U.S. consumers will have the option of a TDI engine in Audi’s next-generation A4 sedan.This is the result of a campaign that wants to sell more diesel engines in the United States.
The new diesel version of longtime U.S. best-seller is set to arrive in 2014. In November, Audi announced plans to offer four more TDI models in the United States.
Audi of America President Scott Keogh said U.S. dealerships will be able to get the A4 with a 2-liter TDI engine after the new generation arrives.
Even though diesel fuel costs more at the pump than regular unleaded gasoline in the United States, brands such as Jeep, Chevrolet and Mazda have recently unveiled diesel models to take advantage of their better fuel economy.
Audi had hinted long time ago at plans to bring a TDI version of the A4 to the United States, but the company decided to wait until the A4’s redesign, Keogh said.
According to Automotive News, Audi sold 35,415 units of the A4 or its S4 performance variant last year in the United States, accounting for one in four of the 139,310 Audis sold in the country.
In the United States, Audi offers a TDI engine in the Q7 crossover and the outgoing A3 hatchback. The brand said at the Los Angeles Auto Show, in autumn, that it will offer a diesel engine in the Q5 crossover, as well as the A6, A7 and A8 high-end sedans.
The A8 diesel goes on sale in the spring and the other three models will follow in the fall.
Audi considered outfitting the next A4 with a 3-liter TDI engine, like the one used in the Q7.
The decision was abandoned as the german manufacturer decided its sales would be too low to justify the investment.
13 Mar 2013
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