Skip to main content

Audi says lack of demand, not Dieselgate, forced it to cancel the 2017 A4 TDI

A4 sedan front
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Audi has announced it won’t sell the new 2017 A4 with a turbodiesel engine in the United States. That’s hardly surprising, as the Volkswagen-owned car maker is still feeling the ripple effect of last year’s Dieselgate scandal, but executives explain that the decision to kill the A4 TDI before it touches down on U.S. soil has nothing to do with the far-reaching emissions cover-up.

“We will get the cars certified and we would have brought [the A4 diesel] if there was enough demand,” said Scott Keogh, the boss of Audi’s American division, in an interview with trade journal Automotive News. “Every decision is a blend of a lot of things but I think the predominant thing is there was not significant market demand for the TDI sedans we had in the marketplace: A3, A6, A7, A8.”

That means the A4 will exclusively be offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine in the foreseeable future. It generates 252 horsepower between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm, and 273 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 4,500 rpm. Offered with either front- or all-wheel drive, the A4 hits 60 mph from a stop in 6.1 seconds and it goes on to a top speed of 130 mph in its quickest configuration.

Buyers who want a diesel-powered Audi aren’t entirely out of luck — at least not yet. While the future looks bleak for oil-burning sedans, Keogh affirmed the company remains committed to selling diesel-powered SUVs in the United States because they’ve been relatively popular. According to Automotive News, 12 percent of all Q5s and 22 percent of all Q7s sold are equipped with a TDI engine. The Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t allowed Audi to sell diesels in the United States since late last year, but the company is working to get them re-certified.

Editors' Recommendations

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more