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Three new engines for the Audi A4 |
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Audi is ensuring that its remains well placed to continue its growth in the Indian market. After the recent introduction of the Q5 SUV, Audi has now added 3 new engines to the A4 range. Since its launch, the A4 has been available with a 3.2 liter FSI V6 and a 2.0 liter TDI. It now comes with the added options of a 3.0 liter TDI, a 2.0 liter TFSI and a 1.8 liter TFSI. Both the 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI engines are also available in the Q5 – albeit in slightly different states of tune. The 2.0 TFSI engine is also the 2009 winner of the prestigious International Engine of the Year award in the 1.8-2.0 liter category.
The top of the line petrol and diesel models, the 3.2 FSI and 3.0 TDI respectively, get 6-speed tiptronic transmissions and Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel drive system, while all the other models get front-wheel drive and Audi’s multitronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). All the engines, however, get Audi’s cutting edge direct-injection technology. |
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The 3.0 liter TDI also takes over the mantle of being the fastest accelerating A4 – beating the 3.2 FSI’s time of 6.4 seconds to 100km/h by two-tenths of a second. This can be attributed to its mammoth 370lb/ft of torque that kicks in at just 1500rpm versus 240lb/ft at 3000rpm in the petrol engined 3.2, and that’s despite a lower horsepower figure of 245bhp in the 3.0 TDI versus 260bhp in the 3.2 FSI. Additionally, the 2.0 TDI produces 140bhp, and the 1.8 TFSI produces 160bhp, while the 2.0 TFSI generates a healthy 180bhp.
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M&M to takeover some ex-Chrysler dealers in the US |
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M&M signed a deal with Global Vehicles to market its products through a network of dealers across the US as far back as the start of 2007. Since then, the economic slowdown has put a damper on M&M’s plans – both in terms of setting up a dealer network from scratch, as well as readying an assembly plant in the US. It now appears that the company could well take advantage of the many defunct Chrysler dealers across the North American landscape – literally providing M&M with a ready, established network of over 300 dealers overnight.
M&M will begin by exporting a pick-up version of their Scorpio SUV as early as the fourth-quarter of this year. In fact, the company is already encouraging prospective buyers to sign up for early test-drives on their website. Thereafter, they may once again look at the possibility of contract manufacturing in North America, which could even begin by the middle of 2010. |
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Cross Pollination – the Nano could head to the US, and Chrysler to India |
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In a seemingly effective case of cross-pollination, Tata Motors could use Fiat’s stake in Chrysler to sell the Nano in the American market by 2012, while Chrysler could use the Tata Motors-Fiat JV to introduce the Chrysler brand in the Indian market far sooner. The Nano’s entry in the US would follow the Nano Europa’s introduction in Europe – however the car would have to be reengineered further to meet US safety and emissions standards. A number of existing Chrysler and Jeep models, on the other hand, could look at claiming a piece of the ever-growing luxury car market in India. Furthermore, each of these models would come in below cars and SUVs from the JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) stable – thereby ensuring that they wouldn’t compete head-to-head.
All of this can only be made possible thanks to Fiat’s 20% stake in the rejuvenated Chrysler Group LLC – formed following Chrysler’s re-emergence from bankruptcy court in the US after just 60 days. As part of the Fiat-Chrysler global strategic alliance, Fiat will provide Chrysler with the technology, platforms and powertrains for environmentally friendly, small and medium sized cars – allowing the company to expand its lineup. Furthermore, Chrysler will also benefit from Fiat’s presence in several international markets such as Latin American and Russia. Conversely, Fiat itself will gain access to the all-important US market – in all likelihood, brining the Alfa Romeo brand back to North America, as well as introducing the very popular Fiat 500 in the US.
Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has also been named CEO of Chrysler LLC. The combined automakers would produce about 4.5 million cars a year – bringing Marchionne closer to his stated goal of building 6 million cars a year under one umbrella in order to viably offset fixed costs through effective platform sharing. |
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