Audi A3 TDI is Green Car of the Year 2010

I hear you brother... I've noticed that it's only the car companies that seem to get a lot of hell from EU & US emissions regulations. You hardly (if at all) hear them incorporating hybrid systems to freight trucks. Maybe it's because cars probably out number trucks 10:1 on the roads. And if that's the case, I think it's still something that's worth looking into.

It's just a matter of time. Cummins and Allison collaborated on a hybrid system a couple of years back that sandwiched the electric motor in the bellhousing between the engine and the transmission, very similar to what BMW just introduced. This hybrid system is used primarily on city busses. I'm sure that Mercedes is probably doing something similar on their busses.

In OZ, most new buses already use hybrid-diesel from Scania which is owned by VW. Maybe it is just about time that in the near future, the similiar fiture also will appear on small truck and full-size truck. The problem is, the electric motor seems to be located on the top of roof which makes the bus or truck looks higher and actually not good for aerodynamic. However I though some professors must already think about that and design those electric motor compartment got less drag as low as possible.

clash_189: If the motors were mounted on the roof it would be a wee bit difficult mechanically speaking for them to drive the wheels. Those roof compartments are for housing the extra batteries that the hybrid system requires.

Thank you for your correction, EDavis. Yeah I was wrongly supposed it with the battery, before I though it was a compartment where the electric power was produced and then sent as KERS works in F1, but it was totally wrong.

Just not sure about the credibility of this award: Firstly, it seems to have been heavily based on mpg, yet that is only one factor of being a green car and emmissions achievements were not mentioned at all. Secondly, why are they mentioning the comparison of a petrol A3 with a diesel? All diesel cars are able to travel further on a drop of diesel due to the energy content of the fuel. It is silly to compare this and find it remarkable as most other manufacturers are able to achieve this result. Thirdly, "Plus, this Audi's quiet, clean diesel engine delivers loads of low-end torque and a fun-to-drive experience, all with the functionality of a 5-passenger hatchback." I strongly disagree with the quietness of this VW engine as it is well known to be the least refined when compared to Merc and BMW. What's fun to drive experience got to do with a car being green? I doubt the A3 disguised VW Golf is more fun to drive than a 1 Series, which is well known for offering the best driving experience in its class. I would like to see why Merc and BMW cars did not make it as the result is rather contradictory to worldwide awards. Also bear in mind that this is only a little web magazine? credibility in question.

How old are you? 12?