AUDI has introduced fuel-saving cylinder deactivation technology first seen in its high performance S and RS models to its smaller petrol-engined A1 and A3 hatches.
The development will help move the goalposts when company car drivers are comparing petrol and diesel running costs.
An Audi A3 with CoD does 60mpg and will cost a 40% tax payer £1044 less in company car tax
Audi calls its deactivation system Cylinder-on-Demand – CoD for short – and it’s being offered on the company’s 1.4 TFSI-engines. Under light loads, two of the engine’s four cylinders are shut down when not required.
A1 and A3 1.4 TFSI models with CoD turn out 140 PS and command a price premium of £850 over the equivalent 122 PS 1.4 TFSI models without the technology. A1 CoD models start at £16,740 and CoD A3s are priced from £20,055.
Initially all CoD A1s will have self-shifting s-tronic gearboxes and all CoD A3s will be manuals but both ‘boxes will be available within a few months in both cars.
A3 models with CoD deliver 60.1mpg and 109g/km, and Audi points to lower fuelling and purchase costs compared with similarly powerful 2.0 TDI diesels, as well as company car tax savings of up to £1,044 for 40 per cent taxpayers.