2010 Audi A5 2.0t Premium Plus on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Audi is working on a suspension that gets power from bumpy roads

Regenerative brakes aren't new. They're on virtually every hybrid and EV, and they're even starting to pop up on traditional gas-powered cars, like with the i-ELOOP-equipped Mazda6. But even with these systems, cars can get more efficient, and Audi thinks it found yet another source of wasted energy. The source? The suspension. The idea is to turn the kinetic energy that goes into the dampers into usable energy instead of as waste heat. Audi isn't the first auto company to come up with regenerative suspension – nearly three years ago, ZF introduced its GenShock technology, which used a valve attached to traditional, oil-filled hydraulic shocks to recapture kinetic energy from movement caused by bumps in the road. Audi's prototype technology, which it calls eROT, replaces traditional dampers with horizontally oriented electromechanical rotary dampers. eROT is apparently short for electromechanical rotary damper. Neat. In testing, eROT recovered an average of 100 to 150 watts on a typical German road, three watts from a fresh piece of pavement, and 613 watts on a rough stretch of tarmac (wattage is calculated as power over time, so this is actually the rate at which the system harvests energy). The dampers channel that energy to a tiny, 0.5-kWh, 48-volt battery. The prototype is claimed to cut CO2 emissions by three grams per kilometer (4.8 grams per mile), while the company believes a future production version could save up to 0.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers of driving. Converting the savings to American miles per gallon isn't easy, so we'll use a practical example. In the US, the Q7's supercharged 3.0-liter V6 returns a combined rating of 21 miles per gallon, which works out to 11.2 liters per 100 kilometers. Apply eROT's 0.7L/100km savings, and the Q7's economy would improve to 10.5L/100km, or 22.4 mpg, a 1.4-mpg improvement. That's not huge, but because math, 0.7L/100km is more dramatic on a more fuel efficient vehicle – taking an A3's 27-mpg combined rating and adding eROT would drive efficiency up 2.4 mpg, for example. There are a few other big benefits beyond fuel and emissions savings – Audi claims eROT provides a more comfortable ride than traditional active suspensions, because engineers can tune the compression and rebound strokes independently of each other. Beyond that, the horizontally oriented rear suspension geometry means more cargo space, since the dampers don't poke up into the cabin like they normally do.

Audi A5 and S5 Sportbacks look slinky for the Paris Motor Show

Following closely on the heels of the updated Audi A5 and S5 refresh, the German automaker introduced the 2017 Audi A5 and S5 Sportback. The vehicles are set for an official debut at the Paris Motor Show next month and share many of the same exterior touches as the regular coupes. Audi's sportback models are not sold in the US. A spokesman from Audi told Autoblog that the automaker is still deciding whether to bring the vehicles to the US. The A5 and S5 Sportback are aimed at drivers that want the same feel as the coupe with the added functionality of a hatchback – think wagon meets sedan. Besides the extra set of doors, there's very little that differentiates the sportback models from the coupes. The new models are built upon Volkswagen's MLB platform, which makes the car roughly 190 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. European customers will be able to choose between two TFSI and three TDI engines for the A5 Sportback. The engines range from a 2.0-liter inline-four that makes 190 horsepower to a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 putting out 286 hp. The engines can be paired to a six-speed manual transmission, seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox or an eight-speed tiptronic unit. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive as an available option on two variants. AWD comes standard when opting for the more powerful engines. The vehicles will also feature Audi's new Quattro Ultra all-wheel-drive system that can disconnect the rear wheels to be more fuel efficient. The S5 Sportback is the one enthusiasts will enjoy as it packs a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that's good for 354 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. Audi claims the S5 Sportback, even with the addition of its new doors, will be able to get to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds, which is the same time as its two-door counterpart. In addition to the diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles, the A5 Sportback g-tron will be offered for drivers looking for flexible fuel choices. The g-tron model is powered by a 170-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged-inline-four that can run on Audi e-gas, natural gas or regular gasoline. The exterior design is nearly identical to that of the coupes with Audi's new single frame grille and muscular front end. The rear incorporates a fastback-like design, similar to the one found on the A7, which helps soften the vehicle out – all sport in the front and luxury in the rear.

Audi will offer A3 TDI owners same goodwill package

Audi will offer a Goodwill Package, similar to the one Volkswagen has offered owners, for the German brand's emissions-cheating diesel four-cylinder engine. Participating customers will receive a $500 prepaid Visa, a $500 gift card for Audi dealers, and three years of 24-hour roadside assistance. "We are offering this Audi A3 TDI Goodwill Package as a sincere token of our appreciation for your patience," the company wrote on its customer website. This offer will only extend to the A3 TDI. A second EPA violation covers an estimated 85,000 vehicles in the US with VW's Group's 3.0-liter TDI V6 like the 2016 A6, A7, A8 and Q5, and the models are also under a stop sale. However, these owners aren't eligible for the Goodwill Package at this time. "Audi is currently investigating the allegations" against the six-cylinder engines, according to the explanation on the site's FAQ. Owners need to register their VIN on the company's website to apply for the Goodwill Package. They'll receive the items in the mail around four weeks later, but will then need to take the affected vehicle and the package to the dealer to activate the cards. Like the VW program, people have until April 30, 2016, to apply for the offer. VW Group of America CEO Michael Horn said last week around 120,000 people already registered for the brand's Goodwill Package. Related Video: