Audi surprised us today, by introducing the A3 Sportsback G-Tron, an A3 powered by the CO2-neutral fuel Audi e-gas that is set to debut towards the end of this year. We certainly are in an era, during which carmakers fight over who will offer a sustainable hybrid vehicle, and Audi has certainly promised much with the e-tron series of concept cars. But this idea of alternative fuel is something totally different, as the idea of using CNG as a fuel is not new, with a variety of independent specialists offering plug-in systems for almost any car on the market now, and MB having produced a number of CNG powered B-Class, yet we are very excited to see Audi offering something similar.

The A3 G-Tron comes with the same lightweight technology, infotainment and driver assistance systems as any other A3, yet under the luggage compartment floor can be found two tanks, each holding 7kg of CNG at a maximum pressure of 200bar and weighting only 27kg. This new type of tank consists of an inner layer of gas-impermeable polyamide polymer, a second layer of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) for high-strength and a third layer of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) for protection against damage from the outside. The three layers are bonded together with a high-strength epoxy resin.

An electronic gas pressure regulator is used to reduce the pressure to around five to nine bar in two stages at the injector valves depending on the engine load. According to Audi, if the pressure in the tank drops below ten bar, the engine management system automatically switches over to gasoline operation. It has to be noted that the A3 G-Tron is fully bivalent, as its performance figures are identical in CNG and gasoline modes. The CNG range is about 400km with the gasoline providing another 900km.

Finally, the engine is based on the new 1.4 TFSI with the modifications being focused on the cylinder head, turbocharging, injection system, and the catalytic converter. Developing 81 kW (110 hp) and 200 Nm of torque, the Audi A3 Sportback g-tron has a top speed of 190 km/h (118.06 mph), with 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) taking eleven seconds, while the average fuel consumption is less than 3.5 kilograms per 100 km of CNG or Audi e-gas.

Click more to see our photo gallery and Audi’s press release. You can also join our official thread (link) and discuss the A3 G-Tron with us!

Source: [Audi AG]

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Posted in: Audi

Audi is working intently to electrify the drivetrain using plug-in hybrid technology. The brand with the four rings is showing the Audi A3 e-tron at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. With 150 kW (204 hp) of system power and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of system torque, sporty performance is guaranteed.

PRESS RELEASE

Ingolstadt, 2013-02-21

• Highly efficient plug-in hybrid with 150 kW (204 hp) system power and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) system torque
• From 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.6 seconds
• 1.5 liters of fuel per 100 km (156.81 US mpg)

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Posted in: Audi

The Audi A4 has finished top of the DEKRA Used Car Report for 2012 as the car with the lowest fault rate. This means that Audi has won the overall ranking for the fifth time in a row. The A1, A5, TT and Q5 each came top of their respective categories.

PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart/Ingolstadt, 2013-02-21

• Audi A4 tops overall ranking in the DEKRA report
• First place goes to Audi for the fifth time in a row

Each year, the DEKRA experts award the title “Best of All Classes” to the model with the lowest fault rate across three mileage classes. Since the ranking was launched in 2008, of all brands the most reliable car with the fewest faults has always been an Audi. This is the second “Best of All Classes” distinction for the Audi A4; the Audi A6 earned this accolade from 2008 through 2010. The title underscores the impressive long-term manufactured quality of the brand with the four rings.

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Posted in: Audi

Audi introduced the A3 cabrio with the second generation A3. It was quite similar to the Golf Cabrio, as both were a cross between a regular hatchback and a convertible. This time though, Audi started with a fresh sheet of paper, designing an A3 Cabrio with a far more distinctive shape, as the spyshots we present today suggest.

Despite the front and rear being disguised, we are pretty sure that the Convertible will feature the same fascia with the hatchback A3. The spy photos hint that the rear lights will also be similar to the hatch version, while the rear part appears to be quite flat, giving the A3 Convertible a very sporty profile.

Sadly, these first spy photos don’t allow for much details to be seen, yet we have to admit, that we are excited to see the final product. Click more to see our full spy-photo gallery and stick with GCF for more details, soon!

Source: [CarPix]

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Posted in: Audi, Spy Photos

Audi is working hard to extend the new A3 line-up and next in line is the 4 door sedan, after the 3 door hatch and the 5 door Sportback.
The main market will be the US and China where the A3 sedan will compete against the recently revealed Mercedes CLA but we expect that the A3 sedan will also be popular in Europe since small sedan have come in fashion it seems. We know that BMW is also working on a 4 door sedan version of the 1-series.

Technically it will share engines and underpinnings with the rest of the A3 line-up.

For more info about this and the larger, higher resolution images check the ongoing thread:

http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/2014-audi-a3-sedan-spy-photos-information.47571/page-2#post-624295

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Posted in: Audi, Spy Photos

It’s no secret that Mercedes is working on a small A-Class based SUV named GLA. And it’s also not a secret that the A-Class will spawn an AMG version, the A45 AMG.
But what they are still trying to keep a secret is that there will be an AMG version of the GLA. A secret that’s no secret anymore, meet the GLA45 AMG.

Since they are both based on the same platform it’s a rather easy step to make an AMG version to fit into the GLA lineup. And since we know that Audi is working on a RS version of their Q3, the GLA45 AMG will meet tuff competition.

This prototype was spotted during winter testing in the freezing cold Nothern Sweden. With its dual exhaust pipes, the bigger wheels and drilled brakes it was easy to rule this out as a normal GLA. And when hearing it drive off in full throttle it made us 100 % sure.

The GLA45 AMG is expected to deliver about 350 horsepower from its 2.0 liter four cylinder engine. A seven-speed AMG Speedshift MCT dual-clutch gearbox is used to bring the power down to all four wheels.

We expect the normal GLA to debut in Frankfurt in September so maybe we can look forward to the official reveal of the GLA45 AMG in early 2014.

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Posted in: Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos