Audi plans to cut CO2 output from its cars by 20% by 2012, Audi has just introduced its cleanest Audi A4 TDI model ever and at the same time launched an all-new 2.0 TFSI engine to complete its efficiency-focused overhaul of the Audi A4 petrol range.

The Audi A4 is notable as the compact executive car that will attract the lowest company car tax liability in the premium sector, the new 120PS Audi A4 2.0 TDI is available to order now in Saloon and Avant body styles with standard, SE or S line specification. The powerful 211PS Audi A4 2.0 TFSI with new performance-enhancing Audi Valvelift technology is offered in SE or S line forms.

The new TDI is based on the latest generation 2.0-litre 143PS unit first seen in the Audi A4 at its launch earlier this year, and shares its advanced common rail piezo fuel injection system. With an output of 120PS, and 290Nm of torque delivered via a six-speed manual transmission from just 1,750rpm, it combines strong performance with the potential to cover in excess of 55mpg, a bi-product of this impressively low fuel usage being a low CO2 figure of 134g/km.

This impressive efficiency ensures that drivers of the new Audi A4 2.0 TDI 120PS will enjoy the lowest tax burden in the premium sector, with benefit in kind tax liability of £1,582.20 per annum or £131.85 per month for a company car user in the 40 per cent tax bracket.

Fleet Buyers check out Audi Nationwide for the Best Audi A4 Contract Hire Deals

Cabriolets signal the beginning of the warm-weather driving season. With the sky as a roof, they hold out promises the wind rustling your hair. There’s a romance to cabriolet that a traditional Coupé can struggle to match.

Audi have a range of cabriolets from the new Audi A3 cabriolets through the A4 S4 and RS4 cabriolets to the flagship TT roadster soft topped Audi TT.

We will be doing a series on the range of Audi cabriolets staring with the Audi A3.

Contact Essex Audi for all your New or used Audi cabriolet needs - or if you are interested in an Audi Cabriolet as a company car take a look at our Audi Contract Hire site where an Audi A3 Cabriolet 1.9 TDI 1.9 TDI starts from just £299 per month

Audi will introduce the Audi A4 Avant next week at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. The Audi A4 Avant goes on sale this spring in Germany and other European markets, with prices starting at $40,600.

When the 2009 Audi A4 series goes on sale, the sedan will get a 265-horsepower 3.2-liter FSI V6 that makes 243 pound-feet of torque, while both the sedan and wagon will offer a “high-powered four-cylinder turbocharged engine,” according to Audi.

In Europe, the new Audi A4 Avant will be offered with a choice of five engines, including two gasoline and three diesel power plants, as well as six-speed manual, Tiptronic gearboxes and a continuously variable automatic.

Audi says the new wagon is 4.7 inches longer than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase providing better stability, while the body is nearly 10 percent lighter and considerably more rigid. As usual, the Avant will come in front-wheel-drive and Quattro all-wheel-drive variants.

Among the wagon’s technical features are LED headlamps, an electromechanical parking brake, adaptive cruise control, a lane departure warning system and a side hazard warning system.

A music interface provides a connection with an iPod, and cell phones can be integrated into the hands-free multimedia system. A top-of-the-line option is a 505-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system with 14 speakers.

Audi of the week

Registered: SEP 2007
Colour: Mugello Blue Metallic
Mileage: 0

Registration: EO57XTR

Specifications includes:
Interior light pack Carbon fibre fascia & door inlays, isofix, Colour coded body styling & rear spoiler, Acoustic front & rear parking sensors, Adaptive xenons with power wash & daytime running lights.
storage pack, Heated & electric rs4 sports front bucket seats, quattro four wheel drive & Servotronic power steering, Audi DVD satellite navigation system, Front fog lights.
6 CD changer with BOSE sound system, Colour drivers information system (dis), Electric slide & tilt glass sunroof, 6 speed manual gearbox, Three rear head rests with 3 point seatbelts.
Front & rear electric windows with tinted glass, Drivers armrest, tracker horizon, Heated & electric aluminium door mirrors, Cruise control.
Remote central locking with alarm & immobiliser, side & Sideguard head air bags, Air conditioning with dual electronic climate controls, Manual, [Sports suspension with ABS & ESP.

To coincide with the release of the new 2008 Audi A4 Saloon for ordering, Essex Audi are pleased to announce that the Bang & Olufsen Sound System will be offered free of charge to all existing Audi customers who order the A4 B8 Saloon by 29th February 2008!

The Bang & Olufsen Sound System delivers an excellent sound experience. The system is exclusive to Audi and provides listeners with 14 loudspeakers driven by 10 discrete channels of amplification and digital signal processing.

This offer is available to all current Audi owners (not just Audi A4 owners) and it applies to Audi retail customers and Audi fleet customers- part exchange is not necessary. So take advantage of this special offer now -  its easy to see why the New A4 is so popular already even before its launch in February 2008.

Note that we have a new sister site for those interested in Company Car and Feet buying here

Audi showed a couple of new green energy power plants at the Frankfurt Auto Show - small and econ friendly cars where the major theme this year at the show.

Audi A4 E-concept Car

The The A4 e-concept features a 2.0 TDI engine returning a useful 58mpg and 129g/km CO2 via the usual Frankfurt 2007 fuel-saving measures: clean diesel engine, stop-start system, low-friction tyres and tweaked aerodynamics.

The e-concept also has detailed driver info: turn on the air-con or heated seats and it tells you how much extra fuel you’re using. For example Increase the cruise control by a few mph and it tells you how many minutes you’ll save for your journey, and how much diesel it’ll need. Maybe a bit too geeky , but it could make playing the mpg game an obsession - it could also be a safety risk if people pay to much attention to the gauges on the  dash board rather than road conditions around them.

Audi/Porsche Petrol Electric Drive Train

Audi also showed a full 4WD hybrid drive train, being co- developed with Porsche, involving a petrol engine, an electric motor powerful enough to drive the car alone and batteries in the boot. In an A6, with a 2.0-litre turbo, it would have the performance of a 3.0 petrol but use 30 per cent less fuel. The system will fit the A4, A5, the next A6 and A8 plus next year’s Q5 SUV.

One interesting historical snipit is that Porsche of course have a lot of experience with hybrid drive trains having developed a petrol electric drive for the Tiger tank back in the 40’s.