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Audi joins the fuel-saving revolution
BMW has long been the luxury vehicle leader in terms of fuel-saving features but with Audi announcing plans to expand its technologies to improve vehicle efficiency, the King’s throne looks to be threatened.
The start-stop system is like that featured in other manufacturer’s systems, as it shuts down the engine once the clutch is depressed and the vehicle has completely stopped.
The engine starts again once the clutch is operated, so obviously is not yet available in automatic cars. Audi is anticipating a fuel-saving of approximately 0.2 litres every 100 kilometres, and a 5 gram reduction in CO2 emissions every kilometre.
Look for the system to feature in the A3 1.4 TFSI and 2.0L A4 and A5 models, while others will follow suit in the future.
The break-energy recovery system creates electrical energy to relieve the alternator and save fuel this way. Already featured in about seven of Audi’s models, the company has plans to extend the system into other models.
Designed to work with the car’s onboard computer, the modular efficiency platform relays consumption-related data in the vehicle’s display to hopefully motivate drivers to drive more efficiently.
This motivational engineering theory also extends to a gearshift indicator which informs the driver when to shift for optimal fuel economy. Audi reports these changes were made based on research that up to 30% of fuel consumption is down to individual driving style.
With the introduction of these technologies, Audi estimates fuel consumption of its model range to drop by 20% by 2012.
"Audi reports that up to 30% of fuel consumption is down to individual driving style."