A report in Auto Express says that the upcoming Audi A8 e-tron will use it’s all new 3.0 liter TDI engine to power the plug-in hybrid.This may give Audi an efficiency edge on its PHEV competitors, cars like the Mercedes S Class HYBRID and the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 Series plug-in, both of which will employ a gasoline engine instead. The Audi TDI package should beat the 100 grams of CO2 per kilometer target so important to European buyers, and deliver a ton of torque as well. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s head of technical development, said that:
The 3.0-litre e-Tron will be used in different cars. The plug-in hybrid is an exciting combination.
The V6 TDI system will likely find its way into the rest of Audi’s larger automobiles like the Q7 and A6 as the company continues its push to offer a PHEV version of every model it sells. Well, almost. The Audi R8 e-tron won’t be offered as a hybrid, but will instead offer an all electric option on special order only. Audi will use a 1.4 liter gasoline engine hybrid in its smaller cars like the A3 e-tron, scheduled for sale in 2015.
The TDI hybrid will be good for 368 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque, and will have an electric-only range of 30 miles or more, joining its smaller sibling, the Audi A6 e-tron, which will go on sale in China first. Fuel economy figures weren’t discussed, but with more than 500 ft-lbs of torque on tap, I’d be happy with anything over 25 MPG.
Source: Gas2
