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Audi’s A3 140PS 2.0-litre TDI models have gained engine start-stop and recuperation technology.
This means the three-door, five-door Sportback and Cabriolet variants benefit from CO2 cuts of up to 20g/km or around 16 per cent, bringing output down to as little as 115g/km for three-door and Sportback versions.
The improvements apply immediately to all 140PS A3 2.0 TDI models equipped with six-speed manual transmission. They help to increase economy by at least 8mpg across the board, boosting the three-door and five-door A3 2.0 TDIs from a combined total of 55.4mpg to 64.2mpg and cutting emissions from 134g/km to 115g/km.
The Cabriolet benefits from an 8.1mpg increase to 61.4mpg and a 20g/km CO2 reduction to 119g/km.
In terms of company car taxation, this repositions the A3 2.0 TDI in the 13% BIK category from its original 18% rate, meaning a saving in annual tax liability of £373 for the three-door standard hatchback model, which will now cost a 40% tax payer £972.
The start-stop system cuts engine power at idle when the clutch pedal is released and the gear lever is in its neutral position, and then restarts in just two-tenths of a second when the clutch is depressed.
Recuperation technology provides further fuel and CO2 savings by recycling a proportion of the wasted kinetic energy which is generated under normal braking and normally dissipated as heat, and storing this temporarily in the vehicle battery to reduce the engine load when the car subsequently accelerates again.
The updated TDIs follow on from the 1.4 TFSI petrol models with emissions from 132g/km and the 1.6 TDIs with outputs as little as 109g/km. Prices for the 2.0 TDI 140PS versions range from £18,860 to £23,630, and the Cabriolets range from £22,635 to £26,865.
