Vienna - The annual International Motor Symposium, on now in the Austrian capital, is perhaps most aptly described as a 'show and tell' for automotive engineers, an opportunity for white-coated boffins to talk about their latest developments to people who actually understand.
As Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, management-board member for technical development at Audi, put it: "Turbocharged diesel engines are a central part of our technology mix for the mobility of tomorrow; we believe there is still potential for increasing efficiency in the future."
And that's not just hot air; Hackenberg was speaking at the presentation of an all-new three-litre V6 TDI engine that he claimed was more powerful, more efficient and cleaner than ever.
SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POWERFUL
It will be built in two versions, rated at 160 and 200kW respectively, with as much as 600Nm available, depending on the model.
It's significantly more powerful than its predecessor, says Dr Stefan Knirsch, head of engine development, yet - again depending on the model - as much as 13 percent more fuel-efficient.
The 2967cc all-alloy engine has a 90-degree V-angle, with separate coolant loops for the block and the all-new cylinder heads, to improve internal thermal management. The piston rings and gudgeon pins have been modified to reduce friction and a fully variable load oil pump and an updated turbocharger further reduce internal power losses.
A nitrous oxide-storage converter has been combined with a diesel particulate filter and SCR injection in a single assembly - an industry first, claims Knirsch - reducing quoted CO2 emissions by an average of 15 g/km, making the new engine Euro-6 compliant and earning it the "clean diesel" suffix.
"The Vienna Motor Symposium offers us an excellent stage for our technologies."
Knirsch said: “We can present our innovations and discuss them here with experts from all around the world."
Besides the new three-litre TDI, Audi also presented a new seven-speed dual clutch transmission for front-wheel drive cars with longitudinal rather than transverse engines.
The latest-generation S tronic, Knirsch said, was very sporty, yet very comfortable, while its high efficiency reduced CO2 emissions by as much as 10 grams per kilometre.