CONFIRMED: Audi To Bring A3 Diesel To US Market In 2010

Our good friends over at Next Auto are reporting today that Audi officials have confirmed that the A3 2.0 TDI, in front-drive configuration only, will be headed to the U.S. market as soon as next fall for the 2010 model year.

The A3 diesel will run the same basic engine as can be found in the current Volkswagen Jetta TDI, which manages to get away with not using urea injection technology because of lower NOx emissions.

001 is currently piloting the A3 diesel across the western US and the vehicle is averaging 45 miles per gallon with over 1,000 miles of mixed driving.



Read Article

budfrogS4 - 10/14/2008 2:26:57 PM

+2 Boost

Why do this campaign and then wait an entire year to release it? Makes no sense whatsoever. They should be taking preorders while this campaign is going on and the deliver by the new year. So irritating.

veyron1001 - 10/14/2008 5:53:01 PM

+2 Boost

That is a great idea and also makes the prius useless as it gets similar mileage.

aarononymous - 10/14/2008 9:15:56 PM

+4 Boost

I don't think it's a matter of Audi believing in their product, more about if US consumers will accept new diesel technology & buy it. Why bring all their cars over here if nobody buys them, that's why they are very cautious about it...

veyron1001 - 10/14/2008 11:50:29 PM

+2 Boost

So it like testing the temp of the hot tub with your foot before having your body submerged in it.

SHOWTIME - 10/14/2008 2:50:38 PM

-7 Boost

No that's too early...they should bring them by 2025 when everything goes electric and they won't even be considered street legal. Take ur time Audi.

SHOWTIME - 10/14/2008 7:26:41 PM

-1 Boost

ummmm...hard to show sarcasm through writing I guess

IamEvilHomer - 10/14/2008 10:26:31 PM

+4 Boost

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence" - Oscar Wilde

Sarcasm can be difficult to grasp in written form. To prevent this some people emphasise (often overly) the sarcastic comment. (e.g. that’s just craptastic!); sarcastic comments on the Internet with an emoticon, such as ^o); or surround them with a made-up language tag, e.g. *sarcasm*,[sarcasm][/sarcasm], <sarcasm> or <snicker>.

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm

GermanNut - 10/14/2008 3:59:27 PM

0 Boost

Amazing fuel economy. Too bad BMW can't come up with anything close to this in terms of efficiency. I guess BMW drivers are too poor to appreciate anything but the badge.

sector - 10/14/2008 4:41:19 PM

+2 Boost

What do you expect from a shallow group of people that can't distinguish from premium to "appears to be" premium :)

IamEvilHomer - 10/14/2008 10:27:58 PM

+2 Boost

germannut- i know you are just trying to fire up the BMW fanboys ^o)

S4cabriofoxone - 10/14/2008 7:03:39 PM

+4 Boost

I would LOVE it, although I think a 2.7TDI or 3.0TDI in the A3 would be absolutely amazing. This will get fantastic mileage and it goes from 0-60 in under 9 seconds, which is fine for a little diesel hatch, but the passing power is where it really comes alive.

Rupert - 10/15/2008 1:07:27 PM

+1 Boost

A 3.0 in the A3???? Nose heavy...probably wouldn't fit.

Rupert - 10/15/2008 1:08:54 PM

+1 Boost

The 2.0T is a better bet than putting the heavy and expensive V6 diesels in the A3. Would you buy an A3 diesel that cost more than an S3, was slower and handled worse?

jpighetti - 10/17/2008 9:16:19 AM

+1 Boost

They fit the NA 3.2 in the A3 Quattro S-line (in the states). Would a 3.0 diesel be significantly larger or heavier than that motor?

Rupert - 10/17/2008 2:52:53 PM

+1 Boost

It would definitely be heavier, I think it's larger as well (turbo takes up space) and it just wouldn't be worth it. There would be little gain over a 2.0T for a big compromise on handling, plus it would be expensive - like I said, more than the 3.2 or S3.
No car maker offers a six cylinder diesel in a car of this size, the biggest are 2.0 litres usually. Plus there is a very limited market - nobody wants would would be a very fast car with a diesel engine note, it wouldn't be smooth at all - the power band is narrow.

budfrogS4 - 10/15/2008 9:23:27 AM

+1 Boost

Is it really a VW developed engine?