Here’s one for the pub quiz. Who was the first manufacturer to combine petrol direct injection with a turbocharger? Audi, of course, and they have been tweaking with their first efforts and have now a new range of power outputs from their 2.0-litre engine, ranging from 170 to 220bhp. Audi currently offers four engines in various models, with further power units to follow.
The 2.0-litre TFSI unit is soon to be available in three model ranges, with 170bhp in the A6, 200bhp in the A3 and 220bhp in the special DTM A4. We travelled to Germany to sample a range of these new engines. The 170bhp 2.0litre TFSI will be the bread and butter of the A6 range in Ireland. Boasting 280Nm of torque, available across a pretty wide speed range, the FSI engine offers decent pulling power at all times.
The A6 is a big car and this engine did not seem overwhelmed at all. This power plant is available only as a front-wheel drive and will be available as a saloon and Avant. The 170bhp 2.0-litre A6 sprints from 0-100km/h in 8.4 seconds and touches a top speed of 227 km/h. Its fuel consumption is 7.9 litres per 100km. The real star of the show and the car we made a beeline to was the 2.0-litre TFSI Audi A4 DTM. This would be a car that would be ideal for Ireland. Because of VRT, we covet cars that have small engines but big power output. So get this. Audi have managed to squeeze 220bhp from the 2.0litre TFSI unit (as also seen in the VW Golf GTi). The 20 bhp increase was achieved on the DTM edition by modifications such as new pistons, modified turbochargers and an adapted engine management system.
The DTM is the German Touring Car Masters and this edition celebrates the brand’s success in the series. The DTM is lowered by 20mm and includes firmer shock absorbers/spring rates. It is shod with 18-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels and comes with perforated front disc brakes. There are new side sills and the DTM logo in the rubbing strips of the rear doors. From the rear you can see a newly designed bumper and an additional carbon-fibre spoiler lip on the luggage compartment lid.
There are bigger exhaust tailpipes and a Motorsport derived diffuser. Inside this car is fantastic. There are wicked Recaro sports seats and the steering wheel is also wrapped in leather and Nardia microfibre. The extra power and modifications make the DTM a cracking car to drive too. With a 0-100km/h time of just 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 247 km/h it is no slouch.
INFO
Audi A4 DTM
Engine 1984cc 4-cyl,220bhp, 300Nm torque
Boot Capacity 460-litres
Acceleration 0-100km/h 7.1secs
Top Speed 247 km/h
Price €55,000 EST
Transmission Six-speed manual, front wheel drive
Economy 8.1 l/100km / 36.2mpg
How FSI works: With FSI technology, the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber. The injection valve measures the fuel accurately to within milliseconds at injection pressures between 30 and 110 bar. A homogeneous fuel-air mixture is created in the combustion chamber by appropriately applied injection timing. Moveable charge flaps in the intake tract, which on the 2.0 and 3.2 FSI also include the two-stage variable intake manifold, provide the necessary “tumble” in the induced air. The controlled air movement in the combustion chamber ensures an optimum mixture formation in all operating modes and supports the highly-effective combustion of the fuel-air mixture. This produces a spontaneous response in all speed ranges.
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