Audi has done it again: a classic V6 TDI completely reinvented with modern electrification. The renewed 3.0 V6 TDI (EA897 evo4) now appears in the Audi Q5 and Audi A6, but this is no ordinary update. This is a diesel engine that feels like it's been given a turbo boost from the future.

MHEV Plus + electric compressor = diesel without delay

The renewed V6 TDI delivers 220 kW (299 hp) and 580 Nm, but that's just the start. The real magic comes from a three-part hybrid team:

• 48V belt alternator starter

• Powertrain generator (electric motor)

• Electrically powered compressor (EPC)

Together they deliver:

• +18 kW extra power when pulling away and overtaking

• +230 Nm electric boost

• Faster build-up of turbo pressure (up to 1 second faster)

• EPC spool up to 90,000 rpm in 250 milliseconds

• Virtually zero turbo lag and a much more direct throttle response

The result? A diesel that reacts as if it's had an EV injection: instant power, much quicker mid-range acceleration and a pedal feel that's linear and sharp.

Smart dual-charging: compressor + turbo, perfectly synchronised

The electric compressor kicks in when there is little exhaust gas pressure — at low revs or when you suddenly accelerate.

• The turbo carries out the first compression

• The EPC compresses the air even further

• The engine builds boost pressure faster than ever

The system operates across the entire rev range, not just in a limited window like on older S and SQ models.

Greener than ever with HVO100

Audi's renewed V6 TDI also accepts HVO100, a sustainable diesel made from, among other things, used cooking oil and agricultural waste. Benefits:

• Up to 95% less CO₂ emissions

• 100% compatible per EN15940

• Filled as standard in new Audis from Ingolstadt & Neckarsulm

So the new TDI is not only faster, but also more sustainable than ever.

Why this matters

As Europe introduces increasingly strict rules heading towards 2035, Audi proves that combustion engines with intelligent hybrid work still have a role to play. The new V6 TDI offers:

• Better fuel economy

• More torque

• Faster response

• Higher efficiency

• Lower CO₂ emissions

In the Audi Q5 and Audi A6, this engine makes the models noticeably more powerful, smoother and more relevant in a fast-changing market.

Conclusion

Audi once again shows why its TDI technology is celebrated worldwide.
This V6 is no last gasp for diesel, it's a demonstration of how modern electrification takes classic engineering to a higher level.

The future is electric, but this V6 shows that intelligently electrified combustion engines are far from finished.