Audi Downsizes A6 Engines With Excellent Fuel Economy Results, Will Others Follow?

Engine downsizing has been an industry buzzword for the past few years. The idea behind downsizing is to replace a large naturally aspirated engine with a smaller turbocharged or supercharged engine. At first this concept only applied to mainstream cars but has recently appeared on luxury brands as well. Even Mercedes AMG models are replacing their 6.3 liter naturally aspirated V8s with slightly smaller 5.5 liter twin-turbo V8s. Audi has gone one further with its all new 2012 A6 as the previous V6 model has been replaced with a four cylinder turbo and the V8 option has been dropped in favor of a supercharged V6. These downsized engines have delivered for Audi. Paired with a CVT transmission the A6 2.0T delivers 25 city and 33 highway for 28 combined, numbers rarely seen in the luxury category. The quattro 3.0 TFSI does quite well as well rated at 19 city and 28 highway. Follow the link to read more about Audi fuel economy ratings and see how a Lamborghini beats a Lexus in fuel economy.

What do you think, will other luxury brands follow Audi and sell more four cylinder luxury cars?
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car750i - 5/26/2011 9:45:15 PM

+4 Boost

BMW's already has turbo 4,6,8,12 cylinders through their lineup.

aarononymous - 5/27/2011 9:44:38 PM

+1 Boost

BMW just came out with a turbo-4 and doesn't offer it in the 5-series, which is in the A6 class. I think that was the point...

car750i - 5/28/2011 9:36:59 AM

+2 Boost

BMW has had 4 cylinder turbo diesels in the 5 for quite sometime. BMW also downsized to forced induction 6's years before Audi. BMW was on their second generation turbo six by the time Audi released its 6 cylinder, and the same goes with the turbo V8's.

aarononymous - 5/28/2011 11:43:04 AM

+1 Boost

Pretty sure they are referring to the US market, there have been 3 cylinder aircooled Bentleys and Rolls Royces in europe forever. As for the FI are you counting the 2002 turbo and E23 745i, becuase Audi has been doing turbo 4's and 6's in production cars long before BMW.

Didn't read the article so I'm only assuming but Audi has been dropping their V8's and even V6's accross their model line in the US and now adding the 2.0T to the A6 is another step in that size car.

2ndbimmer - 5/28/2011 1:03:50 PM

+3 Boost

BMW is coming out this fall with the 4 cylinder turbo in the 528i. This is old news. This is also why there is wait for the 528xi. Preliminary tests, according to the performance center in South Carolina, people have been know to get up to 40MPG on the highway for the 528i with the 4 cylinder turbo. It will also be in the new 3 series and Z4. Hopefully the next 128i as well.
My 335i sedan that I have chipped to 340HP and 350 torque has an overall average of 24.5 MPG and from chicago to indy, I get there in under 2 hours. I do not drive slow and I get better mileage than my girlfriends Lexus RX 400h, which averages 17 MPG's. Luckily that car was a gift and not from me.

aarononymous - 5/28/2011 2:34:02 PM

0 Boost

First I've heard of it in the 5 series, but I heard of the 4 cylinder turbo replacing the base 6. 40mpg on the highway? Best I got in our Mazda3 2.0 was 37mpg on the highway with AC off..

markanthony0419 - 5/26/2011 11:31:28 PM

+3 Boost

how much slower can non s cars be for audi

chewy - 5/26/2011 11:57:51 PM

+1 Boost

The A6 3.0T is a bit quicker than the 535i (video on the Autospies front page) and the 2.0T is probably comparable to the 528i so it should be ok but isn't meant to be the volume seller in the US. In Germany both brands offer less than 200 horsepower in their entry level models.

IamEvilHomer - 5/27/2011 11:21:33 AM

-2 Boost

There will be a 4.0 supercharged also. The 2.0t should be ok in this car for the price point. It feels great in the Q5 and the A6 weighs less then the Q5

chewy - 5/27/2011 7:14:28 PM

+1 Boost

Isn't the 4.0 a turbo engine? Either turbo or supercharged the S6 should have plenty of power with that engine to compete with the 550i or the E550.

veyron1001 - 5/27/2011 8:22:19 PM

+1 Boost

Reducing weight costs more than downsizing the engine.

markanthony0419 - 5/26/2011 11:33:15 PM

+3 Boost

2.0 t for a a6 are you kidding if it werent for the lights it will look just like the a4 save 20k

2ndbimmer - 5/28/2011 1:06:07 PM

+3 Boost

BMW is also coming out with a 535i hybrid this fall. We shall see how it does. I would much rather see the diesel engine. I think I am going that route this fall when my lease is up, but for the 335d.

truckman - 5/28/2011 1:51:24 PM

-1 Boost

progress!

enthusiastx11 - 5/31/2011 7:58:19 PM

+1 Boost

they have no choice. the fleetwide fuel economy required in the united states continues to rise. and luxury-only makers are at a major disadvantage because they can't balance out the gas guzzlers with millions of corollas.