Audi Expands ‘g-tron’ Line-Up With All-New A4 Avant

Unlike its smaller A3 g-tron sibling, the all-new Audi A4 Avant g-tron features a 170 PS 2.0-liter TFSI unit to help out for when it runs out of natural gas.

The A4 Avant g-tron will rely on lightweight pressure tanks in order to store up to 19kg/25,38 m3 of natural gas, compressed to 200 bars. The tanks themselves are extremely durable as they’re made of both CFRP and GFRP, or carbon fiber reinforced plastic and glass fiber reinforced plastic respectively.

If all this sounds terribly exciting to you, too bad. You’ll still need to wait until next year in order to purchase this rather interesting vehicle for yourself.

Worth pointing out is the fact that the A4 g-tron consumes less than 4kg (8.8 lb) of natural gas per 100km (62 miles) in a standard cycle. These numbers, at least on paper, would keep fuel costs very low in the real world – and if for some reason you need to extend your driving range, the petrol tank helps out with a 450 km (280 miles) range of its own.

In total, you’re looking at a driving range of about 950 km (590 miles), which is better than what you might be able to manage in say an A4 2.0 TDI ultra model, but not by much.

While the idea driving both the A3 g-tron and now the A4 Avant g-tron (it’s only available as an Avant) is clever, helping you save money and in turn be kind to the environment, wouldn’t most people be inclined to buy a more “hassle-free” version, like a TDI ultra or even a 1.4 TFSI model?