Audi has just unveiled the complete version of its 2010 SuperBowl ad featuring the A3 TDI. The gist of the commercial is that the Green Police are out arresting regular folks doing regular things that are bad for the environment, like throwing out compost, using plastic bags for groceries or using incandescent light bulbs.

At a traffic stop to look for environmental offenders, the Green Police see an A3 TDI and let the driver go, while everyone else is stuck in traffic.

While we did get a chuckle over the Green Police pulling over the actual police at the end (and the Cheap Trick “Green Police” song is pretty darn catchy), this certainly isn’t up to Audi’s usual standards and the company’s green diesel diatribe is getting a little old. Who knows, the whole thing might backfire, with its Orwellian-like universe run by Al Gore. Yawn…

See after the jump for some other 2010 SuperBowl ads from Kia and Hyundai:

After much anticipation Volkswagen has finally released the fuel-economy numbers for the 2010 Golf TDI, with the DSG equipped model achieving a rating of 31/42 mg (city/highway). Manual transmission TDI models are rated at 30/41 mpg. As for the standard gasoline-powered Golf with the 2.5-liter engine, it is rated at 22/30 mpg.

The Golf starts at $17,490, while the TDI is priced from $21,990. The price increase for the TDI is based on VW’s decision to take it slightly more up-market, by equipping it with standard features like a stiffer and lower suspension and a touch screen audio system (like in the new 2010 GTI.. reviewed here). DSG models will get steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and expect to pay an $1,100 premium for VW’s advances DSG automatic transmission.

GALLERY: 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI

Volkswagen showcased the 2010 Golf TDI at this year’s New York Auto Show but since then the German automaker has been quiet about actually bringing the fuel-efficient diesel back to the U.S. Now it appears that decision has been made as Volkswagen U.S.A. has now put up live pages on its website giving full details of the new 2010 models – including the Golf TDI. (Those pages aren’t linkable from the home page however, and likely won’t be until the official announcement from VW).

Much like its Jetta sibling the Golf TDI will get VW’s 2.0-liter turbo diesel motor with 140hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway with either the six-speed manual or VW’s incredible quick-shifting DSG automatic. Interestingly, however, the EPA actually has the TDI listed at 30/42 mpg. As for performance, the serious amounts of torque help this fuel-miser hit 60 mph in a reasonable 8.6 seconds.

Standard features include a 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, power locks/windows/mirrors, 17-inch wheels, ABS, stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system and six airbags.

The 2010 Golf TDI will be available as both a two-door and four-door model, priced at $21,990 and $22,590 respectively.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Today Volkswagen officially launched the return of the Golf GTD – a Golf that is high in both performance and fuel economy, thanks to its diesel engine. With 170hp it outstrips the TDI model by 30 ponies. The real difference, however, is in the torque where the GTD makes 258 ft-lbs of the good stuff.

Volkswagen claims a 0-62 mph sprint for the GTD takes 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 138 mph, making it the diesel-powered sibling to the GTI (reviewed here).

At the same time, because it is a diesel, fuel-economy is impressive with an average rating of 44.4 mpg. This means a single tank of gas will go 600 miles.

With a standard six-speed manual the GTD will be available with VW’s impressive DSG gearbox.

Outside this diesel gets a GTI treatment with chrome striping (as opposed to red on the GTI) on the grille, 17-inch wheels, smoked tail lights, chrome tail pipes, a new sporty rear diffuser and a chassis that sits 15mm lower.

Inside, there cabin will be a considerable upgrade over the TDI with the same seats found in the GTI (but in black and silver). Leather is used for the three-spoke steering wheel, as well as for the gearshift-knob and parking brake handle, while the instruments and door trim will get gloss black accents.

There is no word on if the GTD will make it to the U.S. market and while it’s unlikely, if it does, it won’t be until after the new TDI hits showrooms.

GALLERY: Golf GTD

Official release after the jump:

On June 8 auto journalist Gerhard Plattner and co-driver Franz Doppler will attempt to set a world record, driving from Africa, through Europe to Asia in just 72 hours. The duo will depart from Rabat, Morocco in an Audi A3 TDI e, traveling 3,044 miles (4,900 km) through 13 countries before the adventure ends on the Asian side of Istanbul.

The small 105hp Audi will undergo a genuine torture test while en route, testing its safety, efficiency and comfort. “The A3 has ideal characteristics for all three continents. Nevertheless, any attempt to break a record also requires a lot of good luck, especially regarding the weather and traffic,” said Plattner at a press conference during the  Audi Forum Ingolstadt.

The route will take both Plattner and Doppler by ferry to Spain, where they will drive along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, France and Italy before crossing the Alps into Germany. There they will proceed on to the Balkans and then over the Bosporus to arrive on the Eastern side of Istanbul.

Plattner already holds several records, including the fastest drive around the world (in an Audi S2).

In total he has driven more than 4.3 million miles.

Official release after the jump:

Volkswagen has just released some initial information on the upcoming Golf Estate, which the company confirmed at the sixth-generation Golf’s debut at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, will make its way to North America.

The Golf Estate is a compact car and yet as a wagon it offers plenty of cargo room – as much as 52.8 cubic-feet with the rear seats folded flat.

In Europe the Golf Estate will be available with six different engine choices, however, North American models will most likely only have two or possibly three options.

In the diesel category, the base engine is a 105hp 1.6-liter TDI that gets 52.3 mpg on average. A larger 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel will make 140hp and achieve 47 mpg.

In the gasoline department, 80hp and 102hp naturally aspirated gasoline engines will be available as will a 122hp TSI and 160hp TSI motor. These engines will get 37 and 36.8 mpg respectively.

Both of the top-level gasoline engines (as well as both diesels) can be purchased with the optional DSG transmission, which improves fuel economy further to 39.2 and 38.6 mpg.

It is expected that the 160hp TSI gasoline engine and 2.0 TDI engine will be offered in North America.

In Europe the Golf estate will be offered with VW’s Park Assist program and a rear-view camera.

The Golf Estate goes on sale tomorrow in Germany for a starting price of 18,500 Euro, with initial deliveries starting in September. There is no word yet on U.S. or Canadian pricing.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Golf Estate

More on the New Golf Estate after the jump:

If you are looking at purchasing an Audi A4 (or A3 or TT for that matter) with the 3.2-liter V6 engine, now is the time to act. Come next year Audi has made the decision to cut the V6 engine from its lineup on those three models.

The move comes as Audi has noticed a serious drop in demand for the V6 engine. Apparently for every 3.2-liter V6 A4 sold, Audi sells nine of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder units.

Audi Corporate Communications boss Bradley Stertz told Autoblog that the move has less to do with the drop in demand for that particular engine and more to do with other options that have been added to the Audi lineup recently.

Those looking for a more powerful A4 can always opt for the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 (offered at a serious premium in the S4). As for the A3, it will be offered with a TDI turbo-diesel powerplant soon, while the TTS gives TT owners a peppier version of the base 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, that produces 265hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque, matching the V6 in horsepower and beating it in the torque category.

We won’t particularly miss the V6 either, as mentioned in our review of the A4, especially as the turbo 2.0 is such a strong engine and delivers excellent performance with better fuel-economy for significantly less.

Audi did not comment on if the TTS’s engine might replace the V6 in the near future.

[Source: Autoblog]

For 2010 the Audi Q7 lineup of SUVs will receive several updates, as well as the addition of a new engine option.

Going on sale later this year, the 2010 Q7 will be available with two gasoline engines, as well as a clean diesel 3.0-liter TDI V6 powerplant. The move to bring clean diesel technology to North America comes as Audi has achieved Bin5 and ULEV II emissions standards in all 50 states.

The new TDI powerplant makes 225hp and 406 ft-lbs of torque at a whopping 23.2 lbs of boost. The engine itself is comprised of an iron block with aluminum heads and a variable turbine geometry turbo guarantees excellent delivery of power.

Performance is rated a 8.5 seconds to 60 mph, while the all-important fuel-economy is a big plus. The Q7 3.0 TDI is rated at 17/25 mpg (city/hwy) with a combined rating of 20 mpg. To put this into perspective, the V6-powered gasoline Q7 gets 14/20 mpg (or 16 mpg average), while the V8 gets 13/18 mpg or just 15 mpg average.

Audi says the Q7 3.0 TDI will be able to achieve 600 miles on a single tank and that when compared to the price of high octane gasoline (required on all Audi vehicles) the increased price of diesel will pay for itself over a few years due to the added fuel-economy. Other factors are sure to give added value to the diesels as well, such as a higher resale value and an expected tax credit from the federal government.

The new 2010 Q7 models (including the Q7 3.0 TDI) will be available starting in April.

GALLERY: 2010 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI

Keep reading after the jump for a full list of updates to the 2010 Audi Q7 models:

UPDATED (October 2, 2009): Volkswagen has now officially released details on the 2010 Golf TDI. The new model is rated at 30/41 mpg (city/hwy) for the manual transmission and 32/42 mpg with VW’s advanced DSG automatic transmission. The car is priced from $21,990.

See AutoGuide’s 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI Review here:

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Noticeably absent from the North American market since 2006, the Volkswagen Golf TDI will return for 2010. The new model was showcased today at the New York Auto Show, along with the high performance GTI (see our review here). There weren’t any standard Golfs on the floor, but we do have info on that model too.

The new Golf TDI will use the same turbo-diesel 2.0-liter motor found in the Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, which is already on sale. Power is rated at 140hp and a significant 236 ft-lbs of torque.

This engine is capable of 42 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city when paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

As for the standard Golf, it will be powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder that makes 170hp and 177 ft-lbs of torque. Both a 3-door and 5-door model will be offered with the 3-door coming in two trims (Trendline and Sportline) and the 5-door available in three trims (Trendline, Comfortline and Highline).

The 2010 Golf TDI will be available as both a two-door and four-door model, priced at $21,990 and $22,590 respectively.

GALLERY: 2010 Golf TDI

See our most recently story on the VW Golf TDI here

While Audi continues to sell its A6 Allroad Quattro overseas, the platform was cancelled in North American in 2008. Now Audi has released details of a new Allroad Quattro version of the A4… but there is no word on if this crossover will be available to North Americans.

Based on the A4 Avant platform the A4 Allroad Quattro is intended to be a real off-road-capable machine with a 7.09-inches of ground clearance and, of course, Audi’s legendary quattro all-wheel drive system. On the A4 Allroad Quattro power is distributed front and rear in a 40/60 distribution. As much as 65 percent of the power can be sent to the front wheels and as much as 85 percent of the power can be sent to the rear wheels, when necessary.

The A4 Allroad Quattro sits higher on longer springs and shocks - for a more comfortable off-road drive. Audi insists that the car is still plenty-sporty when on-road as well.

The track of the vehicle has been increased by 20mm (0.79-inches) to increase grip and large 17-inch wheels are fitted with 225/55/17 tires.

One impressive innovation on the car is Audi’s Offroad Detection system, which monitors the condition of the road and limits the intrusiveness of the stability control system when you leave the beaten-path.

The styling is typical of Audi’s past Allroad Quattro vehicles with flared fenders and stainless steel guards on the front and rear bumpers.

Lift the rear hatch and the A4 Allroad Quattro has 17.3 cubic feet of trunk space with a total of 50.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.  That rear hatch is also exactly one meter (3.28-feet) wide.

On sale this Spring in Europe, the A4 Allroad Quattro will be offered with three engine choices, a 2.0-liter TDI, a 3.0-liter TDI and Audi’s impressive 2.0-liter TFSI. The 2.0 TDI makes 170hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque and gets an average of 37 mpg with a 0-62 mph time of 8.9 seconds. The 3.0 TDI makes 240hp and 369 ft-lbs of torque and gets an average of 33 mpg with an impressive 6.4 second scoot to 62 mph. As for the award-winning 2.0 TFSI engine, it makes 211hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque, while delivering 29 mpg and serving up a 6.9 second run to 62 mph.

The A4 Allroad Quattro will be offered with plenty of unique details and packages, including a special Allroad interior.

Official release after the jump: