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An Audi A4 has set a world record for a biogas-fuelled car, hitting 227mph in the hands of German racer Jurgen Hohenester.
That's really quite quick, especially for a car that looks even duller than the standard A4, if that's possible. Just check out those flush wheel trims and the blocked-off front grille: all for aero, of course, but you'd hardly pick it as a 200mph-plus car if it swept past you on the M6, would you?
But the silvery saloon is powered by Audi's twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, modified to run on compressed biogas and putting out a frankly loony 700bhp.
That's thanks in part to sheer amount of bang in biogas, which has an octane rating of as much as 140, er, octanes. Hohenester says that, running on biogas, the engine is capable of developing over 800bhp, but his team had to turn down the wick a few notches to stop the Audi's gearbox from going ‘pop' in quite a spectacular way.
Still, 227 isn't to be sniffed at. Hohenester beat the previous record, held by Bugatti, by a full 9mph. We've smelt the future, and that smell is gas...
Biogas A4 hits 227mph
German racer sets world record for biogas-powered cars. No word on source of gas yet…
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Barracuda989 commented on this article
at 03:28 pm on 29 May 2009
So wait a sec... Bugatti spend $3mil dollars, years of research, some of the best technical engineering... an 8.0l W16 engine!!! and more radiators then a common house... and it's beaten by an A4? :o Okay I can see that the A4 weighs less, and has a ridiculous ammount of horsepower.. but what about the chasis, suspension, downforce, tires, ... ... in other words... what's keeping this car from turning in to a Cesna at those speeds?
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senseition commented on this article
at 04:38 pm on 29 May 2009
Now imagine powering something like Bugatti Veyron with this Biogas thing...
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kingrocky commented on this article
at 05:24 pm on 29 May 2009
My God!!! This Audi is amazing. It is a little ugly with all the stupid stickers on it though.
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Diya commented on this article
at 09:41 pm on 29 May 2009
I've always loved Audi. Seems like they've done it again.
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Horsepowerrrr commented on this article
at 06:32 am on 30 May 2009
Why do the wheel spokes look fake?
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