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Audi's new Ultra low-CO2 branding will be pushed across the firm's model line-up as a way of identifying the best-performing models.
"Ultra, ultimately, is a factory proposal. It's not just going on A4, A5 and A6 - the philosophy will go across the range," Audi's A4 and A5 product manager Mike Bennett told BusinessCar, likening the plans to parent firm Volkswagen's Bluemotion brand.
The A6 saloon and Avant were the first Ultra models earlier this year, with the A4 saloon and Avant and A5 Coupe and Sportback recently added. An A7 Ultra will follow later this year, while the facelifted Q3 small off-roader coming early next year will feature an Ultra model, with the goal of 119g/km.
The UK didn't take the A3 Ultra models available in Germany because the diesel was specified with steel wheels, and the petrol variant was too close in emissions terms to existing models. The company confirmed it will assess petrol Ultra models for the UK on a case-by-case basis going forward.
Bennett said the Ultra models' advantage over BMW's Efficient Dynamics models is that they are not just one trim level.
"With the A4 it's SE and SE Technik, SE and S-line [on the] A6, and it's coming on the A7," he said. "It's not just one version and this is all you get - if you want S-line you can have it on the A6."
Audi claimed it doesn't know how popular it expects its Ultra models to be, although early figures put the A6 Ultra at around 80% of that model's mix.
The Ultra "philosophy", as Bennett described it, goes up to factory level, with action including the installation of solar panels and the reuse of water from the plant.
The A4 saloon, A5 Coupe and A5 Sportback all offer 109g/km of CO2 emissions, 5g/km better than the A4 Avant, with all bar the 136hp A5 Sportback getting the 163hp version of the 2.0-litre diesel.
The saloon A6 Ultra emits 114g/km and 117g/km in automatic and manual forms respectively, while the automatic A6 Avant gets under 120g/km.
The A7 Ultra will arrive with the facelifted A7 range at the end of this year, offering 122g/km from the 218hp 3.0-litre diesel.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
