Watch out Bugatti, because someone has just has just recorded a land speed record, for an alternatively fueled vehicle. This gas powered Audi A4 sped its way into the pages of the Guinness Book Of World Records with a 225+ MPH run. Under the hood, the four door Audi uses a modified turbocharged 3.0 Liter V6 running on compressed natural gas. An added advantage of the alternative gas is its rating of 120 octane, allowing Hohenester, the tuners which prepared the vehicle, to pile on the boost without worrying about detonation. Although the twin turbo motor makes closer to 800 HP, it was restricted to only 700 ponies for the record setting 226.55 MPH run.
What we want to know is, where to get some CNG for our test fleet.
Audi launched the most fuel efficient A4 in the line-up: the A4 2.0 TDI e with a fuel consumption of 4.6 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (51.13 miles per U.S. gallon) and CO2 emission of 119 g/km.
The e version delivers 136 hp and can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 9.5 seconds and can hit a top speed of 133.59 mph.
It was no big surprise when Audi confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show that its wagon/crossover A4 allroad would not be part of the U.S. lineup. The limited market and the failure of the A6 allroad seemed like an easy decision to keep the car off the wagon-fearing shores of North America. But now that Subaru has a new Outback on the way, everything may have changed.
The Truth About Cars has a source within Audi North America who said, “Audi believes there’s a large number of U.S. Outback owners who’re tired of the brand. Customers who want the same sort of vehicle, only better.” Now the A4 allroad mat be in U.S. showrooms as early as September.
Audi sells the A4 allroad in Europe starting at €37,100 (about $49K at direct current rates), and the current Outback starts at $22,295. Last year Subaru sold 44,280 Outbacks, so is this market big enough for Audi to skim the cream off the top?
Not all of us can get to Ingolstadt, Germany to watch Audi build an A4, so the next best thing is to see Audi’s video from the factory. We’re sure Audi didn’t plan ahead when making this video, and its assembly line is just littered with attractive blondes. Hmmmmm.
It’s a wagon...It’s an SUV...It’s the Audi A4 allroad quattro. Audi will officially unveil the A4 allroad quattro in March at the Geneva Motor Show, but it is already letting the details out. The car will go on sale in early summer at a base price of €37,100. That’s about $47,500 at current rates, but Audi has confirmed the A4 allroad will not make it to the U.S. Audi sold the original A6-based allroad North America, but it was pulled in 2006 due to weak sales.
The A4 allroad quattro will be offered with a choice of three engines: 211 hp 2.0-liter TFSI, 170 hp 2.0-liter TDI diesel, and 240 hp 3.0-liter TDI diesel.
These are available with either a six-speed manual transmission or dual-clutch S tronic transmission depending on engine choice.
The A4 allroad shares a resemblance with the Audi A4 Avant on which the allroad is based. Some distinguishing elements include the higher ride height, wider stance (less than an inch more than the A4 Avant), and two-tone paint created by the body cladding. For lovers of crossover vehicles, the allroad is one of the first and best examples. It combines the car and SUV together in a package that’s more car (and thus, more fun) than almost anything else out there.
Audi is creating a ‘will they or won’t they’ saga that no one asked for. It showed of the first A4 allroad at the Geneva Auto Show, but we didn’t pay too much attention, because the company confirmed it wasn’t scheduled for the U.S. That didn’t surprise too many of us here because the original A6-based allroad wasn’t a hot seller and was discontinued in 2005.
Now Audi may be too quick with its own decision. In an interview with Automotive News, Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi AG board member for sales and marketing, said the company is seriously considering bringing the wagon/SUV/crossover to the USA market because regular SUVs are becoming less popular.
"When we launched the A6 allroad the first time, it was still the high time of big SUVs," he said. "And I think it was hard for a new concept to compete against the SUVs. This might have changed in the last 12 months, so we probably have to reconsider what we do on the allroad side, whether it is A4 or A6."
In Europe the A4 allroad quattro will be offered with a choice of three engines: 211 hp 2.0-liter TFSI, 170 hp 2.0-liter TDI diesel, and 240 hp 3.0-liter TDI diesel. Sales in there will begin in early summer at a price of €37,100 euros (or about $46,500 at the current direct rates.) knowing America’s fear of diesel, if the price remains well above $40k for North America, it’s likely a larger gasoline engine will be offered.
The tuning firm B+B are making power in unlikely places. With the use of an upgraded turbocharger the German tuner is making up to 325 HP from the TDI Audi A4. Although those numbers may not seem astronomical, the amount of torque produced, 640 Nm (almost 475 lbft) should be enough to make you scared.
Audi will debut two car in Geneva: the TT RS and the A4 allroad. Next to them the company will also display the newly launched A5/S5 Cabriolet.
We already knew the TT RS would be at the Geneva Motor Show, but its just nice to get official confirmation. Audi’s hottest TT model will likely use a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit found in the Golf/Rabbit/Jetta, with which the TT already shares many components. The TT RS is expected to make 330 - 340 hp. By comparison, the next model downline, the TTS, makes 265 hp with its 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. The TT RS should be good for a 0 to 60 time of about 4.5 seconds (0.5 quicker than the TTS.)
Not to be dismissed at Geneva is the A4 Allroad. Audi’s Allroad program is one of the best (and first) examples of a crossover vehicle out there. It combines the car and SUV together in a package that’s more car (and thus, more fun) than almost anything else out there. Compared to a standard A4, the Allroad will be distinguished by a two-tone body kit with flared fenders, higher ride height, and off-road style front and rear bumpers.
Audi announced that the 2009 A4 line-up will be expanded with two new new models, one featuring front-wheel drive and one featuring a six-speed manual transmission. Both models will go on sale by early 2009 at a price of $31,000 for the Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan with multitronic CVT transmission and $31,850 for the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual.
The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak combines the advantages of the Audi 2.0 TFSI engine, which recently earned a spot on the 2009 Ward’s 10 Best Engines list, and the efficient multitronic continuously variable transmission, or CVT.
The A4 sedan now available with a six-speed manual transmission, offers a sporty driving experience for those who prefer to shift for themselves. The manual transmission is also paired with Audi’s efficient 2.0 TFSI engine along with Audi’s latest generation of quattro all-wheel drive featuring a rear torque bias for sporty handling.
The result of the new front-wheel drive A4 powertrain combination is the best fuel efficiency in its class with an EPA rating of 23 mpg in city driving conditions and 30 mpg in highway driving.
Audi revealed today the A4L (long-wheelbase version) on the Chinese market. The Audi A4L’s wheelbase is 2.36 inches longer, which benefits rear-seat passengers in particular.
The A4L will be offered with a choice of two different engines: the 2.0 TFSI with 180 hp and the six-cylinder 3.2 FSI with 195 kW 265 hp.
The longer wheelbase lends the A4L an especially roomy feel and makes getting into the rear seats even easier. In addition, the longer wheelbase is of particular benefit to rear-seat passengers, who can enjoy legroom unparalleled in this vehicle segment. Thanks to the increase in length and high-quality technology, the A4L injects full-size class into the mid-size category.
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