Confirmed: Audi's Supercharged 3.0 TFSI

Audi has confirmed full details for its brand-new, top of the range 290bhp 3.0 TFSI engine, which Autocar brought you first detail on last month.Despite the T in its name, the state of the art V6 is not turbocharged – Audi has instead opted for a combination of direct injection technology and supercharging.The 3.0 TFSI delivers its maximum 310lb-ft of torque at just 2500 rpm thanks to its compact belt-driven compressor, small enough to sit inside the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks.Ingolstadt’s engineers claim the mechanical supercharger is the ideal technology for the new V6, and consistently outperformed a bi-turbo concept for the engine in comparative tests.Rather than use exhaust driven turbochargers, which Audi has focussed on since the late 70’s, the company now says the compressor is staging a comeback.The 3.0-litre TFSI unit will make its debut in the facelifted A6, which goes on sale next year, and a more powerful version will be under the bonnet of the next S4.

Nick Cackett