-Audi has disclosed the first details of its all-new supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. It will be called TFSI in which the T no longer stands for turbocharged; the FSI is Audi's usual moniker for direct-injection (fuel stratified injection).

 

- This is not the first time Audi has used a supercharger, also known commonly in Germany as Kompressor, as in the case of Mercedes-Benz. In the 1930s, the 12- and 16-cylinder engines of the Audi's Grand Prix racecars built by Auto Union were supercharged.

 

- Since the 1970s, Audi focused on turbochargers that feature widely in current models. However, Audi today says comparative tests have shown that a mechanical supercharger is superior to a twin-turbo setup in terms of acceleration and responsiveness.

 

- Audi claims that the supercharger can ideally slot in between the two banks of the 90-degree V6 to gain on compactness. The TFSI produces 290hp at 5,000rpm (redline is 6,500rpm) and 420Nm of torque between 2,500-4,850rpm.

 

- The entire engine is claimed to tip the scales at 189kg, meet Euro 5 emission standard and yield over 10kpl in current models, whose engines are longitudinally laid out. The cars in reference are the A4, A5, A6, A8, Q5 and Q7.

 

- The first model to get TFSI, according to sources, is the S4 due this October. It rivals the BMW 335i that uses a twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six developing a higher 306hp at 5,800rpm but a lower 400Nm, albeit via a wider rev range of 1,300-5,000rpm. Average fuel consumption of the 335is is rated at 10.5kpl.

new cars are going to be better,

 

simply as technology has improved.

 

 

you get ford focus etc that are 230 odd BHP these days!

 

and vauxhall vectras etc