29 May 2009 - 12:00
Biogas A4 hits 227mph
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...
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Now imagine powering something like Bugatti Veyron with this Biogas thing...
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My God!!! This Audi is amazing. It is a little ugly with all the stupid stickers on it though.
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I've always loved Audi. Seems like they've done it again.
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Why do the wheel spokes look fake?
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All thats missing is an Audi F1 team
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oh please and what Record from Bugatti would that be? or from any other company? Here are some confusing facts: (keep in mind: 227mph = ca. 366kmh) March 2, 2005 On February 28, the Koenigsegg CCR broke the production road car speed record, achieving a new official top speed of 388 kmh the CCR broke the official McLaren F1 record of 386.7 km/h, which was set on the 9 km straight line VW Ehra facility and just so by the way, bugatti veyron did an unofficial 254mph on Top Gear. So again, which record did Audi beat? Biogas record? Was there another Biogas record before (greater than lets say 200mph) ? Couldnt find any, especially not from Bugatti or so.
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Audi's 3.0 V6 twin turbo?! I thought they only make a supercharged 3.0 V6 for the current S4. Still 227mph is really an achievement in something that looks close to stock from the outside
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Audis design on that car is incredibily lazy BUT how in the world did that stupid audi beet a buagatti??????? i thought the audi a4 was a COMPLETE dessater(bad spelling).
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Take the stickers off and that's one hell of a rep mobile.
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they should have put the engine in the R8
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@Horsepowerrrr: 'Cos they are. Photoprint on plastic discs. I think I know what kind of biogas, and that's exactly why it's so fast. Who had the burritos last night? Own up! Open a window at least! It doesn't half pong in here...
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Why can't there be more biogas pumps in the UK. I would have my car converted.
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My god.......... that car looks dull,dull,dull.
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My guess is that car is supposed to look dull, which showcases the fact that it isn't just monumentally expensive hypercars that can hit those sort of speeds, a 4 door saloon can too.
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why is the front-grill and wheels covered in the picture? Did they covered it because they got rockets installed there to be able to make it fly up to 227mph?
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now that is quick
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to hell with hybrids Bio Gas!!! that is lunacy.
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how boring making an A4 for god sake go 227mph what were they thinking
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them wheels r fake
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Barracuda989 commented on this article
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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