Audi Announces A3 2.0 TDI clean diesel for US market in 2010

Audi A3 Sportback - Euro spec

By Zack Newmark
January 12, 2009 12:45 AM
Filed Under: Audi, Diesel, German

Audi has now officially introduced the new 2010 Audi A3 2.0-liter TDI. The new TDI is part of the facelifted A3 lineup, which debuted last year.

Calling it a "highly efficient diesel small luxury car," Audi believes they may have found a niche in the market that previously went undiscovered. Indeed, it is not often you find a luxury car that gets over 40 miles per gallon on the highway.

With 140 hp and 236 ft-lb of torque coming from the four-cylinder turbo-diesel, the Audi A3 TDI is meant to compete with a wide range of vehicles. Audi envisions this car as a competitor to the BMW 1-series, MINI Cooper S, Volvo C30, Volvo S40, Toyota Prius, and Honda Insight. It does seem somewhat optimistic that Audi thinks they can steal MINI, Insight, and Prius customers with their A3 TDI. After all, pricing has not even been announced yet for the A3 diesel, but base price for the petrol A3 is already more than $4,000 more than a Cooper S.

Thus, Audi is pushing the "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as a key selling point, and reminding potential customers of the McPherson suspension system that comes with this car. Also included in every A3 purchase are Audi's LED daytime lights, rear LED lights, a human-focused interior, speed sensitive steering, and an all-around rigid ride.

Satellite radio, hill-hold assist, leather seats and steering wheel, and 17" alloys also come with the A3 TDI. So does a dual-clutch S-tronic transmission with all-wheel-drive. Xenon lights are optional.

After all, power alone does not make one competitive.

The 2010 Audi A3 2.0-liter TDI will go on sale in the U.S. at either the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010. Pricing will be announced later this year.

Source: Audi

Press Release (Click to expand)

2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI clean diesel: Quick Reference: USA Data
VERSION DATE: January 11, 2009
INFO IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Key Summary Points
• The freshened Audi A3 launched in September 2008 (2009 MY).
• The 2009 model year freshening expanded the A3 lineup with quattro all-wheel drive on the efficient 2.0 TFSI engine (200 hp / 207 lb-ft torque).
• Audi A3 moves into a market space presently unoccupied in the luxury segment, that of a highly efficient diesel small luxury car.
• Audi's TDI clean diesel technology expands the A3 lineup in the direction of efficiency, providing over 40 mpg highway.
• A3 holds a unique position in the Audi family, targeting buyers who need a small but versatile package without sacrificing luxury and sportiness.
• A3 2.0 TDI is Audi's second U.S. TDI clean diesel announcement. Audi Q7 TDI is expected to be on sale at U.S. dealers around April 2009.
• A3 is already rated a "Top Safety Pick" by the IIHS for top frontal/side/rear crashes (source iihs.org).

Market
• Key competitors are BMW 1-series, Mini Cooper S, Volvo C30 and S40, and now Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.

Design
• Audi signature LED daytime running lights with optional xenon lights.
• Unique tail lights with LED light guides
• Enhanced exterior and interior design, new wheel program.
• Versatile interior design, providing unmatched utility for urban environments.

Dynamics
• Sporty McPherson front suspension and multilink independent rear suspension for high lateral rigidity.
• Speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering
• High rigidity due to the use of tailored blanks for adapting steel grade and thickness to the material stresses.

Powertrain
• 2.0 TDI clean diesel engine with S tronic (dual clutch) and front-wheel drive
o Specifications: 140 hp, 236 lb-ft torque, in-line 4 cylinder turbocharged clean diesel with common rail direct injection and piezoelectric injectors
o 50-state legal, with no after-treatment system required
o Exclusively with S tronic (dual clutch) transmission with front-wheel drive

Standard Equipment Features
• Hill-hold assist (already standard on S tronic models)
• Sirius satellite radio - standard on all
• Leather seating surfaces - standard on all
• Leather steering wheel - standard
• Aux audio input - standard
• Dual-zone climate control
• 17" alloy wheels

Launch Timing and Pricing
• USA Audi A3 2.0 TDI clean diesel goes on sale by the first quarter of 2010 as a 2010 model year vehicle. Pricing is expected to be released close to the time of the U.S. launch.

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Comments

WildMaverick1200

January 12, 2009 5:28 AM

Nice, efficient, comes with a double clutch tranny....... beautiful

kevoluetion

January 12, 2009 6:06 AM

Saw several of the new facelift one on the road the other day, looks real good.

Joe_Limon

January 12, 2009 6:53 AM

I thought human focused interiors and speed sensitive steering were fairly common, my Grand Prix has both those anyway. Ahh oh well, enough with my criticizing comments. I wonder how much the diesel version is going to cost.

Michael

January 12, 2009 8:57 AM

"So does a dual-clutch S-tronic transmission with all-wheel-drive." I could not find such info in the Audi press release. As far as I know, the only versions available with quattro and S-tronic are the 2.0 TFSI S3 and TT-S.

joelynn

January 12, 2009 11:22 AM

i love how this is an exciting new concept to america.... a luxurious car that does more than 40 mpg... revolutionary LOL and of course its more expensive than a MINI- its in a different class (or maybe everything smaller than an Escalade is classed as a compact in the USA

sub39h

January 12, 2009 6:33 PM

LOL

jembo

September 25, 2009 2:47 PM

I'm in the UK & have owned the more powerful 170hp TDi quattro S line since 2007. There's one downside to the new technology that's often not mentioned and that's the German's are investing in something called a particulate filter. If you do lots of short trips, DO NOT BUY ANY NEW GERMAN DIESEL as it will keep going into regeneration mode & if you ignore it, it ends up sending the car into limp mode.

However, if you go a bit further, guys in the US have got a bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing. I've had mine remapped as at low revs I'd say it could be a bit of a gutless wonder to drive until at about 1700rpm when all hell breaks loose - the remap transforms the drive making an effortless motorway eater into a car that delivers effortless torque commonly found in a V8. Forget 0-60 times as most new hot hatches will embarass it, but from about 50mph up to (cough) 130 plus, it has to be a bit of a special motor to keep up with my little toy, so overtaking is exceptionally safe. Anyway, we're here to save the planet so despite the literature talking about 50 plus mpg, expect to average about 41ish if you're not one who likes to hang about. Happy days to all of those out in the colonies... :-)

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