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Monday, October 6, 2008
If you’re still looking for proof that modern diesel-powered cars can offer the same or sometimes even better fuel economy than hybrid vehicles then maybe you should take a look at Audi’s A4 TDI e study that premiered in
It propels the sedan from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 10.7 seconds, and tops out at 206 km/h (128 mph). Despite the respectable performance figures –ok, it won’t any races but it’ll do the job, the A4 TDI Concept e requires a mere 3.99 liters of fuel per 100 km or just 58.95 US mpg which corresponds to a CO2 output of only 105 gr/km.
This figure was achieved by utilizing an array of production-ready fuel saving technologies. These include the revised 2.0 TDI engine featuring among other things, a new thermal management system, new piston rings and an electronically controlled fuel pump, the addition of a start / stop system, new electrical brake system on the rear axle, new road-resistance-optimized 225/50 R17 tires with light-weight alloys and a recuperation system that converts the energy of motion during deceleration into usable electrical energy.
Furthermore, Audi’s engineers fine-tuned the A4’s aerodynamics by redesigning the trunk lid, adding a partially closed grid in the single-frame grille, lowering the ride height and improving the air flow under the body. Expect to see Audi launching an A4 TDI equipped with all these features in the very near future.
