[Audi_FTW]

Okay, so articles have popped up over the past few days detailing that the start/stop technology is coming to the 2010 A3 1.6 TDI and 1.4 TFSI:

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/10/19/481739.html
http://www.carpictures.com/vehicle/09J4D191219183.html

Anyone know if this is extending to the U.S. debut of the 2010 A3 2.0 TDI?

Thanks!

 

[chittychittybangbang]

No, it's the same engine/transmission as the Jetta/Golf TDI. The start/stop is only on Euro models with the smaller engines. I'm 99% sure on this.

 

[Audi_FTW]

Thanks, chitty. That's what I suspected.

My local dealer is actually one of the first to have a video going on it, and you can definitely hear the engine running:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHyeq-0dEBM

By the way, watching that vid, what's with the headlight show going on there?

 

[NJ2dc]

It looks like some aliasing aka wagon wheel on film effect. Any pattern in flickering of the lights overlaps with the pattern of the film sample rate. The same thing happens if you try to videotape a TV you see flickering bars. At least a cathode ray tube TV, I don't know if the new LCD TVs flicker.

 

[chittychittybangbang]

That is weird. Your explanation makes sense except that car electronics run off DC not AC. There shouldn't be any flickering for the camera to pick up. DC powered lights like a handheld flashlight are constant, AC powered lights like household lighting do flicker. Unless the LED running lights work off AC but that doesn't make sense.

 

[Audi_FTW]

Hopefully I can clear this up this weekend. My order's placed, but now that they actually have one in stock, I'll test that very car and ask the burning question.

They have another vid of it in on a test drive, and in my opinion, they've made a poor choice of song to turn off prospective female buyers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYu7jxIcPX8

 

[3waygeek]

Hopefully I can clear this up this weekend. My order's placed, but now that they actually have one in stock, I'll test that very car and ask the burning question.

You'll enjoy it -- I test drove the Eurospec version a few weeks back, just after putting down a deposit on a well-loaded TDI for delivery in mid-January.

 

[Audi_FTW]

After testing the '09 A3, I was ready to make a purchase. After testing the '10 A3 TDI, I'm blown away. February can't come fast enough.

Incredible turn handling, over-responsive braking, U-turns on a dime, and a fantastic Bluetooth audible phone sync make this an incredible value. :thumbsup