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By looking at the new Audi lineup, it's amazing to see how hybrid and electric models are becoming a more prominent fixture on the market. To further expand its lineup of vehicles using alternative fuel sources, Audi is now turning to compressed natural gas (CNG). Showcasing this technology is the Audi g-tron which was recently unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Here at Jim Ellis Audi Marietta we are excited to uncover all of the details.
Adopting the Audi A3 Sportback platform, the g-tron sports a 1.4-liter TFSI engine that churns out 110 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. It also has the ability to run on either CNG or regular gasoline. In the event that the CNG supply runs low the vehicle automatically switches to gasoline, or can be switched manually when the alternative fuel option is required.
In order to adapt this model to properly run on CNG, Audi had to do a little tweaking of the turbocharger, cylinder head, injection system, and catalytic converter. This allows for a more efficient driving range of 250 miles when just the CNG is used. Add in the use of the gasoline tank and drivers can expect to achieve an impressive 560 miles.
Audi also made some other enhancements to the Sportback to enable it for CNG. In order to engineer the CNG tank so that it wasn't so heavy, a "matrix" design was developed to make it 60 pounds lighter when compared to a regular tank. It consists of three different layers that were specially designed by the automaker.
We can expect to see the g-tron technology become available within the A3 lineup of three and five door hatches, the convertible and sedan. It will also be added to the high performance Audi S3 and RS3 models. Although nothing has been confirmed about the g-tron's release in the United States, it will be debuted in Europe later this year.
If any of you in the greater Marietta area are interested in learning more about this alternative fuel source, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Simply stop in and visit us at 1715 Cobb Parkway S Marietta, GA 30060, and while you are here we can even schedule you for a test drive with any of our new and used Audi models. We look forward to seeing you soon!
