Audi dropping the ball on diesels in the USA? Exclusive new info that may shock you.

The competition in the premium auto segment couldn't be any more intense these days so every strategic move is of the utmost importance.

The Germans are playing catch-up with Toyota’s hybrid strategy by bringing diesels back to the USA market AND working on their own hybrid plans.

Mercedes has an early jump on its competitors by being the first to have a full line of killer diesels available in 45 states with rumors circling that BMW and Audi will be bringing back diesels that will be certified in all 50 states, for the 2008 model year.

The Spies have just found out that Audi may have suffered some type of setback because their reps are telling dealers not to expect ANY diesel Audi’s until at LEAST the 2009 model year!

This is interesting news seeing that they have been touting a diesel comeback at the recent USA auto shows and in all their racing initiatives.

Audi dealers tell us that they are EXTREMELY disappointed that Audi is moving so slowly in this key growth area.

We will keep you all updated as news breaks on this subject.

Terminal10 - 3/29/2007 4:41:11 PM

+3 Boost

How can the company that is turning heads with the R8 and other models not figure out how to bring diesels to the U.S. market before 2009?

IamEvilHomer - 3/30/2007 1:27:34 PM

+2 Boost

Audi told us 2009 model year sorry 001 is right
we will have a V6 TDI first

MercBasher - 4/1/2007 10:02:52 AM

+1 Boost

I don't understand the fuss. We all know that Audi's executives are not too sharp. Audi would rather try and rush a host of new models to the market than fully exploit the ones it has already. . . and new models are a lot more engineering work than certifying existing engines for new markets. Odds are Audi doesn't have the resources to simultaneously work on the R8, the A5, the TT and diesels for the US.

IamEvilHomer - 4/1/2007 11:47:36 AM

+1 Boost

merc
audi never ruched these cars that are comming out

A refresh tt is long overdue the r8 we have heard about from 91 with the avdntismo concept
and the A5 is the new A4 with 2 doors

IamEvilHomer - 4/1/2007 11:48:22 AM

+1 Boost

merc blame it on lame california

budfrogS4 - 3/29/2007 5:08:36 PM

+1 Boost

This is an outrage. With Audi touting the R10 and TDI technology at auto shows, it's an absolute travesty that they won't bring diesels here until 2009. I hope this information is inaccurate, no offense 001.

Agent001 - 3/29/2007 5:09:14 PM

+1 Boost

So do I, but it isn't

001

smshnick - 3/29/2007 9:46:24 PM

+1 Boost

001, we all realize you're not an Audi fan, but could you try to contain the negative spin you put on all your Audi articles?

Agent001 - 3/30/2007 12:03:02 AM

+1 Boost

I'm a fan of ALL german cars...owned 4 Audi's in the last three years...my favorite being the S4 sedan.

001

nvme - 3/30/2007 5:57:44 AM

+3 Boost

As long as there are no sources cited, i'm sorry but this stays in the gossip department!

rg12345 - 3/30/2007 9:50:00 AM

+2 Boost

EXACTLY !
Sorry 001 ... that is NOT news ... that is rumors ... my dealer told me something else, won't say it here since it's just a guy with his own opinion ... irrelevant, same as this article.

IamEvilHomer - 3/30/2007 1:19:32 PM

+1 Boost

001 wow you put Audi in a headline
of course it is negitive
you are like the NYT saying they are not liberal

S4cabriofoxone - 3/31/2007 12:18:21 AM

+1 Boost

001, go S4!!! I can't believe you didn't tell me! B6 or B7?

AlexTx - 3/29/2007 5:18:01 PM

0 Boost

It will be here in late 2008 as a 2009 MY.

chewy - 3/29/2007 5:59:22 PM

+1 Boost

The problem is that the EPA hasn't approved the technology yet. Plus ULSD is might not be available in all locations for some time. So basically sillly buerocracy is behind this. Still hoping for quicker rathen than later.

Agent001 - 3/29/2007 6:17:20 PM

+2 Boost

no one is bashing anyone...dealers are unhappy about it, that makes it news, we report it.

001

smshnick - 3/29/2007 9:49:36 PM

+1 Boost

How many dealers have you talked to 001? You think you have a consensus because you've talked to 2 or 3 dealers? How about you leave the Audi posts to 009, and you just stick to your Lexus propoganda.

nvme - 3/30/2007 6:07:36 AM

0 Boost

I for two would like to tell you, that as much as i agree with you it's likely the US gouv is conspiring against its citizens, that cannot be said of European gouvs so the crisis is absolutely here!
I was a geology minor in my undergrad, so i know for a fact that oil supplies are running low, and that the most optimistic forecast is that they will last no longer than around 2070...
As to why any racing sport is still going on, well all i can say is that we are in a liberal market, so as long as there are people -like myself unfortunately- watching, they have no reason whatsoever to stop!
sadly enough there is another conspiracy theory here; mainly to keep the general public as uninformed as possible so that oil companies can continue speculating gold out of our asses...

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 3/30/2007 2:11:40 AM

+1 Boost

Ehh
Sorry Mate

But Audi has had 2.0L TDIs in the TTs and A3s for a long time now and they are more powerful and Efficient than their Petrol Counterparts.
Now last time i checked there were loads of 2.0L T petrol Engined Audi A3s & A4s all over the USA so why would they not use the 2.0L Turbo Diesel ?

chewy - 3/30/2007 12:59:50 PM

+1 Boost

Did you read the article. Only the V6 TDI will come because it fits in the A4, A5, A6, Q5, Q7. The 2.0 TDI is only good for the A3/A4. The V6 TDI makes much more financial sense.

Type707 - 3/29/2007 6:32:09 PM

0 Boost

Similar reason why FORD is losing sells is because their vehicles are mostly all gas guzzlers. Due to increase in fuel prices consumers cannot afford to use vehicles sucking up their money. Why do you think Toyota is taking over? Audi better be on it or they'll end up like FORD.

SixxFive - 3/29/2007 6:34:17 PM

0 Boost

Very disappointing and terrible mismanagement within Audi.

david999 - 3/29/2007 6:40:30 PM

-1 Boost

what else is new.

chewy - 3/29/2007 9:44:25 PM

+1 Boost

Where is there mismanagment. Go read the Audiwolrd article, right now the EPA can be blaimed with slow technology approval and long wait before 100 % ULSD availability. I have yet to see any other company have a 50 state diesel.

528i - 3/29/2007 6:37:46 PM

+2 Boost

Until now I didn't see a single Q7 on the road.

Will_ - 3/29/2007 7:45:49 PM

+1 Boost

I still haven't.

I've seen more R-Classes.

EL34 - 3/29/2007 8:39:57 PM

+2 Boost

I saw a yellow and an orange Lamborghini Gallardo today, but not one Q7 :(

528i - 3/30/2007 12:08:12 AM

+1 Boost

I live in the bay area, but I see R classes all over the place.

farhank420 - 3/29/2007 7:44:11 PM

-3 Boost

what is the purpose of bringing diesels back!? yes they consume less gas just like hybrid....but it will take an hour to accelerate once the traffic light turns green! Besides this is America, this is not Europe, Asia, etc. where the pure efficiency is diesel

Rupert - 3/29/2007 9:06:00 PM

+5 Boost

yes of course diesels take an hour...the E320cdi does 0-60 in under 7.5 seconds.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 3/30/2007 2:16:30 AM

+3 Boost

What a Moron

European Diesels are usually no more than 1 sec behind their petrol Counterparts and much faster during 3rd & 4th gear acceleration.

There needs to be some sort of screening process on this site

jt716 - 3/29/2007 8:35:22 PM

+1 Boost

Not really Type707 Ford's cars are efficient you are exaggerating that they are all gas guzzlers. If you buy a Ford Explorer or Expedition what do you expect. By the way the Land cruiser Prado has the worse mileage for Toyota 13mpg even the Explorer get around 15mpg and Expedition is around 12 or 13mpg. The company that is a big gas guzzler is DODGE for sure.

webguy - 3/29/2007 10:28:19 PM

+3 Boost

Hmmm… I don’t think it matters. Americans still largely have the perception of diesels being rough, loud, dirty, slow, and unsupported by the majority of gas stations. On the opposite end of the spectrum, hybrids are considered smooth, quieter, cleaner, faster (in many cases) and may be fueled at any gas station; but hybrids are still having trouble gaining the support they’re looking for.

Even if Mercedes begins to correct the diesel perception with Bluetec, I doubt demand for diesel will be strong enough to pull significant sales away based solely on this option. It’s possible that will change over the course of a few years, but since California (the environmentalist, early adopter state) won’t see Bluetec until ’08, I think Audi is certainly safe until 2009.

With that, Audi clearly has some diesel engine tricks up its sleeve, as demonstrated by their Le Mans performance. I’m very curious to see what their consumer versions have to offer.

chewy - 3/30/2007 12:46:54 AM

+1 Boost

The 3.0 V6 TDI with 240 hp will be the only TDI for some time. Excellent fuel economy and very decent performance of course is what it will bring.

rg12345 - 3/30/2007 9:59:41 AM

+2 Boost

forget it .. will find out for sure later, with some real info, not just rumors. The way I know it Audi has so many diesel engine available in europe you don't even know what to choose overthere. For every model they have like 5 different diesel options ...
They got at least these engines:
-1.9 TDI
-2.0 TDI
-2.7 TDI
-3.0 TDI
-4.2 TDI

Plus the newly designed V12 TDI.

It's only a matter of time if they wanna bring them overhere, but since US stupid market can't understand the diesel is decent, or even good, it's pointless.
The problem is with the US people and with the US government which won't let good engines in the US based on some factors (probably because GM can't build a decent diesel, only huge V8 engines with 2 or 3 hp) saying that the emission are not where they should be. I just don't think a huge 4.2 V8 developing a weak #hp won't get the air more polluted than a small diesel with three times better mpg.

Rupert - 3/30/2007 10:36:40 AM

+2 Boost

And there are at least 2 tunes of the 2.0 tdi

07mcs - 3/30/2007 5:43:21 PM

+1 Boost

I am hoping they have the Q7 with the 4.2 TDI by next year.

adambravo - 3/30/2007 10:13:46 AM

+2 Boost

This kind of attention-grabbing nonsense is right up there with "Something in your house may be killing you! News at 11!"

1. The 2009 model year is only about a year away.
2. At the Geneva show, BMW announced their first clean, 50-state diesels would launch in the US in the X5 and 5 Series--in calendar year 2008. This would make them (surprise, surprise) 2009 models.
3. At the Detroit show, Audi not only announced a Q7 V6 turbodiesel for 2008 but a hybrid as well. If that turns out to be true, that would put them ahead of BMW and Mercedes on the hybrid front, as Mercedes has stated the first Mercedes-badged hybrid isn't due until 2009.

"Dropping the ball"? I don't think so.

smshnick - 3/30/2007 11:02:20 AM

+2 Boost

Bravo, Adam.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/31/2007 12:21:01 AM

+2 Boost

I'm surprised at anyone who hasn't seen Q7s. In my area, they've had a recent sales surge. The lots have a generous selection, but there are more on the road every day. I'm glad they're keeping up with demand. Beautiful SUV... but my guilty pleasure is the Range Rover. I'd have that one, first and foremost. Make mine a dark blue RR Supercharged with white interior and dark blue piping... sweet.

truecarlover - 4/1/2007 1:17:24 PM

+1 Boost

Living in NY you see all kinds of vehicles. I was out with a lady friend who likes cars too and we were both car watching in her neighborhood. We saw a Maserati Quattroporte (to me the most beautiful car on the road) and a couple of Bentley's in uptown Manhattan. In the metro NYC area there are just as many Q7's on the road here as GL450 Mercedes but suprisingly I see the R-Class more than both. I would be interested to know what the ACTUAL numbers are. To me the R-Class is hideous - and I agree with you the Range Rover is the best (and for me the only) SUV. As far as this article goes - bringing premium diesel vehicles to America is not an easy thing. An automaker has many factors to take into account - such as - availability of diesel - cost of meeting regulations - and separate marketing for diesels to customers. It is not easy nor is it cheap - so people need to learn patience.