Jack Foulard

Seems like when getting the home page of Audiusa.com you either get european delivery in the lower left corner or occasioanlly you get the TDI announcement:

http://www.audiusa.com/audi/us/en2/experience/technology/Audi_TDI.html

Interesting, I don'y know if its a site glitch or what but this is the first time I've read it on the Audiusa.com site.

kgorman

Wooohooo. 2008 Q7 here I come.

BusyNinja

Since it will be using the DaimlerChrysler Bluetec technology, will Audi TDI be really Audi TDI in the USA? or will it be licensed DC Bluetec diesel engines with Audi branding on it? Educate me.

dieselrules

I'm not certain, but I know a bit about the 2 competing emissions systems.
The "better system" IMHO is the one being pushed by some companies (one of them is here in Vancouver) using special catalysts and filters, and burning off the results of NOx emissions. I can't remember the details, but its a maintenance-free system.
The European solution (developed by Benz and pushed as "BlueTEC") involves an extra tank of urea that is injected into the exhaust system. The Ammonia in the urea reacts in the exhaust to eliminate NOx.
(Remember that NOx is formed by high ignition temperatures that result from high-compression -- the same high-compression ratios that result in high efficiency operation. This was the reason behind the low-compression engines in the US in 1973)
The problem with this system, is that once the tank runs out, your emissions system stops working, and your car is effectively operating "illegally" and will fail emissions testing!

So, here's my guess: Audi is going with the flow in Europe, where service stations will be able to refill tanks. But Daimler/Benz will have all the patents locked up on the technology world-wide.
So, to use this system, VW/Audi has to license it from Benz. Part of the licensing is a requirement to display the "BlueTec" logo and mention it in promotional materials (just like "Intel Inside" ... or, of you sell computers with MS Windows, you MUST state in magazine ads "Brand XXX recommends Microsoft Windows XP Professional..." blah, blah ... or you don't get the special pricing from Microsoft)
AGAIN, I AM SPECULATING ON THIS.

But the IMPORTANT POINT is that this is strictly an exhaust-system emissions technology, and is independant of the engine attached to it: Benz, VW/Audi, CAT, International, Cummins, etc.
So there is no reason to think that the Audi cars with BLUETEC will have a Benz engine.

More:
Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes consequently want to push diesels under the BLUETEC name as an alternative technology to counter the success of Toyota's hybrids.
"Three brands have more power," a Volkswagen spokesman said on Wednesday, adding Mercedes' sister brand Chrysler would also join the alliance at a later date.
A formal announcement was due on Nov. 28 ahead of the Los Angeles car show.
Developed by Mercedes-Benz and diesel injection system specialist Bosch, BLUETEC with AdBlue lets cars meet the stringent U.S. emissions norm, Bin 5, which goes into effect in 2009.
Due in 2008, the AdBlue system uses urea-based additives to cut nitrogen oxide emissions and thus meet clean air rules in all 50 U.S. states.

FROM: http://www.autospies.com/news/BMW-won-t-join-German-carmakers-U-S-diesel-push-10232/<ul><li><a href="http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom/0-5-7165-1-659995-1-0-0-0-0-0-12080-7165-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html">BLUETEC announcement by DC on behalf of Benz/Chrysler/VW/Audi/Jeep in USA</a></li></ul>

RMN

(not as big... doubt they could shoehorn that engine into the R8)

badgerh

These will be pure Audi engines. The Bluetec technology, developed by Bosch and DC, will be used in all urea based systems. Remember that most modern diesels (and soon all from Germans) use similar Bosch common rail systems and so the tecnical differences in the injection and exhaust management systems are fairly small.

Interestingly, VW is also testing a non-urea based system for smaller TDIs (up to 2 litres I think). This engine willalso see the death of PD (pumpe duese) engines which. while great to drive. are horribly noisy. RIP PD, you will not be missed.<ul><li><a href="http://www.automotiveworld.com/WAM/content.asp?contentid=57282">http://www.automotiveworld.com/WAM/content.asp?contentid=57282</a</li></ul>

RMN

sounds cool

UrbanAssaultAudi

I don't know what kind of technology Audi/VW uses to lower emissions, but here is a link to a slideshow that better explains what I deal with at work. Pay close attention to the DPF (diesel particulate filter) they are already going to be implementing it in light duty pickups model next year 2008, I don't know about cars but it will be interesting on how a passenger car or SUV will handling their emissions output. Keep in mind this slideshow is for a 11 &amp; 13 liter diesel truck engine but the same principle will be applied. I have see the performance of this up close and personal. If you swipe your finger in the tailpipe of a vehicle with this technology, there is NO black soot to be found, period. If there is, there is a crack in the DPF and the unit needs to be serviced. Volvo has been testing this equipment since 1998 in Europe and has brought it to North American trucks for the last 2 years for prototype testing only, but it will be required on every production truck after March of 2008.<ul><li><a href="http://www.volvo.com/NR/rdonlyres/2A2743CE-C490-4555-9460-42805990858F/0/EPA07_Volvo.html">http://www.volvo.com/NR/rdonlyres/2A2743CE-C490-4555-9460-42805990858F/0/EPA07_Volvo.html</a</li></ul>