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Audi Showcases New Technologies at German TecDay Symposium

Luxury brand Audi has just announced its strategy for the development of

Upping the ante on emissions resulted in the world's cleanest diesel... from Audi. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

future vehicles at the inaugural German TecDay in San Francisco late last week. Volkswagen and Audi, key RandD and components developer Bosch as well as the VDA (Verband der Automobilindustrie; the German auto industry association) congregated to discuss and show new technologies geared towards the issue of improving fuel economy and emissions controls on different levels. Of course, California was the perfect location, given that it's the home of some of the world's most stringent emissions standards. The idea was best summed up by Dr. Thomas Schlick, Managing Director of the VDA who said, “If you can make it with your products here [California, in terms of emissions], you can make it anywhere!”

The first wave of new technology for Audi will be arriving shortly in the form of a diesel vehicle that is 50-state legal (i.e. Tier II Bin 5 compliant). Audi

Audi's use of AdBlue enables its powerful V6 TDI engines to meet Tier II Bin 5 emissions standards, the most stringent in the world. (Photo: Audi)

has long been at the cutting edge of diesel development, and the new Q7 TDI is no different. It is powered by a refined V6 engine just like those sold in Europe, but it has been optimized to meet the strict emissions for the North American market, making it in effect one of the cleanest in the world. What makes the Q7's engine different from rivals' diesels is that it features the AdBlue urea-based selective catalyst reduction unit to reduce NOx particulates, much like those featured in certain Mercedes-Benz products.

Later down the road Audi will bring other vehicles to market with diesel, including the all-new A4 and the A5 Coupe with the 3.0-liter

Hybrids are on the agenda too, first with the Q7 crossover. (Photo: Audi)

TDI V6 engine. These vehicles will also feature the AdBlue emissions control system and should arrive on our side of the Atlantic by the end of the decade.

While Audi is pushing the TDI range for its power, refinement and racing heritage, it isn't the sole pillar for the brand. Audi will enter the hybrid marketplace in the near future with the Q7, using a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 mated to a parallel hybrid system to give extra performance and improved economy. The system was developed in collaboration with Volkswagen and Porsche, and is to be used on their respective SUVs too. In addition, Audi is also experimenting with innovative power-conserving solutions such as micro-capacitors designed to store kinetic energy and release it when necessary. On the renewable

Capacitors in this A5 help to take a load off the engine. (Photo: Justin Couture, American Auto Press)

energy front, Audi is continuously researching alternative fuels including bioethanol.

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