Audi showcases A3 efficiency on Interstate Drive

Audi Australia has pitted a new A3 powered by a 1.4 turbo petrol engine – or TFSI in Audi speak – with Cylinder on Demand (CoD) technology against solar powered competitors in the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

The World Solar Challenge commenced in Darwin on the 6th of October, and the compact Audi will travel with the convoy for over 3000 kilometres across hot and environmentally unforgiving conditions and will conclude in Adelaide seven days later.

The premium hatch will be steered by a number of drivers across the journey, and the A3’s fuel consumption will be closely monitored by race officials during each leg of the voyage, and then a final fuel efficiency result will be tallied at the trek’s end.

Audi says that its participation in the event is to prove the technology in ‘real world’ conditions, also involving long driving days in hot climactic conditions and with a co-driver on board.

"It’s a test that will clearly demonstrate its viability and usability under Australian conditions," according to the importer. 

CoD technology was launched in the Australian A3 line-up in September, and relies on cylinder deactivation in order to keep fuel consumption as low as possible. The 1.4 TFSI engine fitted to the Solar Challenge car sips 4.7 litres per 100 kilometres in combined-cycle consumption, but can also produce 103kW at 5000rpm and 250Nm from 1500-3500rpm when required. 

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