In today’s world, one of the most important features for almost any car is its fuel efficiency and how much CO2 it outputs, so that the driver won’t pay an arm and a leg at the fuel stop and won’t be picketed by Greenpeace for destroying the planet.
In order to further appeal to this new audience, Audi has just announced that it will be equipping the A3, both the normal and the Sportback version, with a new and improved 1.6-liter TDI engine, which can average 3.8 litres/100 km or 61.9 US mpg. Its CO2 emissions are pegged at 99 g/km, which is very good considering that the new motor will develop a respectable 105 HP and a torque of 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft).
In order to make the engine so efficient, Audi threw in almost every piece of technology it had, including a special five-speed manual gearbox in which the final drive ratio in longer, a start-stop system which will turn off the engine if you leave it in neutral and take your foot off the clutch, a KERS-like system which will take the strain off the alternator when the car is braking and even a special Efficiency Platform chassis, which stands closer to the ground.
Don’t expect the new engine to deliver blistering performance, as the 1.6 TDI will take you from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 11.4 seconds, and up to 190 km/h (118 mph). The new motor will enter the European market in the first half of 2010, joining the other powerplants available for the A3 model.
Read More: “Audi A3 gets new 1.6 TDI engine which averages 3.8 litres/100 km (61.9 mpg)”
Source: CarScoop
