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Filed under: Diesel, Audi, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, In The AutoblogGreen Garage

In spite of some recent hiccups with plans by other manufacturers to introduce new diesel models in the U.S. market (see here), Audi is one company that at least publicly remains fully committed to oil burners. During the recently completed Audi Mileage Marathon, the company brought over examples of most of its lineup powered by diesel engines including the TT TDI. One of the few diesel models that was not included was the A5 TDI. The A5 debuted in 2007 as a coupe built on the company’s new B8 platform which also forms the basis of the 2009 A4 sedan.

The A5 TDI is unfortunately not yet available in the U.S. market so we got our example courtesy of Honeywell. Honeywell’s Garret division is one of the largest manufacturers of turbochargers which of course are a critical part of any modern diesel engine. Earlier this year we also tested a BMW X5 diesel and an Audi Q7 4.2 TDI from Honeywell’s fleet. Like the A4s, Q5s and Q7s that participated in the marathon, this A5 came to us powered by a 3.0L V6 diesel. Read on after the jump to find out how voluptuous body work, high performance and fuel economy get along.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading In the AutoblogGreen Garage: Audi A5 3.0 TDI 6MT

In the AutoblogGreen Garage: Audi A5 3.0 TDI 6MT originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel, Etc., Audi

Along with Autoblog lensman Drew Phillips, we did the last leg of the Audi Mileage Marathon in Car #5: an Audi Q7 fitted with a 3.0-liter TDI. Our route lasted four days and took us from Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes, CA, to Monterey for the final ALMS race at Laguna Seca, and then to Los Angeles. Unlike almost every other group there, we weren’t trying to set any mileage records, we wanted to see how the Q would do when driven like we normally drive. After four days of drinking the oil-burning Kool-Aid and hauling ourselves through the Western hinterlands, our verdict: the 3.0 TDI is a fabulous engine, and you’d be crazy not to get it in the Q7 if you’re in the market. Follow the jump for the full story, and check out the gallery of high-res images below.

Continue reading The Last Days of the Audi Mileage Marathon: Vegas to LA

The Last Days of the Audi Mileage Marathon: Vegas to LA originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel

When I talked to high performance engine impresario Gale Banks at the Detroit Grand Prix a couple of months ago, he mentioned a new project his team is working on. The follow up to the diesel-powered Pro Stock pickup truck is a diesel-powered dragster. Banks Power is currently putting the finishing touches on an NHRA Top Dragster propelled by a 1,200 hp GM Duramax 6.6L diesel V8. The goal is to have this machine be capable of doing consistent 1/4 mile runs at over 200 mph. The new dragster will be shown publicly for the first time at the SEMA show in Las Vegas next week.

Along with the new dragster, Banks Power will also debut its EconoMind tuner. Banks has long produced tuners that allow drivers to recalibrate the engine management systems of their vehicles for more power. The EconoMind is focused on maximizing fuel efficiency. Some of the Autoblog team will be at SEMA and we’ll have coverage of the unveiling. The video of my interview with Gale Banks is after the jump.

[Source: Banks Power]

Continue reading SEMA Preview: Banks Power to unveil diesel-powered dragster

SEMA Preview: Banks Power to unveil diesel-powered dragster originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel, Acura

In recent weeks, we’ve heard about two light duty diesel programs being shelved at Toyota and Ford. Now, an anonymous poster on the Motor Trend forum is indicating the same fate may await the new Acura 2.2L i-DTEC diesel. Honda engineers have been talking about this engine and its innovate new urea-free NOx catalyst for more than two years. At this year’s Detroit Auto Show, Acura showed the engine publicly for the first time and announced it would go on sale in an Acura car in early 2009.

Although Honda/Acura PR people don’t like to talk about specifics of new products in advance, it has been assumed the engine would land in the TSX which is based on the European spec Honda Accord which is already so equipped. The MT poster indicated that Acura is having trouble getting the automatic transmission version of the diesel to pass emissions. Since Americans tend to be averse to shifting for themselves, without an automatic the whole program could get canceled. The veracity of this story is unknown and may not be accurate. Modern electronically transmissions and engines tend to be easier to pass emissions because the reduced driver input makes it easier for the engineers to calibrate the responses to pass the test. We asked Honda officials for a comment but they haven’t yet responded and very likely won’t.

[Source: Motor Trend forum]

Will Acura’s new diesel jump on the DOA train? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel, Mercedes Benz, North America

Mercedes made a big red, white and blue balloon-y smash with their BlueTEC SUVs at the New York Auto Show earlier this year and the vehicles are in American showrooms now. In the Great White North, Mercedes-Benz Canada has just launched a new BlueTEC microsite to introduce Canadian car buyers to the clean diesel technology. If you click over, you’ll find videos of how the BlueTEC system works (converts most NOx emissions to water and “harmless nitrogen”!), a convenient link to book a test drive and a list of which models Canadian customers can get with BlueTEC. The flash-heavy microsite does not mention - at least, not anywhere that I could find - the little detail that these vehicles won’t start if the urea tank is empty.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz Canada, eMercedesBenz]

Continue reading BlueTEC microsite now available from Mercedes-Benz Canada

BlueTEC microsite now available from Mercedes-Benz Canada originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Biodiesel, UK

One of the more promising sources of biofuels in recent years has been algae. While there are a number of small scale tests along with some larger scale commercialization projects, the UK’s Carbon Trust wants to accelerate the process. The Trust has launched an Algae Biodiesel Challenge with goal of making algae-sourced liquid fuels commercially viable by 2020. The first phase of the £30 million project will focus on research and development including finding the best strains of algae, yield improvement and designing better large scale bioreactors.

The applicants that will get money in the first phase will be selected by August of next year. The second phase will be based on constructing a large scale commercial production facility. Funding for the program is coming from the UK Department for Transport and the Carbon Trust itself which is publicly funded.

[Sources: Earth2Tech, Carbon Trust]

Carbon Trust launches algae biodiesel challenge, commercial by 2020 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen

The inaugural season of Volkswagen’s Jetta TDI Cup wrapped up a couple of weeks ago at Road Atlanta with Josh Hurley taking home the gold. For those of you that didn’t get a chance to see the eight races, Speed TV is going to be airing them over the next several weekends starting this Sunday. The first race from VIRginia International Raceway runs at 2:30 EDT. On November 22, Speed will run a documentary they have been filming over the course of the season starting with the driver selection process last April. VW has now opened up registration for drivers interested in competing in the 2009 edition of the Jetta TDI Cup. Drivers aged 16-26 who haven’t had a professional race deal are eligible.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading 2008 Jetta TDI Cup season will start airing on Speed October 26

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