Despite the rapid decline in diesel vehicle sales in the European market, Audi is not abandoning this technology. The brand announced that it has modernized its 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine with electric boost. This move simultaneously meets its goals of high performance and efficiency.

Audi is coming with a V6 diesel engine

Due to the stringent emissions regulations in the European Union, diesel engines have seen their market share decline significantly. Diesel, which accounted for more than half of new vehicle sales before the infamous diesel scandal, fell to 8 percent in the first ten months of 2025. Hybrids, gasoline-powered vehicles, and plug-in hybrids have now surpassed diesel sales.

Despite this decline, Audi maintains its “TDI” badge. The brand is shaping the future of diesel with a new 3.0-liter V6 with electric boost. This engine, which will be available in the A6 and Q5 models, combines a 48-volt mild hybrid system with an electric compressor.

Audi previously offered V6 diesels with 48-volt boost. However, in this new version, the electric compressor is positioned just behind the turbocharger and intercooler, working in conjunction with them. When the driver suddenly steps on the accelerator, the electric compressor activates until the turbocharger reaches sufficient pressure.

The compressor recompresses the air previously compressed by the turbocharger and sends it into the combustion chamber. This system results in higher torque at low rpm and virtually eliminates turbo lag. Audi says these responses are reminiscent of a powerful electric car.

The mild hybrid system provides an additional 24 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque to the engine during takeoff. This powertrain demonstrates its impressive performance in real life. An A6 Sedan with the new V6 engine accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds.

The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The Q5, which uses the same engine, performs even faster. The standard SUV and Sportback Q5 versions accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in a full 5 seconds.

The engine isn’t a completely new design. The code “EA897evo4” indicates that it’s the latest version of the 3.0 TDI, introduced by the Volkswagen Group in 2010. This engine was previously implicated in emissions manipulation discussions during the diesel scandal and was also used in some Porsche models.

Audi reports that the new version features increased durability and significantly improved efficiency. The engine can also run on HVO (hydroprocessed vegetable oil), a biofuel produced from waste oils and agricultural byproducts. Using HVO can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95 percent compared to conventional diesel fuel.