Consumption economy: the new economy Audi has a range of 1,400 kilometers

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The new economy Audi has a range of 1,400 kilometers

Consumption economy: the new economy Audi has a range of 1,400 kilometers-kilometers

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The Audi A3 1.6 TDI will be launched on the market in early 2010, but some vehicles have already been used for an efficiency test across Europe.

Source: Audi

Consumption economy: the new economy Audi has a range of 1,400 kilometers-kilometers

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The driver’s task was to use as little fuel as possible.

Source: Audi

Consumption economy: the new economy Audi has a range of 1,400 kilometers-range

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All participating cars were marked with the appropriate lettering.

Source: Audi / AUDI AG

Consumption economy: the new economy Audi has a range of 1,400 kilometers-consumption

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The destination for everyone was the Italian town of Bee on Lake Maggiore. The most economical Audi was chosen there.

Source: Audi / AUDI AG

With economy as the top priority, Audi has so far not been able to record any success. It is true that in 2001 the A2 was the world’s first four-door three-liter car. But the model was too expensive and flopped. The Ingolstadt-based company is now starting the next attempt with the new A3. And that could work.

M.ith particularly economical cars, Audi has so far not had any good experiences: the duo, derived from the Audi 100 Avant, was the world’s first functioning hybrid on the road, but it did not get beyond fleet tests.

And the A2 1.2 TDI was the first four-door, three-liter car to take off, but it was unsuccessful because it was too expensive. Now Audi is daring a new attempt and is bringing a new A3 1.6 TDI as an economy model after the turn of the year.

With many components from the "modular efficiency kit" equipped by Development Director Michael Dick, the developers reduce the consumption of the full-size family car by around ten percent to a respectable 3.8 liters and carbon dioxide emissions to 99 grams per kilometer.

And so that something doesn’t go wrong this time, Audi spokesman Stephan Ori promises “a moderate price policy”. Although the final tariff has not yet been determined, it will be based on the current models.

Around 24,000 euros for the three-door and less than 25,000 euros for the five-door Sportback should be possible.

As an appetite suppressant, Audi relies on the same tricks that parent company VW uses to make the Golf Blue Motion a saver: the automatic start-stop system and an energy management system that stores electricity when coasting and braking and relieves the generator when accelerating make the most important contribution to the savings program.

There is also an aerodynamically optimized body with less ground clearance and better clad front, tires with lower rolling resistance and newly programmed engine electronics.

But that’s just the beginning, says Chief Development Officer Dick: “Our new assistance systems, the on-board computer with efficiency program and the navigation systems are particularly important.

They support the driver effectively. Because his behavior has a significant influence on real consumption. ”The engineer speaks of around a third that the driver has in his head and in his feet.

In the case of the A3, however, this range of instruments is only used to a limited extent. In view of the short remaining time until the start of the next A3, it is no longer enough for a new electronic architecture, such as in the A4 and A5. Instead, there is only a light indicator between the speedometer and the rev counter, which reminds the driver to intervene in the five-speed gearbox in good time.

However, if you follow this gearshift recommendation, the fun falls by the wayside: the 1.6-liter engine with 105 hp and 250 Newton meters has enough power for a sprint. However, shortly after walking, the electronics call for second gear and, at the latest, fifth gear after the town sign. Then the acceleration becomes tough, and even the already poor sprint value of 11.7 seconds is a long way off.

In addition, as the engine speed increases, the engine becomes increasingly heard and requires a certain foresight when overtaking. There is not much left of the much-praised elasticity of diesel.

You are compensated for this when you look at the on-board computer. The promised 3.8 liters are effortlessly feasible. Those who, like the participants on the maiden voyage of the new model across Europe, let themselves be seized by ambition, forget the time and put their foot on the accelerator in a meditative state of suspension, can even drive the car with less than three liters.

But even ignoramuses who don’t listen to the tips of the eco-trainers on the edge of the test track, who want to overtake a little faster and who really want to try out the top speed of 190 km / h, get off cheaply: the on-board computer shows 4.5 liters at the end of 400 halfway realistically driven kilometers with two people, two suitcases and constantly switched on air conditioning.

Almost even more interesting, however, is the display of the remaining range: Although the tank only holds 60 liters, after 400 kilometers there are almost 1000 kilometers on the clock.

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