Audi's TDI war-cry

AUDI is planning to bring its Le Mans-winning V12 R10 turbo-diesel racecar to Australia to highlight its commitment to "TDI", following confirmation last week that within three months its entire four-door range would have at least one diesel variant.

Audi is claiming it will be the first car-maker in Australia to offer a diesel variant across its full four-door range – from small cars through to large 4WDs – once the Q7 TDI (September) and upgraded A3 Sportback TDI (October) arrive.

Speaking at the launch of the A4 3.0 V6 TDI and A8 4.2 V8 TDI, Audi Australia general manager marketing Javier Degen said the company was planning to show the R10 at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October.

The company may also consider running the car with an Australian race-driver at the wheel, in a similar manner to BMW’s high-profile F1 sprint (with Mark Webber at the wheel) across the Sydney Harbour Bridge before last year’s Australian Grand Prix.

The Bathurst race circuit has been suggested for the spin but nothing has been confirmed.

The R10 rewrote the Le Mans history books last month by being the first turbo-diesel race car to win the 24-hour event. The all-aluminium 484kW/1100Nm 5.5-litre V12 TDI even managed to do 14 laps of the 14km circuit before refuelling, against petrol rivals that had to refuel after five laps.

Audi Australia managing director Joerg Hofmann said TDI was critical to the brand’s success in the future.

"The introduction of TDI in Australia is an important part of the brand’s long-term strategic growth," he said. "Long gone are the days of dirty, smelly, noisy diesel engines. Audi’s TDI is proof that luxury, economy and performance can co-exist even in the most luxurious of passenger cars.

"The A6 now accounts for 42 per cent of A6 sales."The TDI ranks have expanded with the arrival this month of the A4 3.0 TDI quattro and twin-turbo A8 4.2 TDI quattro. The new 171kW/450Nm V6 TDI in the A4 will also replace the 165kW/450Nm V6 TDI in the A6 later this year.

Even before it goes on sale in September, the Q7 3.0 TDI quattro has accounted for 67 per cent of pre-orders. In October, the A3 TDI will receive an engine upgrade with a 126kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder likely to replace the current car’s 103kW/320Nm engine.

Audi is slowly edging its way up in the sales stakes, buoyed by awards like the NRMA/RACV "best luxury car" award for the 3.0-litre TDI A6 – the first diesel-engined sedan to win a category.

Mr Hofmann said such awards heralded a newfound awareness and acceptance of diesel engines among Australian car-buyers.

Audi first launched a TDI version of its Allroad quattro here in 2001, followed by A3, A6 and late last year, its first A4 TDI model.

Audi sales have grown from 3016 in 2000 to 4808 last year with a forecast this year of more than 5500, equivalent to a 30 per cent lift in volumes driven by new models including the Q7 (below).

In year-to-date terms, the company is currently 12 per cent up over last year.

"Our target this year is for double-digit growth," Mr Hofmann said.