The Volkswagen Group has presented us with yet more proof that ultra efficiency doesn’t necessarily need to rely on hybrid technology. The European-market Audi A3 1.6 TDI Ultra is, according to the Germans’ slightly flowery press release, a “versatile marvel of fuel economy.” Based on the 105-hp, 1.6-liter turbo-diesel, the Ultra adds 5 horsepower and shaves 55 pounds from the standard A3 1.6 TDI’s curb weight; aerodynamics are improved with the addition of a lowered sports suspension; and the W-rated 205 tires are replaced by low-rolling-resistance H-rated rubber. The result is an improvement in fuel economy from an already impressive 61.9 mpg to an astounding 73.5 mpg in the ever-hopeful European cycle. For comparison’s sake, Toyota’s Prius is rated at 58.8 mpg in the same cycle.
As a side effect of the weight savings and power gain, acceleration from 0 to 62 mph improves from 10.7 seconds to 10.5, and top speed rises from 121 mph to 124. (Again, just for comparison’s sake, the Prius needs 10.4 seconds for the sprint and is governed at 112 mph.) The Ultra treatment is available in both standard three-door A3 and five-door A3 Sportback forms. The only available transmission is a slick six-speed manual.
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Sadly, the likelihood of the A3 Ultra coming to the U.S. is slim. The 1.6 TDI base model is not offered here; instead, we will get the 2.0 TDI with around 150 horsepower, and it will come in the four-door sedan. But the Ultra moniker bears promise. We last saw it on Wolfgang Dürheimer’s TT Ultra Quattro concept, and Audi says the premise will be applied to several further TDI- and TSI-powered models. We’ll be looking forward to seeing some lightweight and über-aerodynamic models arriving stateside soon.
Source: CarAndDriver
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