Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept (2008) : first pictures

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

16 May 2008 23:00

Thought the Audi R8 V12 TDI was a drop of diesel fuel in a large petrol pond? Think again. This is the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro concept – another performance diesel from Ingolstadt. Set to debut later this month at the Lake Wörther Tour in Austria, this rather OTT A3 features DTM-inspired bodywork and the world’s highest specific output diesel engine. Think of the Clubsport as a way to get us excited about the facelifted A3 range, while being relatively kind to the environment too.
What’s the Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro packing under that hood?

A very shiny four-pot diesel (the 1968cc diesel is stripped of its usual black cladding, you see). Add in a new turbocharger, and the four-cylinder unit produces 221bhp. That easily bests BMW’s 204bhp 2.0-litre and Mercedes’ 201bhp 2.1-litre twin-turbo diesels. The Clubsport’s 332lb ft at 1750rpm puts it midway between the BMW (295lb ft) and the Merc (368lb ft).

All that torque is combined with a six-speed manual ‘box and a four-wheel drive system to help the A3 Clubsport reach 62mph in 6.6 seconds and go on to 149mph. Not bad for a diesel A3, we say.

Keep all this performance chat in context. This is a ludicrously OTT concept car, isn't it? Maybe not... Audi remains tight-lipped on the production feasibility of the engine's 221bhp, but claims it already passes EU5 emission regulations due in 2010. With BMW and Mercedes already offering 100bhp/litre diesels, Audi could well follow suit soon.


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By Ben Pulman