TDI Badges on Audis

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Hi Guys

A small point, but I'm curious.

I've noticed a few newer Audis now simply say "TDI" on the back, rather than "1.9 TDI", "2.0 TDI", "3.0 TDI".

Do they come like this from the factory now, or is this some new weird partial
debadging scene?

[AJB]

Think they come like that from the factory now (maybe 2011 model year?). I'm assuming it's because they make most engines in different states of tune now, so 2.0TDI doesn't mean much. Is it the 140 or 170bhp? And, more significantly, in some cases a bigger engine is now less powerful & cheaper. EG I think the 1.6 petrol on A3s is cheaper and slower than the 1.4 turbo petrol (although that's from memory & could be wrong). I'm guessing that might be what made them make the change.

Merc & BMW make up numbers which aren't quite the engine size these days for the same reason, which always struck me as really stupid.

[k-ink]

I wonder which manufacturer will have enough taste to start making cars with no badges at all. Plastic tat all over the boot is so 1980's.

[AJB]

k-ink said:

I wonder which manufacturer will have enough taste to start making cars with no badges at all. Plastic tat all over the boot is so 1980's.

It's a no cost option on most, if not all, Audis. Option to either remove engine technology badge (TDI or whatever), or to remove engine technology and model badges.

[k-ink]

But how many of their customers actually have the required taste to select that delete option? Maybe 1%.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Thanks for clearing that up guys.

IMHO top of the range and sports models (M and AMG etc) look classy when debadged.

Bottom of the range cars (318d etc) look a bit too try hard when debadged.

All IMHO of course.

[TheInternet]

AJB said:

I'm assuming it's because they make most engines in different states of tune now, so 2.0TDI doesn't mean much. Is it the 140 or 170bhp?

They used to red i for this but it was still confusing. I think Yoda managed to sum up the VAG diesels most succinctly:
"A red i's strength flows from the force. But beware the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side of the force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."

[k-ink]

In this day and age there is no excuse. Any car badges remind me of this nonsense spread out along the boot in a laughable attempt to impress...



"Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia X Executive"

"Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDi Sport 4MATIC"

"Isuzu Mini Active Urban Sandal 16i 16v"



Like we care what your spec is

[icepop]

If manufacturers like BMW didn't make badges, how on earth would those certain saddo's, who own them, get to delete them, thinking us plebs can't tell they've got a 1.6, by looking at the peashooter of an exhuast pipe

Second only to the M badge proudly adorning the 3 series, sometimes stuck on the front grille, for added authenticity, because it has the M-tech steering wheel and matching gear-knob. I use the word, knob in a very general sense.

[Baryonyx]

k-ink said:

Like we care what your spec is

Well, car enthusiasts do.

[Tycho]

SWIMBOs Passat is the 1.9TDi but only has TDi as standard on the boot whereas the 2.0TDi has 2.0TDi.