesel. The team of drivers covered the 3,543 km distance from Darwin to Adelaide Australia with an average mileage of 71.3 mpg (US) with peaks as high as 90.4 mpg. The special "e" series A3 is tuned for maximum efficiency and was introduced to Australia at the Sydney Motor Show. It goes on sale Down Under later this year.
[Source: Fourtitude via GermanCarBlog, thanks to Christian for the tip]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 8:19PM (3/21/2008)
Please please please please bring it to the US. I am bleeding at the pump, with no viable alternative to the crap Detroit shoves down our throat. Why can't I buy a small car that gets great gas mileage, and I don't mean 30mpg. My first car got 42 mpg almost 30 years ago. I live in a country that seems hell bent on screwing their citizens.
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David Bogart 2:43PM (7/08/2008)
In the old days, there were ways for individuals to legally import cars that did not conform to US regulations. There were even mechanics and engineers who speicalized in the modifcations and paperwork.
What about now? Anybody know if this can be done, who's doing it, and what it costs?
DB
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shmooopy 9:53PM (11/01/2007)
Bring to US please.
Oh wait, the diesel they are bringing is a HUGE SUV.
Feels like a conspiracy or collusion. Someone should investigate why fuel efficient cars do not come to the US.
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Mattias 2:17AM (11/02/2007)
The biggest problem with diesels is the price. Americans usually think that smaller cars have to be cheaper. So noone is willing to pay $25000 for a Ford Focus diesel. Another problem might be pollution legislation: Building diesels with urea treatment makes them another $1000 more expensive than the already high premium ($2000 to $4000) on a gas engine of similar power. The third problem is supply: Although american car makers own engine production facilities for small diesels, all of those are located elsewhere: Dagenham (Ford PSA, Great Britain), Cento (GM VM Motori, Italy) or Gunsan (GM Daewoo, Korea).
Of course the NOx centered approach on emission control just makes sense in large urban areas, where it helps to reduce ozone concentration and smog. In urban areas hybrids are also a better way to reduce CO2 because of the regenerative breaking. For long commutes in open areas diesel provide the better solution and there NOx does not lead to ozone. Globally the US might be better off with an approach that allows just diesels with low NOx and particulate emissions to cities and loosen the standrads for diesels used everywhere else. Yes, CO2 is emissions too...
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shmooopy 4:41AM (11/02/2007)
Looks you are right, the diesels in europe do list higher. I was under the impression that it is a simpler engine so I don't get it. Still in Europe they have a ton of options - we don't.
Instead of paying $1800 for nav, or the "sports package", I think there would be a market for a diesel A3 or c30. And why not make it a hybrid too?
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Mike 8:25AM (11/02/2007)
I could give a rip about NOX emissions, CO2, manufacturing logistics, price premiums, or regenerative "breaking".
Just give me a car that will go 71 miles on a gallon of ANYTHING!
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Mirko 9:47AM (11/02/2007)
What's the base model A3 in the US? 2.0T?
Let's compare German prices:
Audi A3 2.0 T: 26850€
Audi A3 TDI-e: 23500€
There is no way a small diesel like that needs urea to undercut the NOx emission limits.
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shmooopy 11:32AM (11/02/2007)
They may not "need" it but the fact is that diesels can't be sold in several states in the US, including California, unless they have some post combustion treatment like urea.
We currently have no TDi in California for this reason, we are waiting for the 2008 Jetta to be the first to return.
But I just think, if its not one thing its another. Everytime there is a car that could come to the US and give us a green option it gets bogged down in one problem or another. It just seems like someone somewhere just does not want us to have these cars.
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J 1:40PM (11/02/2007)
Yes, there is someone who does not want you to have these diesels. That someone is the government. The United States has some of the most stringent diesel emission regulations in the world. For Audi or BMW to bring their diesels over here, they would require all kinds of additional programming and exhaust treatment equipment to make them "clean". While diesels may be a viable option in Europe, they are just not very economic over here when all the additional modifications are factored in.
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Mike 8:28PM (11/03/2007)
Interesting,
The U.S. has been anti diesel for years, purposely banning most new diesels without justification. We all know the new direct injection diesels are clean burners compared to older diesels, yet in CA and NY they have been shut out of markets. We need these new diesels, so wake up America, diesels are better than gas fueled vehicles.
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Larry 1:27AM (12/25/2007)
This needs to come to the US. Just think of all the people that would get rid of their 20 mpg SUV's for a 71 mpg A3 it would be a plus for the whole world. On audi's press releases they state that if 1/3 of the us cars were converted to late model efficient diesels then 1.3 million barrels of oil would be saved every day! Now imagine 40 - 50% the whole world would benefit from the price reduction at the pump so bring this to US please.
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