Audi discretely announced today plans to introduce its small-car A3 models in Europe this spring that
it says emit less than 120 g/km of CO2. The company did not go into the nitty-gritty about how it will reach these emissions levels, but said the A3s benefit from direct-injection engine technology and gearbox modifications. The models have, for example, increased transmission ratios for the third and fifth gears and have an additional, high-ratio sixth gear. Additionally, a gearshift indicator communicates to the driver when to shift to the next gear according to engine load and speed, Audi said.
It doesn't seem like too much has been added, and I wonder why all the fuss was made by the European carmakers earlier this month when the EC said legislators will draft a mandate as early as this year so that the “average emissions from new cars sold in the EU-27 would have to reach the 120g CO2/km target by 2012.” They are certainly not outrageously priced: The emissions-efficient A31.9TDIe and the A3 Sportback will retail for €22,600 and €23,500, respectively, in Germany, which is comparable to prices for current A3s. An Audi spokeswoman did not know if or when the models will reach the United States.
