Audi has announced it will launch a range of plug-in hybrid powertrains for the Q5, A6, A7 and A8. The four new models will be available to order later this year, following their public debuts at the Geneva Motor Show, with all wearing Audi’s new TFSI e badging. The hybrid Q5, A6 and A7 come in two power outputs, badged as either 50 TFSI e or 55 TFSI e. In the former, Audi’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is mated to a gearbox-mounted electric motor, providing combined performance figures of 291bhp and 450Nm of torque. Audi’s 55 TFSI e consists of a 3.0-litre V6 petrol with the same gearbox-mounted electric motor, for a combined output of 357bhp and 500Nm of torque. Both 50 and 55 TFSI e models make use of a seven-speed twin-clutch ‘S tronic’ and, typically for an Audi, send drive to all four wheels. The new hybrid A8 also comes in two power outputs, badged as 55 TFSI e and 60 TFSI e.
Lesser-powered 55 TFSI e models use the same powertrain fitted to the Q5, A6 and A7, whilst the range-topping 60 TFSI e features a higher-output version of the same setup, delivering 436bhp and 700Nm of torque. In contrast to the others, the A8 uses an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. All of Audi’s upcoming TFSI e models feature 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery packs mounted under the boot floor, with all claiming an electric-only range of more than 40km (25 miles) on the WLTP regime. Drivers can select from three powertrain modes called “EV,” “Auto” and “Hold,” which set the cars priorities for either all-electric drive, fully automated hybrid drive or a “power saving” mode. The final setting retains a constant level of charge in the batteries, allowing for pure-electric running at the end of a journey. In addition, buyers benefit from an additional set of drive modes, (called “comfort,” “efficiency,” “auto,” and “dynamic”), which influence the powertrain’s responsiveness, damper firmness and steering weight. In “dynamic” mode, for example, the suspension is stiffened, the steering’s power assistance is reduced and the electric motor works in tandem with the internal combustion engine to provide the maximum amount of performance available for each powertrain. Buyers can also opt for a mode 3 cable for public charging and a domestic cable for charging at home. Owners can also request access to Audi’s own network of chargers at an additional fee. Prices for all four models are yet to be announced, but we expect more information to surface following their Geneva reveals.
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ENSENADA, MEXICO — The Volkswagen Touareg was a latecomer to the SUV game, debuting as a 2004 model in a booming sport-ute market that was encouraged by relatively cheap fuel. A handful of V10 TDI Touaregs became available in the U.S., but the car's monster torque was accompanied by a high price tag and less than stellar emissions—not exactly the best of both worlds. Four years later, things have changed. Clean diesel technology offers big torque and low emissions in a package whose only drawback seems to be the uncertainty of diesel prices. The new Jetta TDI paved the way with Prius-beating fuel economy, so we were excited to put the 2009 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI to the test. Unlike the monster V10 TDI engine in past Touaregs, the 2009 Touareg V6 TDI model is equipped with a reasonably sized 3.0-liter V6 that uses an advanced DeNOx emissions system. Its common rail-injection system uses piezo units operating at nearly 29,000 psi, with eight-hole nozzles designed to introduce tiny amounts of diesel fuel for combustion.
The direct-injection system works in conjunction with an intercooled turbocharger, and quick-start heater plugs are capable of hitting 1800 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 seconds. Nitrogen oxide from combustion is cleaned up using urea that's sprayed into the exhaust stream before exhaust gases hit the DeNOx catalyst. The solution is called AdBlue, a trademarked formulation of synthetically produced aqueous solution that's nontoxic, odorless and biodegradable, according to VW. Adblue is stored in a 4.5-gal tank underneath the spare tire. The V6 produces 221 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque, enough twist to placate most enthusiasts who pine for the late, great V10 model. Expect 60 mph to be reached in about 8.5 seconds, with an electronic speed limiter kicking in at a healthy 130 mph. Because nitrogen-oxide emissions are reduced by up to 90 percent, Volkswagen claims that "the engine's exhaust gases are cleaner than the air it breaths in," though we're suspecting that claim might vary depending on what city you're in. The V6 TDI is EPA-rated at 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and meets Tier 2, Bin 5/ULEV II standards. The diesel powerplant is mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive with adaptive torque distribution.
