Audi leads efficiency charge If ever there was a sign that the charge towards more efficient vehicles has hit the big time, led by a plethora of diesel technology improvements and innovations, it would be the large-scale adoption thereof by the world’s most prolific car manufacturers – and that is exactly the case. Hot on the heels of their rival stablemates, the world’s most ambitious premium manufacturer, Audi, has announced some radical advances in the efficiencies of their range, either currently available or imminent in South Africa. Without much fanfare, Audi recently launched the A4 TDIe in South Africa, a replacement model of their already popular 2.0-litre TDi family sedan (look out for our test in the coming weeks). As a testament towards how manufacturers like Audi are simply refining their fuel efficiency technology and applying recently proven technology to existing machines, the TDIe is simply fitted with slightly less flared arches, redesigned grilles, rides a little lower and has an improved underbelly pan to decrease its air drag coefficient. The 100kW/320Nm engine now employs a stop-start system, energy conserving power steering pump, regenerative braking and a taller gear ratio, returning an impressive (theoretical) 22km/litre of thirst and only 115g of carbon emissions – bringing it just within government’s zero-tax-on-emissions threshold.
Audi’s relatively new A3 1.6TDI model also falls into the green area of the emissions tax laws and their imminent A1 1.6TDI is speculated to produce around 103g and deliver over 20km/litre when it is launched in early 2011.