Audi has unveiled its latest generation of 3.0-litre TDI engines at the Vienna Motor Symposium promising better fuel economy and lower emissions. The new unit, available in outputs of 218- and 272hp, will initially be fitted to the facelift A7 Sportback before spreading throughout the line-up.
As Prof. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, explains: "TDI engines are a central part of our technology mix for the mobility of tomorrow. We have continued to perfect this technology over several decades and believe there is still potential for increasing efficiency in the future too."
Depending on output, the new engine, which features a NOx storage catalytic converter, diesel particulate filter (DPF) and SCR injection all built into the same assembly, returns fuel economy said to have improved by 13 per cent compared to its predecessor, while peak torque is as much as 600Nm.
Emissions have also dropped, with 15g/km shaved off compared to the existing 3.0-litre TDI, itself recently updated to deliver just 155g/km in the two-tonne Audi A8 saloon. This improvement means the 3.0-litre TDI gets the 'clean diesel' tag.
Besides the new 3.0 TDI, Audi also presented its latest seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Designed for models with longitudinal engines and front-wheel drive, the new unit is said to reduce emissions by as much as 10g/km depending on application.
Anything else?
A motor symposium in Vienna may not sound like the ideal place to announce such new technology but Audi has form for doing this. The company presented its five-cylinder TFSI engine there in 2009 and in 2010 the 3.0 TDI unit.
The premieres of the 3.0 TDI biturbo and the new 1.8 TFSI followed in 2011. Audi presented the 4.0 TFSI in 2012 and the company first presented its V6 TDI engine for the Audi R18 e-tron quattro race car to the public at the 2013 Vienna Motor Symposium.