More economical diesel Audis have started arriving in Australia.

The A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI e is the latest generation of highly fuel efficient vehicles from Audi.

Following its debut in October 2007 at the Australian International Motor Show, the Audi A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI e went on to take part later the same month in the Panasonic Solar Challenge "Greenfleet" fuel economy class.

Driving from Darwin to Adelaide in its maiden World Solar Challenge voyage, the A3 Sportback 1.9 TDI e achieved 3.3l/100km, according to official results published by the organisers.

Travelling 3543km from point to point, at times fuel consumption dropped as low as 2.6l/100km on the journey.

Average C02 emissions were just 98g/km.

Audi Australia's managing director Joerg Hofmann said the new A3 e model had garnered strong public attention.

"The success of Audi's e, or efficiency, models has been strong. In Australia, there has been interest in the car well-ahead of its launch, thanks to its performance in the World Solar Challenge as well as its combination of dynamism and low consumption," he said.

"We are very committed to TDI technology on a global scale, but also for Australia. Audi TDI technology is the right technology for today. It is efficient, clean, thanks to standard diesel particulate filters, and carries none of the negatives of the diesels of old."

The new A3 Sportback "e" model is now on sale in Australia and priced from $38,900. It features a five-speed manual transmission, 77kW of power and 250Nm of torque. Official consumption figures are 4.5 l/100km and 119g/km of CO2. It can travel more than 1200km on its single 55 litre tank of fuel.

With 119g/km it even undercuts the much talked about limit of 120g/km.

Audi says in terms of CO2 emissions, the A3 1.9 TDI e is on a par with hybrid models.

It has longer transmission ratios for third to fifth gears and incorporates a whole series of weight-reduction modifications, including vehicle aerodynamics. The wheels are of 205/55 16in format and are fitted with low rolling-resistance tyres. The engine electronics have been tuned for optimum fuel economy.

Intelligent technical details enable the driver to use fuel even more efficiently, including a gear shift indicator located in the instrument cluster and in the direct field of vision. Depending on current engine load and speed, it tells the driver whether the next gear would be a better choice.

Audi will have an e-model in each of its core model series' in the foreseeable future.

 

 

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