[Cartoday]
Audi has just given the A4 a six-cylinder shot in the arm with the introduction of its all-new 3,2 FSI engine to the local range.
The 3,2-litre FSI powerplant is the top petrol engine in the new A4 range and incorporates a number of new technological features, such as direct fuel injection and Audi’s new Valvelift system, to improve both performance and efficiency.
Developing 195 kW and 330 N.m of torque between 3 000 and 5 000 r/min, this unit propels the R405 000 A4 3,2 FSI quattro Tiptronic Ambiente from 0-100 km/h in 6,4 seconds on the way to an electronically-governed 250 km/h top speed.
The new engine sports compact dimensions and, thanks to an aluminium-silicon alloy engine block construction, weighs in at just 171 kg. This contributes to the low overall weight of the new Audi A4 and gives it optimal axle-load distribution. Audi also claim that the low weight will also contribute towards the car’s agility and performance.
Another benefit of of the new engine’s lightweight construction is a claimed 1,2-litre/100 km improvement in fuel consumption over the 3,2 FSI’s 188 kW predecessor when mated with the six-speed tiptronic gearbox and the company’s quattro all-wheel drive system. This new set up also helps the new car to slice two-tenths of a second off the previous model’s 0-100 km/h time.
Audi attributes a five percent reduction in fuel consumption to the company’s new Valvelift system. By controlling the valve lift process in two stages, this system improves combustion chamber filling under all driving situations.
It also regulates the amount of combustion air drawn into the engine by varying inlet valve lift; in most cases the throttle butterfly can therefore remain fully open.
This helps to eliminate undesirable throttling losses, whilst developing more power and toque at higher revs.
Later in the year Audi SA will launch the 2,0T FSI (developing 132 kW and 320 N.m) and a more powerful sibling that develops 155 kW and 350 N.m – both of which will be mated with six-speed manual transmissions .
These engines are from the same family as the well-known 147kW T FSI but the Valvelift Technology in a bid to improve both fuel economy and power delivery.