Audi on Friday revealed the long-awaited and much-rumored specs of its upcoming 3.0-liter V6 engine, which will power the upcoming A6 and high-performance S4 in an upgraded trim. In a departure from its current range of engines, the 3.0 TFSI V6 will use a supercharger to help it develop 290 horsepower at about 5,000rpm. Like the current engines, however, the torque peak will be more of a plateau, with the engine delivering 310lb-ft between 2,500 and 4,850rpm.
The engine’s Roots-type blower will fit into the space between the cylinder banks, where it replaces the intake manifold and helps to keep packaging to a minimum. It will provide up to 11.6 psi of boost, at least for use in the A6, with the S4 expected to get a higher-horsepower version of the engine, according to Carscoop. Audi has not revealed what that number may be, but previous rumors pegged output at about 330 horsepower.
The engine will also feature direct fuel injection, a technology that is becoming more commonplace due to its efficiency in fuel use. Especially useful in forced induction engines, it helps to cool the cylinder charge, enabling higher compression ratios. It should help to offset the higher fuel consumption inherent to supercharged engines, as the blowers are constantly driven by the crankshaft via an accessory belt, unlike a turbocharger, which is spun up by exhaust gases.
Still, Audi claims extensive testing revealed the supercharger was a better solution for its new engine and promises combined fuel consumption in the 24 mpg range in all models it will be used in. Whether or not Audi will use a clutch to disengage the supercharger under cruising conditions like the one used on certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles is unknown, but also unlikely.
The 3.0TFSI is due to debut at the Paris auto show this October.
06/27, 11:59 AM
posted by:
manhertm
Weeeeak, gimme a twin turbo V-6 and stop FNing around.
06/27, 12:10 PM
posted by:
mr_hunter
I must agree; turbo’s are more efficient. When I first read that audi was making a supercharged V6 I just figured the report was wrong, guess not.
06/27, 12:23 PM
posted by:
soon
I’m sure they have done their home work on the complete system…. emission, packaging, performance, etc… they would have used “Twin Turbo’s” if they were the BEST……. public perception is a different thing…
06/27, 12:31 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
The efficiency of superchargers has improved dramatically over the last several years. One of the main inefficences of belt driven forced induction now is the drag of the belt on the system in low boost settings. It takes power to turn the supercharger even if it is not needed at the time. If this is eliminated with a clutch there is no reason that a supercharger should not start reaching the levels of efficiency of turbochargers. Other benefits are reduction of turbo lag (I know not as big of a problem with modern turbos, but still there) and freer flowing exhaust.
06/27, 1:47 PM
posted by:
El Aleman
I think the efficiency would still be lower than in a naturally aspirated engine, even with the clutch, since there is no proper intake manifold, since it’s replaced by the supercharger..
06/27, 2:07 PM
posted by:
soon
the dynamics has not been proven (documented for public knowledge) but the ROOTS supercharger “actually” (IMOP) helps an engines VE over an NA engine, the use of a bypass valve Vs. a clutch, is just as effective…
06/27, 2:40 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
It’s nice to see that there is still someone out there using a roots sc. I love the one on my LSJ… no lag… plenty of torque… and that lovely blower whine.
Soon –> IDK how well a bypass valve setup would work here b/c the blower is replacing the intake manifold. Most bypass setups have the blower sitting atop the intake manifold, so air can be directed around the blower and into the engine. With no proper intake manifold the air has to go through the blower… whether the rotors are spinning or not.
06/27, 2:54 PM
posted by:
bdizzlefizzle
It’s TFSI, not TSFI. LLN gets this wrong too much.
06/27, 3:09 PM
posted by:
Z06ified
It seems crazy with all the high horsepower numbers being thrown around lately, but 290hp doesn’t sound like much anymore. Most of its competition, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus, Infiniti, etc. all have engines with more than 300hp on their entry level models.
06/27, 3:56 PM
posted by:
soon
the bypass system works so well that the supercharger only draws 1/2hp (or so) when in bypass… the air is actually directed thru the rotors, thru the bypass then back into the inlet (high pressure to low)
the HP/Torque #’s are able to be lower because the “under the curve” torque is higher at the lower RPM’s & flat across the entire range, so the total HP does not have to be as high…
06/27, 4:08 PM
posted by:
bigp
bmw 3.0 has some one to fight because it just killing the other engines in its class
06/27, 10:40 PM
posted by:
Veda
It might not even reach the standard 300 HP of today’s cars, but Audi has always been the most fuel efficient of the germans. So that’s probably what they had in mind when they designed this. Anyway, this is a welcome addition since they didn’t have anything powerful below the V8’s to drive their bigger cars.
06/28, 1:58 AM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Hmm Like I said before months back……….