German Car Zone

Merc1 · 03-07-2008, 04:51 AM

Freezing and teasing: Audi takes us to Toronto for another diesel dangle.

When Audi introduced its excellent Q7 sport-ute way back in 2005, it hinted and later confirmed that Americans would get the big ute in diesel-powered 3.0 TDI form. Most everyone that drove the diesel version, which was present at the launch, absolutely loved it, not only on account of its gutsy motor and impressive (for a 5000-pound SUV) fuel economy, but also for what it represented: the first of Audi’s new TDIs to come to the States, a move that could add dimension to Audi’s brand image while helping bring diesel back in vogue among high rollers.

That was well over two years ago, and since then, pretty much every American auto wag has seen, driven, and praised the prodigious thrust and crazy 500–600-mile range of the oil-burning version of the big seven-seater. And several of us have also sampled the even more robust, V-8-powered Q7 4.2 TDI. Then there are those slick A4s, A6s and even A5s with Audi’s torquey diesel engines—each fast, fetching, and fuel-efficient.

But have any ever been sold to American customers? No. Are any of them besides the Q7 3.0 TDI coming? The best Audi can promise is—as always—“maybe.”

A “TDI Offensive:” Offensive Indeed

Pardon us, then, for rolling our eyes as Audi proclaims its so-called “TDI Offensive,” which officially includes the Q7 3.0 TDI, the Q7 4.2 TDI, the 2009 Audi A4 3.0 TDI, the A5 3.0 TDI, and even the show-stopping R8 V-12 TDI, the latter yet to be approved for production but invoked as part of this PR blitz nonetheless. Yet for America, Audi remains committed only to the Q7 3.0 TDI, which itself is still a long way out with an on-sale date of January 2009, some three years after we drove the first one. Come on!

Many analysts expect that we’ll get the A4 3.0 TDI, but an Audi spokesman claims that Audi continues to deliberate about whether or not to import it. Never mind the fact that it will be available in Europe with the AdBlue urea-injection system that was designed specifically to meet California’s stringent emissions standards. We find it hard to believe that they’re still in decision-making mode, but it’s Audi’s “offensive,” after all, and we’ll take offense if Audi never brings any TDIs here and continues to tease us while displaying an unwillingness to deliver the goods.

Can Diesels Satisfy?

We wish that this wasn’t the case. While several of us on staff believe that diesels, with their somewhat gruffer engine notes and low redlines, still can’t match the desires of sporting enthusiasts as well as their gas counterparts, it’s hard to argue with diesels’ fuel economy and mid-range passing power. Moreover, most of us far prefer diesels to other mileage-enhancing solutions such as hybrids, which are heavier, pricier, and tend not to perform as well as diesels in climates as frigid as, say, Toronto in February, the location Audi chose to announce this “offensive.”

Meanwhile, Audi is working on hybrids, too, with a Q7 hybrid slated to go into production at the end of the year, using the system from the Porsche Cayenne since the two vehicles share a platform. In the long term, according to Audi’s head of clean diesel development Giovanni Pamio, Audi even envisions the expensive combination of hybrid technology with diesel motors will make it into production. But for now—if not necessarily for us—Audi believes that its direct-injection diesels are the ideal way to boost fuel economy and lower emissions in packages that today’s customers will enjoy and can afford.

And to be fair, the A5 3.0 TDI in which we spent a good bit of time behind the wheel in Toronto proved fast, fabulous, and fully capable of making the hideous weather tolerable. We think it—and the A4 3.0 TDI and all the rest—would be a nice addition to the U.S. lineup.

We’ll see if Audi agrees. But we’re not holding our breath.

Audiâ€™s Commitment Issues with Diesels in the U.S. - Car News / VW/Audi Central / High Performance / Hot Lists / Reviews / Car and Driver - Car And Driver

M

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Car and Driver - Audi’s Commitment Issues with Diesels in the U.S.