“We will get the cars certified and we would have brought [the A4 diesel] if there was enough demand,” said Scott Keogh, the boss of Audi’s American division, in an interview with trade journal Automotive News. “Every decision is a blend of a lot of things but I think the predominant thing is there was not significant market demand for the TDI sedans we had in the marketplace: A3, A6, A7, A8.”
That means the A4 will exclusively be offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine in the foreseeable future. It generates 252 horsepower between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm, and 273 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. Offered with either front- or all-wheel drive, the A4 hits 60 mph from a stop in 6.1 seconds and it goes on to a top speed of 130 mph in its quickest configuration.
Buyers who want a diesel-powered Audi aren’t entirely out of luck — at least not yet. While the future looks bleak for oil-burning sedans, Keogh affirmed the company remains committed to selling diesel-powered SUVs in the United States because they’ve been relatively popular. According to Automotive News, 12 percent of all Q5s and 22 percent of all Q7s sold are equipped with a TDI engine. The Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t allowed Audi to sell diesels in the United States since late last year, but the company is working to get them re-certified.
