Auto-stop across the Audi range

Audi has in place a raft of measures to reduce the company's fuel consumption for its entire product portfolio — and chief among them is auto-stop/start for the every model.

The information came to light during an explanation of Audi's modular efficiency program during the launch of the new four-cylinder variants in the A6 range last week. Product Manager for the company, John Roberts, explained that Audi's on-going plan is to optimise efficiency of its petrol and diesel engines, with hybrid drive a bridging step on the way to fully electric models on the market by 2020. The next immediate step along this path is the gradual roll-out of auto-stop/start for the model range.

"As we go into the next-generation cars — for example: the A5 next year, if we look at that — start/stop [will be] standard across the range," said Roberts. "That proliferation of start/stop system will pretty much go across the range."

The company will also expand into other models the Efficiency mode in the Audi Drive Select system (pictured) —  a change already effected for the new A6 variants, Roberts further explained.

Using the new A6 as an example, Roberts cited a 26 per cent reduction in fuel use for the 2.0-litre TFSI engine and V6. The figure for the TDI (diesel) variants is reduced by as much as 30 per cent, he continued. In the case of the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, the old A6's output and fuel consumption figures were 165kW and 8.7L/100km, versus 180kW and 5.9L/100km for the new model.

For the immediate near future, Audi will release a new 4.0-litre V8 — as we've reported recently — with two twin-scroll turbochargers nestled in the valley between the cylinder banks, and cylinder deactivation.

And A5 will see a new 1.8-litre TFSI engine from next year, promising a fuel consumption reduction of up to 18 per cent. The new engine will feature, based on what Roberts said, a two-fold induction system comprising both direct and indirect injection.

"This TFSI will now use an indirect injection system, in addition to the direct fuel injection," he said. "So under certain driving conditions, injecting fuel indirectly also gives us improvements in combustion and efficiency," said Roberts.

Beyond the program to extract the highest level of efficiency from combustion engines, Audi will introduce a new A6 hybrid variant here in 2013. Featuring lithium-ion batteries, the hybrid large car is powered by a 2.0-litre engine developing 180kW and 480Nm. A parallel hybrid with the electric motor taking the place of torque converter or clutch, the hybrid can drive in electric-only mode for 3km at 60km/h. An A8 hybrid using the same basic configuration will follow.

Audi plans to be the number one provider of 'e-mobility' solutions by 2020, Roberts explained. That means, among other things, the R8 e-tron will go into low-volume series production and plug-in hybrids will be introduced from 2014. The Audi Ultra points the way forward for the company's urban commuter cars of the future, as does the A2 Concept — both cars unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show last month.

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