Honda UK: Honda Planning Small Diesel Car

More diesel news, but not for us in North America.... Eco-conscious Car Finance buyers will no doubt by happy to hear that HONDA has confirmed the company's plans to launch a car with a smaller diesel engine to place it in a better position to compete with European car manufacturers. David Hodgetts, Managing Director of Honda UK, told Fleet News in an interview that the company plans to introduce the new engine about a year after the launch of the next-generation Civic model. The possibility also exists that it will be available in some Honda Jazz and Honda Accord models. Honda initially started offering cars with diesel engines in 2004 when they launched an Accord powered by a diesel engine. Subsequently, they also introduced a diesel-powered Civic and a CR-V. The original 2.2 litre 140 i-CTDi engine was used in the CR-V up to 2007 when it was replaced with the new i-DTEC engine delivering 150 bhp. The diesel Accord also switched to this engine in 2008. Honda's competitors were, however, able to attract more business because they offered a wider range of diesel engines. The smaller diesels offered by many European manufacturers allowed them to offer cheaper models aimed at the car finance market, while Honda could only compete in the upper end of the market. The new diesel-powered Honda Civic will apparently have CO2 emission figures of less than 110g/km. Given the popularity of upper-medium cars such as the 1.6-litre CITROEN C5, PEUGEOT 508, FORD Mondeo and Volswagen Passat among car finance fleet owners, it is highly likely that Honda will eventually also bring out an Accord fitted with the new engine. Source; http://www.creditplus.co.uk/used-car-and-finance-news/HONDA/Honda-Planning-Small-Diesel-Car/998699564/

Honda, Toyota plan to develop diesel engines

No, they are not developing this for our market in North America, but for India, however once the technology is developed, it can be used in other markets....

MUMBAI: Japanese carmakers Honda and Toyota plan to develop diesel engines for their passenger cars even as rivals like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai spend more on building and marketing diesel cars to keep pace with demand.

Honda, which has only petrol-powered vehicles in its portfolio in the country, is developing a small diesel engine for the Indian market, while Toyota will soon roll out a diesel version of Corolla Altis, making it its first diesel-driven passenger car in India.

“We feel the need to develop a diesel engine,” said Jnaneswar Sen, vice president (marketing), Honda Siel. He pointed out that more than half the vehicles sold in Europe are diesel. The company is yet to decide the timeline for the launch and which cars it will power, an official said.

Toyota, which sells only diesel versions of its utility vehicles and SUVs such as Innova and Fortuner in the country, has 90% of sales coming from diesel vehicles.

“While diesel is cleaner advanced technology, gasoline will also be important for us,” said Sandeep Singh, deputy MD (sales and marketing) of Toyota Kirloskar Motors.

Other carmakers such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor, Tata Motors, General Motors and Ford too have stepped up production of diesel cars to cash in on increasing demand for diesel-powered cars that are more fuel efficient and environment friendly than petrol-driven cars.

Maruti Suzuki, which sells 60% of its popular Swift, Dzire and Ritz cars in diesel versions, plans to roll out smaller diesel cars, using Fiat’s 700cc engine. Maruti, which sources diesel engines from Italian carmaker Fiat, also plans to get 1.6 litre and 2 litre engines.

“While we will develop diesel engines, Maruti’s strength will continue to be gasoline as we make fuel efficient petrol engines,” said IV Rao, managing executive officer (engineering) of Maruti Suzuki.

With Suzuki’s global tieup with Volkswagen, Maruti may source diesel engines from the German carmaker in the coming years.

Its main rival Hyundai Motor is considering making diesel engines. “Currently we import are diesel engines. To have them in small cars it has to be cost effective,” said Arvind Saxena, director, marketing and sales, Hyundai Motor India. Currently Hyundai’s i20, Getz, Verna and Sonata have diesel options.

The Indian car market, which grew 25% to 1.9 million vehicles last year, is dominated by petrol models. Three out of every four cars that the country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki sells is petrol-driven.

But the proportion of diesel sales has been going up steadily from 15% in 2006 to 25% in 2009, thanks to superior technology and fuel efficiency that modern diesel engines offer.

Traditionally, high maintenance and premium pricing kept customers away from diesel models. This is no longer the case.

Many customers prefer diesel versions because of better fuel efficiency that makes up for the premium they pay, say analysts.

“What matters to the customer is the running cost and therefore the preference for a diesel model,” said a Mumbai-based analyst.

“Since majority of consumers go for car financing, the difference in monthly installment is marginal,” he added.

Kapil Arora, partner, automotive, at Ernst and Young, said he believed that there would be more diesel car sales in the next 4-5 years if diesel subsidies continue and if the manufacturers can mass supply diesel vehicles.

Source;
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Auto/Automobiles/Honda-Toyota-plan-to-develop-diesel-engines/articleshow/5942343.cms?curpg=1

Honda studying development of a small diesel engine for Europe and India

Maybe one day, we'll get a Diesel engine in North America too....
Honda is currently studying how to develop a small diesel engine for Europe and India. Tomohiko Kawanabe, Honda’s chief operating officer of automobile r&d, said that having a small diesel engine is crucial if any carmaker wants to compete in markets like India and Europe.

Presently, Honda only has a 2.2-liter diesel engine fitted on the Accord and other models in Europe. The increasing interest in diesels is understandable. Since about half of the cars sold in Europe and India (an emerging market) are diesel, Honda would be smart to exploit this fact.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-studying-development-of-a-small-diesel-engine-for-europe-and-india/#more-6760

Honda/Acura Diesel Update

Acura diesel on hold because of business conditions, not tech issues
AutoblogGreen spoke with Honda of America spokesman Sage Marie at a media event yesterday about the company's plans to introduce a clean diesel to the US market in 2009. The new 2.2L diesel engine is already available in the European Honda Accord which is sold in North America as the Acura TSX. At the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Acura announced the engine would debut in 2009 but rumors earlier this fall indicated the program had been put on hold or canceled due to technical issues. Honda was reported to have experienced issues passing emissions with the automatic transmission version of the TSX.

According to Marie, the program is in "wait and see" mode and the delay is due to commercial, not technical, reasons. A combination of factors, including continuing high prices for diesel fuel and the general collapse of car sales in recent months, was cited as the problem. With volumes of all cars in decline, Honda is reluctant to introduce what is expected to be a low volume model. Instead, the company will watch both the overall market and diesel sales in particular and reevaluate as needed.

Well, that's more positive news than what's been out there lately.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/12/11/acura-diesel-on-hold-because-of-business-conditions-not-tech-iss/

Honda Rethinks Diesel Idea for North America

Diesel-gas price gap makes Honda rethink diesels for U.S.

Honda Motor is reconsidering its decision to launch diesel-power vehicles next year in the U.S., where diesel fuel has become much more expensive than gasoline.

"Right now we are re-evaluating, due to trends in gasoline and diesel prices, and the price of raw materials we use in the exhaust clean-up system," according to Honda spokesman David Iida.

Honda's move appears to be solo. But Honda's considered a savvy player in the U.S. market, so others might be tempted to rethink U.S. diesels.

Honda has been promising a four-cylinder diesel next year in a sedan from its Acura luxury brand. After that, it said it would sell larger models, probably SUVs and vans, with V-6 diesels.

Diesel cars typically retail for at least $1,500 more than similar gasoline models, but they get 20% to 40% better mileage.

The average price of diesel fuel, though, is running 40% to 50% more than average gasoline prices, according to data from the Oil Price Information Service. That wipes out cost savings from the diesel's improved mileage.

Iida says Honda will decide "sooner rather than later" on going ahead with U.S. diesels, but wouldn't pin down a date.

Rival Nissan says it still plans to sell a V-6 diesel in the premium Maxima sedan in the U.S. in 2010. But spokesman Scott Vazin says the price premium for diesel fuel is worrisome. "It's why we're putting it on our flagship. We don't know where (fuel prices) will be when we launch, but we expect some pent-up demand. And our perception of the diesel buyer is someone who keeps the car longer," minimizing the drawback of its higher price.

Volkswagen, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are selling U.S. diesels. Audi plans a diesel SUV in April. The VW Jetta TDI diesel, about $23,000, is the lowest-priced diesel in the U.S.

Worldwide demand is greater for diesel than for gasoline, keeping the price up even as gasoline has tumbled to less than half its $4.11 peak in July, notes Fred Rozell, price expert at OPIS.

The gap between gasoline and diesel "is higher than it has ever been, and typically those relationships eventually fall back to the norm," Rozell says. "I think the economic slump globally will bring diesel down."

Source;
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-12-07-honda-diesel_N.htm

UK Honda Accord i DTEC receives automatic transmission

Honda, recognizing the potential for growth in the demand for more economical diesel engines, has made public its plans to open its first automatic transmission for a diesel motor early in 2009.

The latest gearbox is ready to be introduced in the newest Accord Euro, but unfortunately the automatic option for the diesel engine will not arrive in the Acura TSX saloon of North America anytime soon. Reports gathered of late asserted that plans to launch a diesel TSX gas been placed by Honda on indefinite hold. Instead, Honda is hoping to make the Accord Euro version more attractive to a fresh section of buyers overseas, specifically in the corporate market, by the inclusion of an automatic in its i-DTEC turbodiesel engine.

Honda, which began producing diesel engines only in 2004, says that the automatic gearbox has been developed within as the company didn’t want to “compromise the performance” of its engine by joining it with a non-Honda transmission.

The new five-speed unit utilizes the same straight gate arrangement and paddle shift system as observed on the Accord Euro petrol automatic earlier. CO2 discharges are rated at 170g/km in the saloon version and 173-174g/km for the Touring wagon contingent on the model grade. Fuel efficiency, in the meantime, is rated at 44.1mpg (combined) for the saloon and 42.8mpg (combined) for the Tourer.

Ceiling speed is 129 mph for the sedan and 126 mph for the wagon. Top output is rated at 134 hp (100kW) and 258lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. The fresh automatic diesel will be available for sale in Europe early next year.

The Accord i-DTEC automatic will go on sale in January 2009 priced from £22,400 (Accord 2.2 i-DTEC ES saloon) and £23,700 (Accord 2.2 i-DTEC ES Tourer).

Now, let's hope that they can perfect this transmission so they can hit emission's standards here in North America and if the moon and the stars align....maybe,.....just maybe......

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-accord-i-dtec-receives-automatic-transmission/

Another Honda Diesel Article; Honda Delays 60-mpg Diesel Acura TSX

The European diesel-powered Acura TSX gets more than 60 miles to the gallon in EU driving tests. But Honda is delaying production for the U.S. due to cost issues and technical obstacles.

Honda announced last week that it will delay the launch of its planned first diesel [1] for the United States. The diesel-powered Acura TSX will be pushed back to 2010 from 2009, and some reports claim the company’s U.S. diesel program may be canceled completely.

The main reason for the delay is cost. Honda claims the expense of creating a diesel engine to meet California’s emissions standards—allowing it to be sold in all 50 states—has increased to more than $5,000 above a comparable gasoline-powered version.

The Japanese newspaper, Nikkei, said Honda is seeking to develop new catalytic converter technology that uses less platinum in order to keep prices down.

“We have to proceed cautiously in this environment.”

Honda spokesperson

In addition to cost factors, Honda has been unable to produce the diesel model with an automatic transmission that would pass emissions standards. Honda was not ready to move forward with marketing only a manual model in the American market.

The engine in question is a new version of Honda’s 4-cylinder 2.2-liter, i-DTEC engine. In Europe, where it’s sold in the Honda Accord—a model known as the Acura TSX in the US—the engine provides 188 horsepower, and more than 250 foot-pounds of torque.

Honda’s change of direction will send its engineers back to the diesel drawing board. In the meantime, Honda is said to already be working on a V-6 diesel that could be used in larger vehicles such as the Pilot SUV, Odyssey minivan, and Ridgeline small pickup.

Reuters recently reported that Honda also based its decision to delay [2] on the high cost of diesel fuel. With diesel prices higher than gasoline and weakening overall vehicle demand, Honda officials argued it was not the right time to roll out a more expensive new model, even with spectacular fuel economy. The European model gets more than 60 miles to the gallon in EU driving tests.

Source;
http://www.hybridcars.com/print/25245

Ward's Auto Confirms: Honda Cancels Acura Diesel

By Christie Schweinsberg WardsAuto.com, Oct 30, 2008 10:29 AM

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.’s plan to bring a diesel-equipped Acura TSX to the U.S. next year is dead before arrival.

“The (diesel in the) Acura has been canceled,” a source familiar with the program tells Ward’s.

A report in the Japanese business daily Nikkei News today says Honda will delay launching a diesel engine in the U.S. until 2010 or later.

A rumor, published this week on the “Temple of VTEC,” a Honda enthusiasts’ website, claims the engine did not meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions standards when tested with an automatic transmission.

The diesel-powered TSX equipped with a manual gearbox reportedly passed muster, but Honda rejected the business case to make the vehicle available in the U.S. without an automatic.

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. declines comment.

Honda first announced plans to bring a diesel engine to the U.S. in May 2006. It later was revealed the engine would be the i-DTEC 4-cyl. turbodiesel, already available in the European Honda Accord that is sold in the U.S. as the Acura TSX.

While Fukui declined to reveal which model would receive the diesel, sources say it was intended to power the TSX midsize sedan.

Fukui was bullish on his company’s diesel plans, which were to include the Honda brand at the time, saying the business case suggested “an appropriate profit level,” despite the price premium applied to diesel fuel. He also forecast eventual annual U.S. sales of 150,000 units.

Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the non-profit diesel-advocacy group, Diesel Technology Forum, expresses surprise at the notion Honda did not foresee testing problems.

In terms of performance and emissions achievements, we’ve seen data presented at technical conferences that (Honda) could make this system work,” Schaeffer says. “People don’t make those kinds of announcements without expecting to meet emissions standards.”

For the rest of the article;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=797648

Rumours Galore! Acura TSX Diesel and TSX V6 Update

Now, this is not good news for diesel fans in North America if it's true and keep in mind that this is truely just a RUMOUR at this point. However to find something like this on Temple of Vtec (which is a very credible source), gives me some concern that this may be true. Now I don't know what this could mean to the prospective diesel Accord or CRV, but it wouldn't look good, although I do know that the Accord and CRV diesel are to be released a year or two later, so that may give Honda the time to get things right.
Earlier this year at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui announced that 2009 would see Honda's first clean diesel engine to be sold in the USA. Though it was stated that the diesel engine would appear in an undisclosed Acura model, it was all but common knowledge that the TSX would be the first model to get the diesel engine.

Fast forward nearly 10 months, and we've received an anonymous tip asserting that the i-DTEC TSX has been delayed indefinitely (if not cancelled outright). According to the anonymous sources, the 6MT version of the i-DTEC TSX has successfully cleared emissions certification, but the automatic-equipped version has been unable to pass certification. According to these sources, Acura believes that the demand for a TSX diesel would be greatly compromised if it were only offered with a 6-speed manual, so the decision was allegedly made to put the TSX diesel on indefinite hold.

That's the bad news. The good news is that a V-6 version is said to be coming soon - it's supposedly being "fast-tracked" to make up for the missing diesel. We're still seeking any details we can uncover on that powertrain.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=796361

More Info to add to Honda's Diesel/Hybrids

Source;http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/13/honda-getting-3-more-hybrids-and-3-diesels-in-the-next-few-years/

Honda has always had one of the cleanest and most efficient model lineups in the U.S. market and they look set to continue that trend over the next several years. We already knew that the Japanese automaker would be adding three more hybrids to its lineup over the next two years: the five-door hatchback coming next spring will be followed by the CR-Z-based coupe and a hybrid version of the new Fit. Honda has been saying for over a year that they would keep the hybrid powertrains in these smaller cars which are used more often for urban driving. For the bigger models, they have decided diesel is the way to go. The first diesel model will show up next year in the Acura lineup, most likely starting with the TSX. According to Automotive News, diesels will then spread to the Honda side of the house starting with the Accord and CR-V. Both will likely get the same 2.2L four cylinder diesel that's going into the TSX. The next generation of the Odyssey minivan, which is due in 2010, may be the first Honda vehicle to get the 3.0L diesel V6 that the company is developing. That same engine will probably eventually end up in several other models - possibly the Pilot and Ridgeline - as well as in Acura vehicles like the MDX.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/13/honda-getting-3-more-hybrids-and-3-diesels-in-the-next-few-years/

Car & Driver Does a Short Take on the 2007 Honda Accord i-CTDi Diesel

It’s an engine you can’t buy in a car you can with a different name. Allow us to explain why you care.

BY JARED GALL August 2008

It’s rare that we test two-year-old cars, but this particular Accord is rarer—in the U.S., anyways—than burlesque houses in a Texan polygamy camp. Under the hood is a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, but twist the key in this Accord and it explodes to life in a lumpy jolt before settling softly into the characteristic, chugging idle of a small diesel.

If you are looking at the car on these pages and thinking, “That’s not an Accord!” you’re right and you’re wrong. It is not an Accord as we know it here in the States, but it is an Accord elsewhere in the world. What we know here as the Acura TSX is sold in Europe and Japan as the Honda Accord. Honda has confirmed that it will bring a diesel Accord to the U.S. in 2009. We’re not big on waiting, though, so we borrowed a 2007 Accord (which equates to our 2004–2008 TSX) with a similar diesel under the hood from Bosch, who developed the fuel-injection system for the engine.

At moderate speeds, the 138-hp diesel is exceedingly smooth and quiet. Below half throttle and at cruising speeds, the only noise is the slight whistling of the turbo. We measured 73 decibels cruising at 70 mph—decently quiet, but five higher than a similar TSX we tested.

Diesel = Torque. Have We Covered This Before?

It’s happy as low as 1300 rpm, but the power starts around 1600, with a whopping 251 pound-feet of torque (55 percent more than the current four-cylinder Accord) available at 2000 rpm. There is a nearly imperceptible difference between 70 or 80 percent throttle and flat-footing it, meaning the car feels quick when driven at about eight-tenths, but sluggish when it’s really hammered. It took 8.9 seconds to wind the speedo to 60 mph and 16.8 to get through the quarter-mile at 82 mph. The last TSX we tested ran 7.2 and 15.7 at 91.

The turbo is slow to spool up, meaning tremendous lag. In dedicated back-road blitzing, you have to nail the throttle long before the apex in order to be on the power when you exit a turn. Despite the less-sporting engine, the rest of the car remains just as g-addicted as the TSX, with wonderfully neutral handling for a front-driver and a ride/handling balance that pleases both enthusiastic drivers and nagging passengers.

The seat to be in remains the one with the wheel and pedals in front of it. Steering is precise and quick, with solid feedback and pleasant heft. The shifter in this car is a little less precise and has longer throws than the TSX, but that’s like saying your 4th of July celebration was less spectacular than the Mt. St. Helens eruption—falling short doesn’t necessarily mean it was boring. And the clutch is arguably an improvement, with longer, smoother takeup that is easier to modulate than the TSX’s snappy-quick pedal.

Diesel = Fuel Economy. Have We Covered This Before?

While gas costs are skyrocketing, diesel prices are seemingly strapped with an additional booster rocket or three. Even so, it was cheaper to drive the diesel Accord per mile than was the last TSX we drove. We observed 51 mpg on a 150-mile highway loop at 70 mph and only managed to bring our overall figure down to 32 mpg by hammering the Accord around town and through our usual testing regimen. Assuming $4 a gallon for gas, the 25 mpg we observed in an identical TSX works out to 16 cents per mile. If diesel costs $4.80 a gallon, our overall observed economy of 32 mpg means 15 cents per mile, and that includes some pretty aggressive miles.

We’ll be looking to drive this powertrain in a U.S.-market Accord soon. A perennial 10Best winner and a smooth, powerful, and more efficient engine? Like Barry Bonds and performance-enhancing pills, it should make for a home run.

Link; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/honda_acura_central/2007_honda_accord_i_ctdi_diesel_short_take_road_test

What to Expect in a North American Diesel Honda Accord/Acura TSX

Well, it looks like the Acura TSX is going to be getting the Diesel treatment here in North America before the Honda Accord. The diesel is currently being sold in Europe as the European Accord (for those of you who don't know, this Euro Accord is smaller than our current NA Accord and is badged under the Acura Logo TSX). I am guessing that the NA Accord will get the diesel by 2010 or 2011 along with the Honda CRV. Here's an artcle I found on the NYTimes. Keep in mind, all of you Canadians, the US gallon is smaller than the Canadian gallon, so MPG numbers will be dramatically different here, four Canadian gallons = five U.S. gallons.

A Honda on a Diesel Diet
By LAWRENCE ULRICH

HONDA has spent decades establishing a reputation for fuel efficiency. But nothing in the company’s current lineup, including its Civic Hybrid, can match the mileage of the diesel Accord that I recently tested in and around New York City.

Minus its diesel powertrain, the European-market 2007 Accord that I drove is nearly identical to the car that Honda had been selling in the United States as the Acura TSX. That Accord should give a solid indication of the mileage and performance American consumers can expect when

Honda offers a diesel option for the redesigned 2009 TSX.

The Accord — a demonstration car provided by Robert Bosch, the German technology company, to highlight its fuel injectors and other diesel components — returned a remarkable 53 miles a gallon on the highway, 34 in the city and 44 in combined driving. Those miles included a bumper-to-bumper crawl through Manhattan, the worst possible conditions for fuel efficiency.

The model I drove was powered by a 4-cylinder diesel displacing 2.2 liters and producing 140 horsepower and a stout 250 pound-feet of torque — the force that drivers feel pushing them into their seats under acceleration. That huge torque relative to the engine’s size is a main advantage of modern turbodiesels, making them well-suited to small economy cars and to burly S.U.V.’s that need torque for towing and hauling.

The America-bound Acura will use a new version of the 2.2-liter engine that I tested. The engine is notable for meeting 50-state emissions standards with no need to carry an onboard tank of urea, an ammonia-generating solution that other diesels use to scrub smoggy nitrogen oxides from the exhaust. Honda’s patented pollution system generates its own ammonia to fulfill the same mission. While that cleaner emissions system wasn’t installed on the Honda I tested, engineers expect it to have no discernable effect on fuel economy.

As with other diesels I’ve driven recently, the Honda’s frugal highway mileage and versatile power are important advantages over the typical hybrid. The Accord covered the zero-to-60 run in just under 9 seconds in my testing, which doesn’t sound spectacular on paper. But its passing power from 30, 50 or even 70 miles an hour was terrific, as the Honda easily shot past slower cars.

And as more hybrid owners are discovering, their cars deliver little or no mileage gain on the highway. That’s because battery packs and electric motors add several hundred pounds, and the system also contributes negligible energy at freeway speeds.

Also unlike hybrids, which require drivers to go easy on the gas pedal, watch the speed limit and coast when possible to improve the mileage, the diesel Honda delivered brilliant economy with no special effort. Even spirited driving didn’t dent the mileage much. The Accord delivered 50 m.p.g. even during a 75-m.p.h. cruise and 40 m.p.g. when I flogged it like a Nascar yahoo.

The Acura’s only diesel telltale is an idle that’s slightly louder than a gasoline car’s, though it’s not at all obtrusive. There was no trace of diesel smell or black exhaust and except for the enormous diesel decal on the car’s side, my passengers would have been unaware that a diesel was under the hood.
(Nice!)

I also recently spent a week with the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI sport utility, which will go on sale in January. That model, with a 3-liter turbocharged V-6, delivered about 25 m.p.g. on the highway. But the Audi’s mileage seemed more fragile than the Honda’s, dropping sharply in city traffic and in spirited driving. That was probably due to its sheer mass; the Q7 weighed more than 5,000 pounds.

Audi also demonstrates the performance possibilities of diesel with its exotic R8 V-12 TDI concept sports car, which I took for a too-brief test drive. That blood-red, all-wheel-drive Audi had a 12-cylinder diesel mounted behind my head, generating 500 horsepower and an astounding 737 pound-feet of torque. Audi claims the R8 will rocket from 0 to 60 in about 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 190 m.p.h., all while delivering 24 m.p.g. Audi has not said whether it will put the car into production.

Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/automobiles/autoreviews/18DRIVE.html?_r=3&fta=y&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin