- Audi of America confirmed on Tuesday that it is expanding its diesel lineup in the U.S., introducing TDI clean diesel engines in the A6, A8 and Q5 in the next 24-30 months.
- The current A4 will not be offered with a diesel engine, but the next-generation Audi A4, due out in late 2014, may get one.
- The electric Audi E-tron is likely to go on sale in the U.S. around 2013.
- The current Audi A1 will not be coming to the U.S.
HERNDON, Virginia — Audi is betting big on diesels in the U.S., announcing on Tuesday that it is expanding its diesel lineup here by introducing TDI engines in the A6, A8 and Q5 in the next 24-30 months. The current A4 will not be offered with a diesel engine, but the next-generation A4, due out in late 2014, may get one.
Audi's diesel strategy was laid out in a wide-ranging Webcast held by Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America.
De Nysschen said that the electric Audi E-tron is likely to go on sale in the U.S. around 2013, shortly after it goes into production in late 2012, and that the current Audi A1 will not be coming to the U.S. because "the market is not yet ready." He added that "We may look at introducing the successor to the A1 in this market, but not the current model."
When asked about plans for a fuel-cell version of the Audi Q5, he said that, "We are studying the breadth of all technologies in fuel cells for application in a whole range of models. This is not a technology that is anywhere close to commercialization."
"Diesel will form a very important part of our strategy," de Nysschen said, adding that the German automaker plans to have "solutions" for diesel and hybrid.
Audi's current diesel offerings include the 2011 Audi A3 2.0 TDI and the 2011 Audi Q7 3.0-liter TDI.
He explained that the A4 would be late to the diesel party in the U.S. because "we need to look at where we are in the life cycle of the A4."
"The car has been into the market for a relatively short time," de Nysschen said. "If we were to look at the development of the TDi version for us, the engineering requirements, the changes in crash performance to accommodate additional fuel...these bring about very substantial investments. We'd only be ready at a time frame for replacement of the car. That is the reason why A4 is not being mentioned. One can be confident the successor model for the A4 may well feature this important core competence of Audi."
Later, he added that the current A4 was introduced in late 2008, and that a replacement would be due out in late 2014.
The wide-ranging product discussion covered several models. Still under evaluation is whether the Audi Q3 will come to the U.S. "No decision has been made on that car," de Nysschen said. "Our dealers have reacted warmly to it. It was not conceived with the U.S. in mind. We are evaluating this."
He was a bit more evasive about the fate of the Audi A3 sedan concept shown earlier this month at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. The car previews the 2012 Audi A3. "We vacated the position that was occupied by the (smaller) original A4 model," de Nysschen said. "We needed a car to fill that market niche. The concept found great favor. I certainly think it gives us confidence this is the right decision. It is in the engineering process. We will just have to wait for the arrival of this newcomer conceived with the U.S. market in mind."
Inside Line says: A decision on whether to build a U.S. assembly plant is expected before the end of 2015, according to de Nysschen. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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vwking says:
05:53 AM, 07/10/2011
I drive a lot of long trips here in the US. Several 6 hour drives a year. A couple over-night drives of 800+ miles annually. I've had experiences with Audi diesels in Europe. Really like the pedal response and fuel economy. Would trade in my '05 A4 for a diesel. Either for another A4 or a Q5. The 3.0L sounds intriguing, but the 2.0L is pretty nice too. Probably won't buy first gen hybrid. I like hybrids, already got a Camry. But I've been looking forward to a diesel for a very very long time. ever since my first experience in Germany in 2007. One more thing - adaptive cruise control - it really makes life a lot less stressful. Audi, are you listening?
jimbob23 says:
03:29 PM, 03/09/2011
I've waited for an A4 tdi for two model years based on their hints there would be a US tdi, but could never get a straight answer on whether they would offer this model or not in the US and I find out today it's a 2014 date at best. Now they are being coy about whether they will bring the A3 sedan to the US and when. I wish Audi US could be a little more straightforward. I give up - I need to get a higher mileage car sooner than later - Audi just lost a customer.
chrisa222 says:
09:19 AM, 03/09/2011
I would be OK with a diesel...but I would want more than 140HP, especially if I'm forking over the extra $$ for an A3 over a Jetta or Golf. Why don't they scrap the lousy 140HP version in the US and give us the (at least) 170HP version? There are very few cars for sale in the US with 140HP, so why would a $35K Audi have less power than a $15K Elantra? Come on guys!
I realize that diesels have more torque, but I still want the best/most powerful option available, and if there is a 170HP version out there, I want it.
veryhrm says:
05:54 PM, 03/08/2011
A diesel story! Well, Audi's expensive and expensive to maintain.... but i was considering the A3 TDI... except that you can't get it with AWD. If they'd have AWD + manual... i'd consider it.
Better yet, if the Jetta Wagon had AWD+manual ... that would be the bomb. $500 or $1k of after-market suspension and it would be more than good enough for me for $10k less than the A3. Better in fact since the A3 is exactly the same size as my current Ford Focus.
Oh, also: http://savebiodiesel.com/issue.html (i don't actually support the government legislating this so don't go complaining to carb, but do send an email to audi saying you care about biodiesel compatibility (if in fact you do care about it. which you should because it's cheap for them to engineer in, but considerably harder to retrofit ))
xorbe says:
04:51 PM, 03/08/2011
So if you want the better mpg deisel engine, you'll have to pay up-front for it! Too bad A3, A4 users.
blueguydotcom says:
03:22 PM, 03/08/2011
Juan - the old original A4 was based on a smaller version of the Passat's platform. Regardless it was far more fun to drive than a Passat. Just because the chassis is the same, that doesn't mean the suspension, drivetrain, exhaust, engine, interior and body panels will be the same. Give the A3 sedan AWD, aluminum hood/trunk/fenders, better/lower/tighter suspension, independent rear and the TFSI tuned to 265 hp like the Golf R and you'll have a 35-45k car that'll be quite fun.
tdiluv says:
02:42 PM, 03/08/2011
Seem's like the right time for much smaller pick-up trucks with direct injection 4 bangers and DIESEL option's but Ford, GM, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan don't see it that way or the US consumers don't care what they spend on fuel, we'll see !
pommah says:
02:40 PM, 03/08/2011
A6 AWD manual transmission turbodiesel
-sigh-
never happen in USA
northsparrow says:
02:27 PM, 03/08/2011
One of the great mysteries of the automotive world:
What exactly is it that the Germans know about diesels that makes them bring them here and conversely
what exactly is it that everybody else knows that stops them from bringing them here?
juan_mx says:
02:13 PM, 03/08/2011
@blueguydotcom
The A3 sedan will be just a more expensive version of the 2012 Jetta GLI. (same platform)
The Jetta GLI is a little bland and not a luxury car, but a "decently sporty compact sedan " in my opinion.