Audi A6/Q7 DIESELs headed stateside

[HoleshotHolset]

From the latest edition of Winding Road Magazine (online only - gotta sign up and download it for free... )



"Audi A6 and Q7 diesels for our market

Audi marketing officials confirm the company is planning to introduce an American version of its A6 sedan and Avant and new Q7 sport-utility vehicle with a torque-rich 3. 0-liter turbocharged directinjection diesel V-6.



After the race-winning debut of the diesel-fed R10 TDI prototype at March’s American Le Mans Series opener, the 12 Hours of Sebring the German automaker is keen to capitalize in the showroom. Expect a formal announcement once the engine—which will be the first Audi diesel to reach the States since 1983—receives full 50-state approval. "



Matt

 

[JHerr]

It is about time. The A6 is a great car. But I still can't get my preferred A3 with a diesel, however. Maybe some day...

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I saw a handful of A3 TDIs when I was in England back a few weeks ago. I also saw a brand new 7-series BMW with a diesel! I took pictures of it (amongst other diesel cars... ).



My ride to Heathrow to begin my trip back home was in a 170hp, 5-cylinder, 6-speed manual TDI powered VW Sharon minivan. That thing had NO PROBLEM getting up to 110mph... talk about a torquey minivan.



I have to develop the disposible camera (keep forgetting about it... ) - I'll post pictures when I Git-R-Done.



Matt

 

[JHerr]

Holeshot, I was in London for a week, about 14 months ago. I had a blast and I'm not a city person. I stayed in a hotel along Bayswater near the Lancastergate tube stop. Bayswater is a very busy street. It was really cool to see all of the cars that we don't see here... Smart Cars, Mercedes A class, Audis, Fiats, TVRs, Vauxhalls, and scores of others. I was really amazed at the number of diesels in all sizes of cars... including the diesel-powered taxis.



There are some things that I just don't understand about the USA and our vehicle options. I don't blame it all on General Motors goofing up the diesel market in the States. There are many factors at play. I blame general American shortsitedness, overboard environmental regs, and complacent consumers who don't know that there are alternatives out there. How can diesel market share be over 60% in some European countries when here in the states we diesel buyers are considered a fringe group. In my opinion, millions of European diesel buyers can't be wrong.



I struck up a conversation with a young guy in a pub who was an electrician by day and a bus-boy at night. His company vehicle was a Vauxhall "van" which was diesel-powered. I didn't see the van, but I think that I saw some like it. I believe that is called an Astravan and was sort of like an El Camino or an Australian "Ute" that was totally enclosed... like a station wagon without windows, if you will. Hardly a pickup truck in sight in the whole city of London... just lots of vans.



I mainly shot video footage, so I don't have many photos. I am planning on going back this fall if I can get a good deal with Virgin Vacations.

 

[The patriot]

I had relatives over from Ireland two summers ago.

They couldnt get over how BIG my CTD was.

They own a home depot type place, so they've seen plenty hauling vehicles.

They loved my "Lorry"

Eric

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I stayed in a hotel along Bayswater near the Lancastergate tube stop. ... Hardly a pickup truck in sight in the whole city of London... just lots of vans.

Cool! I burned a path between Hammersmith and Chiswick Park for a week straight. I too had a good time in London. For once I visited a foreign country and actually REALLY liked it. I was probably smitten by all of the diesel cars, though. I only saw one pickup truck over there - it was a 3rd Gen Hemi powered 1/2 ton with loud exhaust. In that area, you'd have to earn $200k US just to afford a truck like that. The taxes they impose on a vehicle like that are insane. I calculated the fuel price for diesel and low octane gas over there and it came out to just shy of $6. 00 (USD) for a US gallon. I didn't see the big price difference between diesel/gas that everyone claims Europe has...



I went to Ireland almost 4 years ago and it was also like England - not a pickup to be had. If I didn't drink 80 pints of Guinness that week in Ireland... I didn't drink one.



Matt

 

[nickleinonen]

I calculated the fuel price for diesel and low octane gas over there and it came out to just shy of $6. 00 (USD) for a US gallon. I didn't see the big price difference between diesel/gas that everyone claims Europe has...

low octane gas??? i don't know about uk, but in finland the lowest octane is 95, highest i saw last i was there was 99. diesel was about 2/3rds the price of 95 gas...

 

[Dieselnut59]

My mother is looking into a new car. She currently has a 2001 BMW 325i. She was in the dealership to have some minor things repaired and was asking about new cars becoming available from BMW, especially diesel. She said they told her they are coming along with the new formula of diesel fuel.

She had a 1987 Mercedes 300 SDL before the BMW, but no diesel BMW or Mercedes was available in 2001 when she got her current car.

The diesel BMW is to be a 3 liter inline 6. The current Mercedes diesel offering is the SWEET 3. 2 liter inline 6 "CDI". We are going to check that one hout this weekend hopefully.

The word is diesels are coming from Nissan, Honda and Toyota too.

 

[EMD-Run8]

Personally, I think there's a new diesel revolution starting and we're barely on the front side of it. If Audi wins Lemans, I think it's gonna be BIG NEWS. Look at how many orders they've had for the Libery CRD's. They're scrambling to catch up. It looks like DC is going to be pushing diesel more and I think auto marketing types are realizing that diesel can sell. Hey, at least diesel is the cheapest thing at the pump again (at least in NW Florida) with very few exceptions. At the main station where I fuel it was 20 cent's under regular unleaded a few days ago! It hasn't been like that since Hurricane Ivan. $2. 77 a gallon still stinks though... ... ... ... #@$%!

 

[JHerr]

If there is one thing that Americans love, it's convenience. Diesel is convenient. Most diesel vehicles only need to be filled every 450-600 miles. That marketing aspect needs to be touted.



Americans quote horsepower, but drive torque. Americans love to talk about the horsepower something makes, but use torque during their own usage. Have you seen the Mercedes E-Class ad where the Mercedes is racing the rice-burner? Perfect display of torque vs. horsepower. Very interesting... the diesel wins by the way. There is another potential avenue for some marketing genius to exploit. Mercedes came close to demonstrating the difference but there are too many people who automatically switched off the brain because of the Mercedes brand. Dodge's marketing department could pull it off with a diesel 300.



EMD-Run8, I agree with you. We are close to the beginnings of a diesel revolution. There are a few hurdles to overcome which I mentioned before. But there are plenty of other things that Americans buy in droves with far less benefit... bottled water, pre-ripped dirty-looking jeans, and hybrid vehicles.



Did anybody read Autoweek's latest issue? They did an article on fuel economy. They took five vehicles: Jeep Commander, Chevrolet Corvette, Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Pious, and a VW Jetta TDI. The Jetta TDI had the best fuel economy in their test. It was nearly 20% better than the Pious in the test!



Pious - seemingly virtuous; affecting virtue hypocritically

(Webster's New World Dictionary Third College Edition)

 

[HoleshotHolset]

low octane gas???

Well, there seemed to be two grades of gas and one grade of diesel... I could only assume that the lower priced gas had less octane.



Matt

 

[JasonCzerak]

My mother is looking into a new car. She currently has a 2001 BMW 325i. She was in the dealership to have some minor things repaired and was asking about new cars becoming available from BMW, especially diesel. She said they told her they are coming along with the new formula of diesel fuel.

She had a 1987 Mercedes 300 SDL before the BMW, but no diesel BMW or Mercedes was available in 2001 when she got her current car.

The diesel BMW is to be a 3 liter inline 6. The current Mercedes diesel offering is the SWEET 3. 2 liter inline 6 "CDI". We are going to check that one hout this weekend hopefully.

The word is diesels are coming from Nissan, Honda and Toyota too.

I was behind, and passed at a rapid pace a E 300 turbodiesel lastnight. Some old lady driving it.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I was behind, and passed at a rapid pace a E 300 turbodiesel lastnight. Some old lady driving it.

I came close to buying a '96 E300 diesel up in MN that needed work... I just couldn't bring myself to own an indirect injection, naturally aspirated diesel for a daily driver. They didn't put a turbo on 'em until '98 and they were still IDI. Blah! Sure, I could slap a turbo on the NA engine, but that's a lot of custom work and possible hacking to a very well refined and engineered car...



The Merc diesels are all automatics... that was also a downside. I was fearful that I'd end up with a HUGE auto transmission repair bill if I BOMBed the engine even a little bit. Some people swear by Merc's automatics... some swear at 'em.



Matt

 

[EMD-Run8]

I think it's the latest Diesel Power... ... ... . I think it's one of the VP's with Daimler Chrysler and he's quoted as saying that they expect diesel car sales to exceed hybrids within a few years. Very interesting for sure since 15 years or so ago they were saying that diesels were dead.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I came close to buying a '96 E300 diesel up in MN that needed work... I just couldn't bring myself to own an indirect injection, naturally aspirated diesel for a daily driver. They didn't put a turbo on 'em until '98 and they were still IDI. Blah! Sure, I could slap a turbo on the NA engine, but that's a lot of custom work and possible hacking to a very well refined and engineered car...



The Merc diesels are all automatics... that was also a downside. I was fearful that I'd end up with a HUGE auto transmission repair bill if I BOMBed the engine even a little bit. Some people swear by Merc's automatics... some swear at 'em.



Matt

My mother's former car was a 1987 300 SDL. It was a turbocharged inline 6, got low to mid 30's MPG and would MOVE, considering the size of the car (just slightly bigger than the current Ford Crown Victoria). She never had a bit of trouble with it. I kept it serviced for her, including transmission oil changes. She sold it to a friend in 2001 when it had about 160,000 miles on it and the friend still has and loves it.

I agree on the auto only opinion though. I want a manual transmission behind ANY diesel I would own!

 

[JasonCzerak]

My mother's former car was a 1987 300 SDL. It was a turbocharged inline 6, got low to mid 30's MPG and would MOVE, considering the size of the car (just slightly bigger than the current Ford Crown Victoria). She never had a bit of trouble with it. I kept it serviced for her, including transmission oil changes. She sold it to a friend in 2001 when it had about 160,000 miles on it and the friend still has and loves it.

I agree on the auto only opinion though. I want a manual transmission behind ANY diesel I would own!

I have never drove a dodge diesel auto. But I have putzed around with the fords and chevys (and their manual counter parts). They do drive weird! just doesn't feel right.

 

[broeser340]

Living in Michigan and being in the auto business, I notice quit a few cars with manufacturer plates, camo, data acquisition, etc. Well its kinda funny I stumbled on this thread. An A6 3. 0TDI passed me this morning on I-75 southbound the way into work. Just north of Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc if anyone else in MI sees this and drives that route. About 6:30 ish this morning. Nice looking car. Don't worry, they are already stateside.

 

[wxman]

EMD - here's another source that supports your premise:



"…According to a new study by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence, a paradigm shift in consumer sentiment is underway that may make diesel vehicles as common in the U. S. as they are in Europe…. "



http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2006/04/06/003236.html

 

[HoleshotHolset]

An A6 3. 0TDI passed me this morning on I-75 southbound the way into work. Don't worry, they are already stateside.

Oh yeah!!!!!



Matt - prepping for kidney transplant/donation surgery! :-laf

 

[wxman]

There was an article in a Canadian newspaper recently about the Audi Q7 TDI:





"…On the morning of my test drive, I climbed into one of a row of Q7s and started the engine. Studying my route book before pulling out, I felt a hiccup in the rhythm of the idling motor. Peculiar, I thought. Looking at the tach needle, I noted it was hovering at 800 r. p. m. on a dial that went only to 5000.



Oops! I'd gotten into a diesel-equipped SUV without realizing it — a fact shown only by that one telltale hiccup. Audi was debuting the Q7 to journalists from all over Europe so it had also included the available-in-Europe-only diesel in the test fleet.



I started to get out, but then decided to drive it till we switched vehicles at lunch time. I wanted to see what it was we weren't getting. The 3 L TDI, six-cylinder engine uses a common rail injection system with piezo (fine precision control) inline injectors. It makes 233 horsepower and torque of 370 lb. -ft. — available from just 1750 r. p. m.



So, how good is this diesel? Its 0-to-100 km/h time is just 1. 7 seconds longer than the 350 hp V8, which hit 7. 4 seconds on the same scale.



But what's amazing is its fuel economy — almost twice that of the gas engine (it works out to a nice round 1,000 km per tank of diesel fuel or an average consumption of 10. 5 L/100 km). This motor is quiet, pulls hard and at idle barely gives away its identity in a whisper of sound.



So, is it coming to Canada? No. Is Audi considering it?



"I get letters every day asking us to bring our diesel products to Canada" says Diego Ramos, executive vice-president of Audi Canada. "And we do listen to our customers. "



As for those who still think diesels are dirty, this TDI is equipped with an exhaust gas recirculation system, complies with the strict Euro 4 emissions standard and comes from the factory with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter.



The downside is its top speed is limited to 216 km/h. Do you care?"



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