Audi Q7 TDI FAQs

HERNDON, Va., May 30, 2008  -  When is the Audi Q7 TDI coming to the USA?

Although an exact time frame has yet to be finalized, it is expected to launch in the USA in early 2009.

Will this be the urea-based (aka AdBlue) clean diesel model with ultra low emissions that is sellable in all 50 US States?

It will be the clean diesel version equipped with 50-state compliant Bin 5 (US Federal level) and LEV II (California and northeast states like New York, etc.) levels.

What are the advantages of a 50-state TDI clean diesel solution?

By offering a 50-state clean diesel solution from the start, Audi is making clean diesel customer-friendly: customers nationwide can choose diesel without worrying about whether their vehicle is compliant in their state or not. This also benefits residual values.

What are the maintenance/service intervals for the AdBlue?

All Audi vehicles in the USA have recommended service intervals set at 5.000, 15.000, 25.000, etc. intervals.  Because of the 6.5 gallon total capacity of the two-tank heated system, Audi customers who regularly service their vehicles at authorized Audi dealers will be able to maintain the same service intervals, without in-between stops to refill the urea (AdBlue) system.

What if customers don’t maintain their vehicles regularly at authorized Audi dealers or even if the system fails for some reason – how can the urea topic be taken care of?

Customers will be able to purchase the urea solution at authorized US Audi dealers, as well as from our competitor German luxury manufacturers (and vice-versa).  Also, the solution is expected to be available at non-dealer locations such as various name-brand gas stations and Jiffy Lube locations.

If urea hits a low point or the system does not work, there is an adequate warning system that will be built into the vehicle that will give the customer around 1,500 miles to rectify the situation.

What is Audi’s current stance on the U.S. government’s requirement to ensure compliance?

As described above, Audi TDI customers will be provided with adequate warnings that enable them to comply with requirements on filling the urea-based solution (US name not yet finalized). The basic technology and the warning system have been approved by EPA and CARB.

What are Audi’s competitive advantages vs. Mercedes and BMW offerings?

•    Audi is the pioneer in turbocharged diesel performance engines; we launched the first TDI in the European market in 1989, before our German luxury competitors.
•    Audi’s engines (gasoline or TDI) are always designed for early high torque output.
•    Audi’s superior hardware design conveniently places the urea filling area within the fuel filling area; a special, readily accessible tool makes it possible for customers to open the urea filling area.
•    Our expected US power and performance is 221 hp and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque, which is more than competitive.
•    0-60 mph is expected to be at 8.5 seconds (est).
•    Fuel economy target for highway miles is 25 miles per US gallon and over 600 highway miles of range, demonstrating clean diesel’s best qualities in fuel efficiency and technology.

How does the US solution for Audi’s diesel compare to the company’s worldwide solution?

Audi will comply with 50-state BIN 5 Federal and LEVII (California, New York, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts) emissions standards from the start.  While this is a minimum requirement to sell cars in all U.S. 50 states, European standards won’t require this level of emissions until several years into the next decade.  Audi will offer the identical solution in Europe as an optional powertrain.

What’s the pricing and packaging?

•    Price: Audi recommends that customers use premium gasoline fuel to maximize the performance, fuel economy, and quality of their engines.  Since premium gasoline fuel and diesel fuel are the best 1:1 comparison of pricing, parity is achieved regarding pricing and also the cost of driving.
•    Packaging: All luxury amenities will be available as they are for gasoline models, including standard seven passenger seating.

Will Audi expand their diesel lineup in the future?

•    Audi of America will introduce 50-state clean diesel with the 2009 Audi Q7 TDI only; however, we continues to evaluate other ultra low emissions TDI Power possibilities for the US market.
•    No information for any further US TDI launches is currently available.

What does “TDI” stand for?

Literally, “TDI” means ”turbo direct injection.“ Audi introduced the first TDI – the world’s first diesel passenger car with direct injection and fully electronic engine management – in Europe in 1989. Since then, TDI has developed into a synonym for superior propulsive power and maximum efficiency.

Why has Audi (and parent company Volkswagen) focused on diesels and not hybrids?

Since their invention, diesel engines have epitomized efficient propulsion.  Beginning with the introduction of TDI in 1989, Audi has led the development of diesel as a performance choice, not just an efficient, rational choice.  Today’s Audi TDI Power is clean, quiet, efficient, and fast – as we have begun to demonstrate with our R10 TDI race car. The R10 TDI has won the 12 hours of Sebring and 24 hours of Le Mans endurance races for the past two years in which it was competing, demontrating the superior endurance, reliability, performance, and clean technology of Audi’s TDI engine.

Will Audi bring hybrids to the US market eventually?

AUDI AG has studied the possibilities of hybrid vehicles with the 4.2 FSI (V8) engine at Frankfurt 2005, as well as the 3.6 FSI (V6) engine in Fall 2007; however, no commitments for specific markets are possible at this time.

Why are diesels more advantageous than hybrids?

Studies show that while hybrids offer advantages in stop-and-go traffic such as Los Angeles, diesel technology offers many more benefits in suburban and long distance-- not to mention its clear superiority in pure driving enjoyment and performance.  Furthermore, diesels are a well-established technology that is beneficial in both lower and higher altitudes, as well as many climates, all without decreases in performance. Finally, important questions that remain about the environmental sustainability of hybrid technology, such as disposal of batteries, do not apply to diesels.

Why has Audi waited so long to bring diesels to the USA?  Mercedes has been offering them for some years in the USA.

The US government mandate to lower sulfur levels in diesel by October 2006 finally opened the way for manufacturers to work with regulated and consistent diesel levels across the U.S. These changes paved the way for the introduction of Audi’s clean diesel with ultra low emissions technology.  Although the sulfur levels are still not as low as in European diesel fuel, it is at least possible to develop engines for the USA where a specific emissions results could be calculated.  Before October 2006, the cleanliness and consistency of diesel fuel around the U.S. was not existent.   By deliberately choosing to enter the U.S. market with 50-State clean diesels from the start, as opposed to our German luxury competitor’s introduction of models with only limited compliance, Audi has made clean diesel even more customer-friendly.  All Audi customers will know that they can buy and sell Audi diesel vehicles in any U.S. state, at any time, without having to worry about whether their vehicle is compliant in that state or not, with no risk of penalties for registering a non-compliant vehicle.

Why will U.S. customers grow to like diesels?  Currently, hybrids are viewed as green and clean; does Audi believe this level will ever be achieved with their diesel offerings?

Americans who choose TDI will find that it meets and exceeds their expectations about very American driving aspects, from efficiency and convenience, to power, to simply being fun to drive.  Americans love driving over long distances; the Q7 TDI’s clean diesel technology allows them a range of over 600 highway miles, which translates into far fewer stops at the gas station. Added to the clean diesel’s fuel economy is its ultra low emissions technology, which fulfills strict Bin 5 and LEV II standards aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from both gasoline and diesel engines – so there is no more double standard when it comes to diesel. And since Audi’s TDI engines are designed to deliver not just efficiency but also power, Americans will be excited by the Q7 TDI’s low-end torque off the line – finding that clean, efficient driving does not mean sacrificing performance.