Hot off winning the Green Car of the Year award, Audi is getting serious about the diesel burning boosted version of the A3 TDI compact hatch with their latest Superbowl commercial. The Green Police are out to crack down on every kind of consumer waste from shoppers using single use plastic bags at the supermarket to police drinking out of Styrofoam cups.
Some might say that the Green Police are going a little too far with their efforts to clean up the environment, however the commercial does make for some very funny situations that will hopefully leave new car shoppers here in the U.S. thinking a little differently about alternative fuels in their premium vehicles. Enjoy!
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The Spanish automaker SEAT has just added a new sporty alternatively fueled version of their best selling Ibiza hot hatch called the Ibiza FR TDI. The turbo diesel powered compact is available in either the three door SC or the more practical five door body style starting at a very reasonable £16,465. According to Andy McGregor, SEAT UK’s Ibiza Product Manager, "the arrival of the Ibiza FR TDI signals our intention to make SEAT a leader in the supermini sector."
Powered by a turbocharged diesel engine that delivers a total of 143 HP, the Ibiza FR comes with SEAT’s new XDS electronic virtual limited slip differential for improved handling and even torque distribution as well as exclusive FR specific detailing inside and out to denote this as a very special Ibiza. The FR can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in 8.2 seconds and reach an electronicaly limited top speed of 130 MPH, all while getting as much as 62.7 MPG on the combined cycle ensuring that the new SEAT Ibiza FR TDI is as easy on the wallet as it is fun to drive.
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ABT Sportline revealed today a tuning package for the Q7 3.0 TDI diesel SUV. With the use of the ABT Power technology, the engine’s output is raised to 278 hp and 580 Nm.
The Q7 also gets ABT Performance Springs and ABT Sports brake systems side rails, rear aprons, fender extensions, 4-pipe exhaust units and exhaust tailpipe end caps. The SUV sits on dynamic BR alloys in 9x20 and 10x22 inch wheels.
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Even if the diesel burning Audi A3 just arrived in U.S. last month, the alternatively fueled hatchback already has a huge following around the world. And it hasn’t taken long for the other A3 to find success being named the 2010 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal and the GreenCar.com website at the 2009 LA Auto Show. The 2.0 Liter TDI four cylinder engine delivers a maximum output of 140 HP and because it is a diesel, significantly more torque, 236 lb-ft to be exact. Yet despite the excessive amount of thrust, the green A3 is able to get an EPA estimated 42 MPG on the highway.
According to the President of Audi of America, Johan de Nysschen, "We consider the Green Car of the Year® title one of the most important industry accolades. It is of paramount importance for us to develop vehicles that achieve the very touchstones this award stands for fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Rather than novelty features, we consider these attributes imperative to the future of automobile design. We are honored with this recognition for the Audi A3 TDI." With a shift towards premium compacts and fuel efficient car shopping, Audi look like they are on the right track towards selling these green A3s like hot cakes.
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After seeing MTM’s customization program for the new Golf GTD we know that Honda and Mugen don’t have a monopoly on the modified hatchback market. As further proof, the German tuning house ABT Sportsline has just come up with a kit of their own for the diesel burning turbocharged Golf VI. Aside from giving the TDI hatchback a 50 HP kick in the pants with one of their ABT Power units, the Germans have also reworked the Golf’s exterior to further suit their own brand of style.
The aero mods include a new front bumper with much more angular intakes as well as a set of stylish strips of LED driving lights. Out back the new rear diffuser makes room for ABT’s signature quad tipped exhaust pipes while an oversized wing keeps things planted at speed. Finishing off the design, ABT is offering a few wheel and tire options with their sporty AR and BR models available in either 18 or 19 inches in diameter. The alternatively fueled 2.0 Liter power plant now makes a total 190 HP and a very diesel like 288 lb-ft of torque, and although it may not sound so impressive going from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.1 seconds isn’t too bad for a diesel, and neither is a 143 MPH top speed. The best part about tuning a diesel is that when you are done you’re still driving a green vehicle.
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