Spies Get First Test Drives In Upcoming Audi USA Diesels- Is Blue The New Green?

As first reported on AutoSpies.com over two years ago, Audi as well as the other German manufacturers are bring their new 'Blue' technology diesels to USA dealers starting this fall.

And yesterday in the 'Napa Valley' of the Northeast (Niagara on the Lake, Ontario) the Spies weathered the deep freeze to get our first taste of the 'Audi versions of these tasty frozen treats.

Freezing cold, lots of snow, ice, grey sky...now THAT'S the way to test the Quattro system!

Doesn't get any better than that!

You can really appreciate the 'nothing stops a Quattro plus you get a new understanding of the  safety advantage.

Note to Audi: EVERY Audi dealer should have a virtual Quattro experience like Land Rover has at their dealers.

Try an Audi and see how good and important the awd technology is and you're BUYING the car...Plain and simple...FANTASTIC!

We drove a lot of the different diesels that Audi is producing (Q7 3.0, Q7 4.2, A5 3.0 and others) at a special test course, but the USA will only get the Q7 3.0 TDI this fall to start.

We also got the ultimate ride in one of the original Quattro Coupes with a professional rally driver and boy was tht cool!

Check out the video coming soon of my ride.

We spent a day and a half in the Q7 3.0 TDI and we can only say one ting about it.

In our opinion if you are going to buy a Q7 starting later this year, the ONLY way to go is the 3.0 TDI.

It has every advantage (space, utility, performance, good looks) with NONE of the trade off of any of the gas guzzling alternatives.

It's THAT good!

How about 25MPG highway and a 650 mile cruising range (26 gallon tank)!

And Audi claims it will be the cleanest diesel on the planet when it comes to the USA.

AMAZING!

This new generations of efficient and clean diesels are so fine, the Spies are predicting that this fall, Blue will be the new Green!

Do you think these diesels will sell well and will Americans finally accept them?

001 is also testing the A6 Avant over the next few days in Southern Ontario and Toronto so he will alos post his impressions of that later this week.

So all you Canadian fans of AutoSpies.com, keep your eye out for a Black/Amaretto A6 Avant blazing through the snow over the next few days...you may spot 001 in the flesh!

Now enjoy these awesome photos from the event...

NItePhire - 2/27/2008 2:26:38 PM

+4 Boost

I recently drove an Enclave for about 200 miles and got about slightly over 23 miles to the gallon for the entire trip. Ok it was front wheel drive and also I know that Audi has a higher price point but its something to think about. I don't think that folks who buy Audi's are cross shopping Buick's just yet anyway though. I look forward to driving the Audi when it arrives.

Agent001 - 2/27/2008 2:56:14 PM

+4 Boost

But the Encalve doesn't have ANYWHERE near the torque, style, road feel, AWD prowess, safety, fit and finish, etc.

Aside from that, it's pretty nice. ;)

Really doubt your claim it truly gets 25MPG running an expressway run at a steady 80MPH like the Audi.

001

asaca - 2/27/2008 3:26:13 PM

+4 Boost

And how much more expensive is the Audi Q7 compare to the Enclave? Not sure about the gas mileage of the Enclave but had a Saturn Outlook 2WD for a 24 hour test drive. Cruise on highway at 70mph with cruise control the trip computer shows 26mpg.

mapax - 2/27/2008 5:51:19 PM

+3 Boost

GM might be putting an engine similar to Audi's in the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook. Clean 2.9 diesel being developed for Cadillac.

Diesels for all these SUV's seems so obvious.

NItePhire - 2/27/2008 9:02:34 PM

+2 Boost

Dude just telling what the trip computer said. Besides I am sure that the Audi will do just well even if it will never be recommended by Consumer Reports.

Agent001 - 2/27/2008 3:08:06 PM

+2 Boost

Thanks for adding that...good to know

001

Htay7500 - 2/27/2008 3:12:36 PM

+3 Boost

Im yearning towards the A4 and Audis rally car (wtf is it called again!!??)

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2008 3:42:58 PM

+3 Boost

The Quattro???

Htay7500 - 2/27/2008 3:43:49 PM

+2 Boost

I thought it was called the 80 or something.

Lemantech - 2/28/2008 5:18:36 PM

+1 Boost

lol, it's called the audi S1

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2008 3:47:52 PM

+4 Boost

Thanks for the photos, and your impressions, 001!

I think clean diesels will take the US by storm when they get here in full force.

This is RX400h-type mileage, from a vehicle that is over a foot longer, weighs half a ton more and has gobs more torque.

M35MT - 2/28/2008 7:45:11 AM

+2 Boost

Quite similar to the RX400h. Audi's advantage is on the highway, although, combined MPG the RX will probably do better (as hybrids true benefits are in the city).

Although the Q7 is a heftier vehicle. Plus - the diesel gives the torque advantage - which is crucial for off-roading/towing. This type of engine DESPERATELY needs to be in the Land Rover LR3. I really, really love the Q7 but I want off-road capability.

That A5 looks gorgeous, I'm really liking that car too.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/29/2008 1:22:49 AM

+1 Boost

Yeah, I'm actually having a hard time believing how good the A5 looks in these pics. I saw an S5 in person at my dealer, and it's just stunning.

answer - 2/27/2008 3:56:26 PM

+3 Boost

Are diesels ever going to be available in California?

I was excited about the Benz Bluetec stuff, but it couldn't be offered here in CA.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 2/27/2008 4:01:42 PM

-5 Boost

theres a reason for that.

FunBrit - 2/27/2008 4:29:09 PM

+6 Boost

Diesels are coming to all States, including California and all the other States that follow the same emissions requirements. The new super clean diesels meet and exceed the emissions requirements now that sulphur content in diesel fuel has been significantly reduced. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Honda, Nissan and possibly Toyota are all looking to release diesel engined vehicles for the 2009 model year.

Ironman273 - 2/27/2008 3:56:57 PM

+2 Boost

I've always thought diesels would be the way to go, particularly diesel-hybrids, but I wonder about the whole "urea tank" thing with these blue diesels. Will drivers have to carry around bottles of urea in the trunk to fill up the urea tank with? What was your experience with it 001?

FunBrit - 2/27/2008 4:33:54 PM

+6 Boost

The urea tank capacity is supposed to be more than sufficent to operate between dealer maintenance services. Each time the vehicle comes in for maintenance the dealer will top up the tank. I guess if it ever ran out, you could always pull off the road and relieve yourself into the tank to ensure that you are still emission compliant.

Htay7500 - 2/27/2008 4:45:04 PM

+2 Boost

honda isn't going to use that in their diesels when they come stateside.

Ironman273 - 2/27/2008 5:44:13 PM

+2 Boost

lol at FunBrit's solution. I had heard (regarding the Mercedes) that the tank was good for 2-3 tankfuls.

Monk - 2/27/2008 6:58:52 PM

+4 Boost

Just received our new GL320 CDI. I'm sure the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI is just as clean.





Enter the clean diesels.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2008 9:24:03 PM

+3 Boost

How is it? What kind of MPG, performance?

mapax - 2/27/2008 7:28:37 PM

+2 Boost

001, did they give any information about when the Q7 diesel will go on sale?

Agent001 - 2/27/2008 10:44:04 PM

+2 Boost

Late this year

001

ICON - 2/27/2008 7:46:59 PM

+4 Boost

Impressive Audi...can't wait to see the other diesel hybrids from BMW & MB.

investor27 - 2/27/2008 8:41:56 PM

+3 Boost

I'm glad Audi is bringing diesels over. I, too, can't wait for BMW and MB bringing their lines of diesels over.

DieselRules - 2/29/2008 12:26:13 AM

+1 Boost

In Canada MB offers the E320 BlueTec, ML320cdi, GL320cdi, and R320cdi
Aren't those in the US.

They're missing the S-class diesel, the B-class diesel and the most obvious: the E-Class Diesel Wagon.

A Diesel Wagon is an SUV With more Sport and Practicality (AKA Utility) than almost anything on the road.
But if you want a diesel wagon, you have to buy a Passat (in the rare years that they offer them)

25 year-old MB diesel wagons are fetching up to $10k, with 300,000 miles on them.
What more of a sign of demand is there than that!

mapax - 2/28/2008 6:23:38 AM

+3 Boost

But have you sat in a Highlander? I was shocked at how cheap and uncomfortable it felt.

M35MT - 2/28/2008 7:52:46 AM

+1 Boost

mapax, I agree I the Highlander is an different class, but that has nothing to do with fuel mileage.

DieselRules - 2/29/2008 12:30:52 AM

+2 Boost

A highlander is a tin-can compared to a Q7.
Why not compare a Corolla's mileage to an E320CDI ???

Did you know my almost 40-year old 2100 sq. foot home costs less to heat than a new 20,000 square foot palace?
Does that make my dump more efficient?
I don't think so.

Give it up huu76, Toyota's marketing dept. is not going to put you on salary no matter how hard you try!

chewy - 2/27/2008 9:51:36 PM

+6 Boost

Sounds about right, very good mpg for a big SUV.

DieselRules - 2/29/2008 12:34:53 AM

0 Boost

Big SUV?
Doesn't it trace its lineage back to the RX-300, which a Toyota employee described (at the time it was released) as "a bloated-up Camry AWD"

mapax - 2/28/2008 6:25:57 AM

+1 Boost

001, I've read other places that 25 mpg is the combined number for the Q7 tdi. Was this something you tested or was it numbers they provided?

M35MT - 2/28/2008 7:54:40 AM

+3 Boost

EPA combined seems to be the 'real-world' highway mileage...

so if the EPA estimates are 30 highway and 20 city, 25 combined, in the real world I'd expect 25 highway...

mapax - 2/28/2008 8:06:05 AM

+1 Boost

yeah, i hear you. i've seen other reviewers comment on this though. like this one, where they observed 25 in mixed driving:
http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Features/printer_2524.shtml
not a huge issue for me. 25 is great for this type of vehicle, but still curious.

GruntyDieselsRock - 2/28/2008 5:43:45 PM

-1 Boost

Shame the Q7 looks like a pig. And it is so fat and lardy as to tarnish Audis carefully manicured brand. These tanks dont really help the brand I am afraid. In fact to the contrary, they stuff it. Wheres my foot and my gun. I need to shoot something...

DieselRules - 2/29/2008 12:45:06 AM

+2 Boost

So, did you try an A5-TDI ???
When can i order an R8-TDI?
Forget the V-10 gas ... put the A8's 4.2 V8 TDI in the R8.
(although a V6 TDI Q7 or Touareg would be a lot more practical .... especially for towing a travel trailer or boat)

S4cabriofoxone - 2/29/2008 1:25:41 AM

+1 Boost

"Forget the V-10 gas ... put the A8's 4.2 V8 TDI in the R8."

THAT'S WHAT I WANT!!! Thank you for reminding me!