Audi sets the agenda for clean diesel technology

Around the middle of next year, Audi will commence production of "the world's cleanest diesel engine."

The new engine will further the German company's reputation for being at the forefront of cleaner-running engine technology, years before tougher emissions legislation ('Euro V' in this case) is implemented.

This new diesel technology and Audi's range of TFSI petrol engines will be fitted to 'e' model variants -- volume-selling models with an emphasis on low emissions and low consumption of fossil fuels.

Diesel is very important to Audi. Since 1989, the company has built in excess of 4.5 million diesel-engined vehicles.

With modern technology and the ability to run on 'bio-diesel' -- an alternative fuel that Audi already supports -- compression ignition engines already represent internal combustion technology that need not rely on non-renewable fossil fuels.

As a mark of Audi's regard for diesel applications, the company's R10 TDI sports car won the 24 Hour Le Mans race. BMW has had some similar success, with a 320d winning the Nurburgring 24 hour touring car race in 1998, so the days of diesel and racing being mutually exclusive concepts would appear to be over.

With 500Nm of torque on tap, the first of Audi's new diesels next year will be a 3.0-litre V6 for the A4 and Q7 models.

The common-rail powerplant will feature an optimised exhaust gas recirculation system and -- as a new innovation -- combustion chamber sensors to regulate combustion more precisely.

A bio-degradable solution injected into the exhaust upstream from the catalytic converter reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by as much as 90 per cent. Diesel particulates are reduced through a dedicated filter fitted to the exhaust.

The new engine is so clean that it even passes the notoriously tough Californian emissions legislation -- which is not kind to diesels -- and fuel use is reduced by 35 per cent, compared with current average fleet consumption in the USA.

Models fitted with this new engine will go on sale in the US and Europe from the second half of next year.

Improved diesel technology is just one prong of a concerted attack on wasteful fossil fuel use and harmful emissions. Audi is planning to adopt some elements of hybrid-drive technology to enhance the frugality of both the petrol and diesel variants in the range.

Proposed power management systems will scavenge electrical power from the vehicle's drivetrain during coasting and braking to regenerate charge in the battery. An automatic engine stop/start system is currently under development.

Over and above these two measures, Audi is also considering full-blown hybrid-drive systems for the future, such as the Q7 hybrid study (pictured).

Other measures being weighed up for the future include CNG fuel for the TFSI engines and 85 per cent ethanol ('E85'). CNG is 20 per cleaner than petrol and ethanol -- which is also very clean -- is produced from renewable crops, reducing the load on fossil fuels. E85 produces 75 per cent less carbon dioxide than petrol alone.

These are the options currently open to Audi. It's anybody's guess what the future will bring in the way of technological band-aids for the problems faced by an increasingly mobile world currently dependent to an extreme degree on a finite resource.

In the meantime, Audi's multi-faceted approach to reducing global dependence on fossil fuel and lowering world-wide vehicle emissions is novel.

However, it's only a matter of time before all car companies are forced to adopt this kind of long-term strategy.

To comment on this article click here