Tag Archives: Audi

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Audi’s New MHEV Plus V6 TDI: Diesel Isn’t Dead—It’s Reinventing Itself

Audi may be leaning into electrification, but it hasn’t abandoned the kind of clever engineering that made its diesel engines legends in the first place. The brand’s latest technological cocktail—called MHEV plus, paired with a newly evolved V6 TDI EA897evo4—proves that innovation and efficiency don’t have to come at the expense of performance.

This is mild-hybrid tech with a twist. Instead of simply smoothing stop-start transitions and trimming a little fuel consumption, MHEV plus adds a belt alternator starter, a powertrain generator, and a lithium iron phosphate battery that work together to give the diesel engine electric-assist muscle worthy of a full hybrid.

Electric Assist That Actually Assists

Audi’s belt alternator starter handles the usual hybrid chores—waking the engine and topping up the battery—but it’s the powertrain generator that steals the spotlight. It enables short stretches of pure electric movement in low-speed scenarios: crawling through city traffic, sliding into a parking space, or cruising steadily through suburban zones. You won’t drive silently for miles, but you will cut fuel use where it matters most.

Better still, this generator can feed up to 230 Nm of torque and 18 kW (24 PS) straight into the drivetrain when the driver calls for more shove. Need quick thrust for overtaking? The electric boost has your back. Lift off the throttle, and the system recuperates as much as 25 kW during deceleration.

A Trio of Electrified Components

The star of the upgraded 3.0-liter V6 TDI isn’t just the mild-hybrid hardware. Audi has bolted on an electrically powered compressor (EPC)—a technology the brand has used before, but never at this scale or sophistication.

This EPC forms part of a new two-stage charging concept, working in lockstep with the turbocharger and hybrid hardware. The goal: instant response at any rpm, stronger acceleration, and lower fuel burn. And it works. Audi says the new system improves the vehicle’s initial sprint so effectively that the car covers a full car length more in the first 2.5 seconds compared to the previous generation.

Here’s how it plays out:

  • The belt alternator starter fires up the engine and fills in the early revs.
  • The powertrain generator sends its first torque hit to the wheels.
  • The electrically powered compressor rapidly ramps up boost pressure, erasing turbo lag completely.

The results? Immediate low-end torque, muscular mid-range bite, and a diesel that feels suspiciously like an electric motor when you launch hard.

A New Breed of Electric Compressor

Past Audi models like the S4, S6, and SQ5 used an EPC, but the new version is an entirely different animal. Thanks to a redesigned airflow path, a permanent-magnet synchronous motor, and improved cylinder breathing, this compressor operates across the entire engine speed range, not just selectively.

It builds maximum boost pressure of 3.6 bar nearly one second faster, and the compressor wheel can spin to 90,000 rpm in 250 milliseconds—a 40 percent improvement. The payoffs are real: fast, linear response, deeper mid-range punch, improved efficiency, and long-term durability that should please both enthusiasts and fleet operators.

In practice, the V6 TDI EA897evo4 doesn’t just accelerate—it surges. The blend of clean electric torque and diesel force gives it a character unlike any other compression-ignition engine on the market.

Diesel Meets Sustainability: Enter HVO 100

Audi is also future-proofing its diesel with fuel flexibility. The new V6 TDI is fully approved for HVO 100, a renewable diesel that meets the EN 15940 XTL European standard. This isn’t biodiesel in the old-school sense; HVO is produced from residual waste products like used cooking oil and agricultural scrap.

The sustainability stats are impressive: running on HVO can slash CO₂ emissions by 70 to 95 percent compared to fossil diesel. Audi even ships new vehicles from Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm with HVO already in the tank.

Audi’s MHEV plus system isn’t just another mild-hybrid badge add-on. Combined with a wildly capable electric compressor and compatibility with renewable fuels, the V6 TDI EA897evo4 showcases a surprising truth: diesel can still evolve.

In a market rushing toward full electrification, Audi’s latest TDI stands as a reminder that smart engineering and clever hybridization can keep combustion engines relevant—efficient, powerful, and genuinely enjoyable.

Source: Audi

News

Audi Levels Up: Major Hardware and Software Overhauls Hit A5, A6, Q5, and the e-tron Lineup

Audi isn’t waiting for a generational refresh to push its lineup forward. Instead, Ingolstadt is rolling out a sweeping package of hardware and software updates across models built on its Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) and Premium Platform Electric (PPE). Everything from the A5 and Q5 to the all-electric A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron is getting smarter, sharper, and—if Audi’s engineers have anything to say about it—more emotional to drive.

“Our goal is to enhance major model lines and offer customers meaningful upgrades,” says CTO Geoffrey Bouquot. Translation: Audi wants to make its current cars feel like future cars.

More Emotion in the Drive: Enter Dynamic Plus

For drivers who felt recent Audis were a bit too polished, Audi introduces a new drive select mode called Dynamic Plus for the S5 and S6 e-tron. Think of it as the brand’s attempt to reintroduce playful handling without sacrificing quattro confidence.

In the S5, Dynamic Plus taps into the standard quattro sport differential and brake torque vectoring to make the car more alert and more rear-biased when provoked. Over in the S6 e-tron, electric quattro and torque vectoring work together to enable controlled oversteer—yes, Audi is openly talking about drifts now.

ESC automatically switches to sport mode, throttle response sharpens, and the driver’s display swaps to a new Dynamic Plus layout with shift lights, a big round tach, and sports-oriented telemetry. Audi says the result is “pure driving enjoyment,” and for once, that might not be marketing speak.

Electric PPE models also see efficiency boosts thanks to improved regeneration software. They can now brake to a complete stop using regen alone—no friction brakes needed—making commuting smoother while eking out a little more range.

Smarter Driver Assistance, More Capable Parking Tech

Audi’s adaptive cruise assist evolves again, now supporting driver-initiated lane changes. Activate the turn signal on the highway and, where the system determines it’s safe, the car eases into the next lane.

Traffic sign recognition also steps up. Beyond basic speed limits, the new system reads stop signs, uneven-surface warnings, and right-of-way indicators using map data. It can automatically slow the car when necessary, which should reduce those “Oops, that was a 30 zone” moments.

The parking suite gets a major quality-of-life upgrade, including:

  • Reverse Assist, which retraces the last 50 meters of your path automatically;
  • Maneuver Assist, designed to dodge those embarrassing low-speed bumper taps;
  • Trained Parking, which memorizes up to five 200-meter custom parking maneuvers on private property;
  • And garage parking via smartphone, which lets the car pull in or out without you inside.

Digital Matrix LED Headlights: Audi’s Lighting Obsession Continues

Lighting is where Audi flexes hardest, and the A6 now joins the digital matrix LED club. These headlights can project lane guidance patterns, ice warnings, and even illuminate pedestrians more clearly. They also use micro-LED tech for high-contrast visibility in bad weather.

There are three new welcome/light-show animations, eight selectable daytime-running-light signatures, and rear OLED 2.0 taillights with 198 segments per side—each animating dynamically. Audi is officially treating headlights as wearable tech.

Interior Tweaks and a Friendlier Interface

Inside, Audi trades some haptic-touch surfaces for physical controls on the steering wheel—good news for drivers who were tired of tapping at glossy black panels.

The A6 with combustion engines gets reshaped front seats with more support, and all updated models inherit the simplified UI first seen in the Q3. Drivers can switch the virtual cockpit among three layouts: classic instruments, navigation-focus, or driver-assist visualization.

Smartphone mirroring now extends across the main MMI touchscreen, the passenger display, and the virtual cockpit, making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feel more native than ever.

A Smarter Audi Assistant, Now with ChatGPT

Audi’s in-car assistant gains new AI functions and learns from the vehicle’s logbook. Instead of precise addresses, you can now say things like “Find that Italian restaurant with a view of the Rhine.”

It can also read or draft emails, surface calendar events, adjust driver-assistance systems via voice, and recognize behavioral routines—automatically raising the suspension for steep curbs you frequently encounter, for example.

Factory Dashcam, Finally

Audi integrates a 4K HDR dashcam directly into the mount of the interior mirror. It uses a ring-buffer setup to capture 30 seconds before and after an event, storing everything on an SD card only—nothing leaves the car unless you decide it does.

You can review clips directly in the car’s display and automatically attach metadata like speed and navigation info.

Experience Worlds and In-Car Gaming

Audi introduces “experience worlds,” which mix cabin lighting, climate settings, massage programs, and acoustic cues for three themes: Activating, Relaxing, and Harmonizing. EV models also get Power Nap mode—perfect for charging breaks.

Gaming gets better too: connect a Bluetooth controller and dive into titles like Asphalt Legends or Queen Rock Tour. Pair wireless headphones and the passenger can play in privacy while the driver focuses on the road.

Ordering and Rollout

German-market orders for updated PPC models open in week 48, with PPE models following in week 49. Other countries will receive features and timing tailored to their markets.

Source: Audi

News

Audi Goes All-In on China: Five New Models, a New EV Brand, and a High-Voltage Vision for 2026

Audi didn’t just show up to Auto Guangzhou this year—it planted a flag. With five market-specific launches in the back half of 2025 alone and two major joint ventures firing on all cylinders, the brand is deep in the midst of what it calls the largest product initiative in its history. And judging by what rolled into Guangzhou, China is not merely Audi’s biggest market—it’s the center of gravity for its future.

The strategy is aggressive and unusually complex: two partner companies (FAW and SAIC), two product lines (Audi and the China-only AUDI brand), and a dual-powertrain push spanning both cutting-edge EVs and highly efficient combustion engines. The message is simple: whatever China wants, Audi plans to build—locally, quickly, and with technology that speaks directly to Chinese buyers.

CEO Gernot Döllner said it plainly: “We are moving at a swift pace.” For once, that feels like an understatement.

A6L Enters the Electric Era

For decades, the A6L has been the bedrock of Audi’s premium presence in China, the long-wheelbase sedan preferred by executives, officials, and buyers who consider rear-seat comfort as important as horsepower. Now, for the first time, the nameplate goes fully electric: the Audi A6L e-tron.

Developed on the PPE platform and built by the Audi FAW NEV Company in Changchun, the A6L e-tron is uniquely customized for the Chinese market. It packs:

  • A 107-kWh battery, larger than the global-spec variant
  • Up to 770 km of CLTC range
  • 800-volt charging enabling quick, high-power stops
  • A wheelbase stretched an extra 132 mm for maximum rear comfort
  • A China-specific infotainment system running Audi’s E3 1.2 architecture

Audi didn’t just electrify a legacy model—they reengineered it for local tastes, with advanced driver-assistance features and digital functions developed alongside Chinese tech partners. It’s a clear play: keep the A6L dominant in both combustion and EV forms.

Series production of the A6L e-tron, along with the Q6L e-tron and Q6L Sportback e-tron, all kicked off within a single year. Even for Audi, that’s unusually rapid scaling.

AUDI Brand, Take Two: The E SUV Concept Arrives

Then there’s AUDI—yes, all caps—a China-exclusive sister brand launched with partner SAIC. If the original E concept shocked Guangzhou in 2024, this year’s follow-up, the AUDI E SUV concept, shows how quickly the brand is evolving.

The numbers alone are formidable:

  • 5,057 mm long, 2,042 mm wide
  • 3,060 mm wheelbase
  • Dual motors producing 500 kW
  • 0–100 km/h in ~5 seconds
  • A 109-kWh battery
  • 700+ km CLTC range
  • Up to 320 km of range added in 10 minutes via 800-V fast charging

But the hardware is only part of the story. Built on the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP)—co-developed with SAIC—the E SUV concept is designed around China’s hyper-connected digital expectations. The AUDI 360 Driving Assist System is purpose-built for local highway behavior, dense urban traffic, and the parking challenges of megacities.

Its design language is strikingly different from global Audi models: monolithic surfaces, upright stance, short overhangs, dramatic LED graphics, and an unmistakably bold front fascia. It’s futuristic, yes, but also clearly aimed at a market that wants presence, space, and tech-forward luxury.

Its production version lands in 2026 as AUDI’s second model, following the E5 Sportback’s successful launch earlier this year.

Why China Matters—More Than Ever

Audi’s dual-brand strategy acknowledges something the industry has been whispering for years: China’s premium market is no longer simply buying global products. It is defining them.

Southern China in particular—anchored by Guangzhou and Shenzhen—has become a hot zone for premium EV adoption, high-tech mobility, and digital-first car culture. The Auto Guangzhou show itself continues to grow: 100+ brands, 1,000+ vehicles, and over 220,000 square meters of exhibit space. It’s no longer just a regional event; it’s a global stage.

Audi’s response? Build locally, design locally, and innovate locally.

Audi Is Betting Big—and Betting Smart

While many global automakers struggle to keep pace with China’s fast-moving EV landscape, Audi appears to have decided that the only path forward is full immersion. Deep partnerships with FAW and SAIC, a China-dedicated brand, market-exclusive models, and electric architectures built in-country—it’s a commitment few foreign automakers have matched.

The A6L e-tron shows that Audi is willing to electrify its most sacred nameplates.
The AUDI E SUV concept shows it’s equally willing to reinvent itself for a new audience.

Five new models in half a year is impressive.
The real test comes in 2026, when Audi’s dual-brand strategy fully blooms.

For now, though, Auto Guangzhou gave us a clear headline:
Audi isn’t just participating in China’s EV future—it’s building it.

Source: Audi