Audi A4 hybrid dies before it arrives in the U.S.
It was recently learned that Audi has killed plans to bring the Q7 hybrid model to the U.S. market in 2009 because of the plummeting value of the dollar. It looks like the new A4 hybrid will get the same fate.
Audi USA communications director Jeff Kuhlman explained that the cost of homologating the hybrid system on both vehicles would likely not be offset by anticipated sales of the hybrids. As a result of low volumes and the unfavorable exchange rate, the prices would be too high to make business sense. Instead Audi is planning to offer the A4 with the same 3.0l diesel V6 that is to be used in the Q7 and VW Touareg. That engine is already being certified and has economies of scale so that it makes business sense. At the same time it will provide a significant boost in fuel efficiency compared to the gas V6 that is also available.
[Source: Audi]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mirko 9:15AM (4/03/2008)
So what about the 2.0TDI A4? That's the real deal for buyers with a focus on fuel economy. That engine is also already certified in the US. (Jetta...)
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rgseidl 11:59AM (4/03/2008)
@Mirko -
blame EPA/CARB for that one. Their T2B5 / LEV II emissions requirements are so strict that meeting them only makes financial sense (sort of) for relatively large diesel engines.
Besides, car makers desperately want to overcome negative stereotypes regarding passenger car diesels in the US, last not least the charge that they deliver little power. In a country that has become accustomed to 200+ hp mills in "mid-sized" sedans, that translates to shipping the big diesel engines first. Smaller ones can and perhaps will follow only after meeting emissions becomes cheaper and there is proven customer acceptance of clean diesel engines.
Oh, and the weak dollar and looming recession will combine to delay this process.
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falbhan 12:09PM (4/03/2008)
Too bad about the hybrid, but I'll pile on with Mirko, where's the 2.0TDI? Our A6 sits gathering dust waiting for an efficient Audi to trade it in on. In the meantime our Prius gets driven. Come on Audi!
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psarhjinian 12:12PM (4/03/2008)
You can excuse CARB: diesel's NOx and particulate emissions would be a real problem in much of California. And since California and New York together are the wealthiest auto market, you can imagine VWAG looking at the ROI and taking a pass.
Was Audi's hybrid a fairly complex system, or was it more akin to GM's BAS or Honda's IMA?
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armmat 3:36PM (4/03/2008)
This is very nice...the world is going to shit because a bunch of fkers won't make their millions....
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mike 3:27PM (4/03/2008)
This is out of the Microsoft playbook, a payout to the CEO can kill a project. Of course, that's got to be a pretty big payout.
Exxon Got To Audi.
This is to world of business. Don't like it get a law passed, either you don't sell this diesel or you don't sell anything. But, then there's Dingell.
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eddy 5:36PM (4/03/2008)
I would wan't an affordable new plugin-diesel-electric-hybrid Audi A4 duo based on the Audi A4 B8. Audi had a working Plugin-Hybrid for Series-production in 1997. So it wouldn't be a big problem for Audi to build one today. If this doesn't work on the A4 because of too large costs an expensive Audi A8 duo would perhaps make sense.
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Phil 6:48PM (4/03/2008)
"blame EPA/CARB for that one. Their T2B5 / LEV II emissions requirements are so strict that meeting them only makes financial sense (sort of) for relatively large diesel engines."
@rgseidl-
Don't forget that Volkswagen (parent company of Audi) already has a 2.0TDI diesel engine that will meet those standards in the upcoming Jetta and Sportwagon and they are cheaper than an Audi A4. I believe it is the same engine used in the Audi A4 2.0L TDI in Europe as well. There is no reason Audi cannot use it too.
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mike baz 7:55PM (4/03/2008)
"because of the plummeting value of the dollar."
Wow, that took a moment to sink in, the Germans don't want to sell us real goods in return for our collapsing fiat currency; hope the Chinese don't get the same idea.
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Kevin Nugent 9:12PM (4/03/2008)
Well that figures. Nut we still run sh&t
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mike 9:30AM (4/04/2008)
mike_baz,
The Chinese have "Pegged" their currency to the dollar. No matter what we do, we and they will not vary via currency. Except for sentiment, the larger the US trade deficits go the lower the dollar will go, until no foreign country believes we have the ability to pay off our debt.
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Mike 9:42AM (3/02/2009)
I'm driving my 4th Audi and love the vehicles. That said, if they don't have an A4 hybrid in the US when my lease comes up in June of 2010 I'll be turning in the keys and switching. Hope I don't have to do that.
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