A new ruling at our company means that we no longer have to choose a diesel car. So I thought I'd take a look at the Oct Vrs Petrol, for when I get rid of the Octy Vrs Diesel.

Shock.. horror!!! at the emissions vaules 175 manual 180 for DSG. One of the guys at our company has just bought an A5 2.0T manual (211 bhp), and that only has an emissions value of 149!!! Why are Skoda, in most cases, notably worse with the emissions values when compared to their other Audi / VW group members (with the exception of SEAT perhaps).

At £26.5K the A5 he has chosen is significantly more expensive car than the Vrs Octy, however the relevant taxation band of the Audi is much lower 17% compared to about 23% for the Vrs. I'd guess that the actaul tax payable from his monthly wage would work out about the same.

I'm not making a comparision of one car against the other....I'm smply asking the question why can't Skoda get the Vrs emissions down to about 150, and up the bhp to 211?? Surely it would continue to make Skoda drivers happy!!

Does the Audi have stop/start?

On the audi, everything is an optional extra whereas on the octy they are standard. These standard things increase the emissions because they add to weight which in turn increases emissions. The emissions figure is calculated using quiet a complicated formula and includes things such as weight, and what accessories will do what comes out of the tailpipe. This includes the gearing of the transmission. The audi is geared for cruising rather than performance, Its not simply a static measurement. What you lose on the emissions front, you gain on the cost front by the time you include the base price of the audi and add on some of the options that are standard on the octy.

On the audi, everything is an optional extra whereas on the octy they are standard. These standard things increase the emissions because they add to weight which in turn increases emissions. The emissions figure is calculated using quiet a complicated formula and includes things such as weight, and what accessories will do what comes out of the tailpipe. This includes the gearing of the transmission. The audi is geared for cruising rather than performance, Its not simply a static measurement. What you lose on the emissions front, you gain on the cost front by the time you include the base price of the audi and add on some of the options that are standard on the octy.

I understand where you are coming from in regards to the kit fitted adding weight etc. However, please remember that the Vrs isn't a model with masses of kit included for free, hence making it very comparable spec for spec with the lower model A5 Coupe's spec!

Whenever I have had optional extra's added to a car I have only seen them as being taxable 'by value added' to a car. I have never noticed them as being taxable by added emissions caused by the optional extras. Perhaps this has changed, I honestly don't know!!

In terms of the performance the Audi claims a 0-62 in 6.9 sec, and a top speed of 155mph. So unless we look into the exact 'in gear' performance of the Vrs in comparison, these figure pretty much negate any benefit which the Vrs's gearing may seem to offer. I am sure that both cars would offer very comparable performance, and only splitting hairs would see any difference.

Please don't get me wrong, I appreciate your comments so that we can constructively review things!!

Putting all these factors together, I'd have to lean towards one of the other comments about 'stop start' technolgy, being a potential factor reducing emissions. Perhaps they have EUV or VI emission control systems....I honestly don't know!! However, what ever it is I'd like to see Skoda bringing the same technology on board!!

The 211ps Audi has the new variable valve timing system that does away with the throttle (equivalent to BMW's Valvetronic throttle-less system). This has allowed a large increase in torque to 350nm as standard, plus also allows them to tune the engine more efficiently during the emissions drive-cycle to the benefit of the rated CO2 figure. It's not fitted to Skoda's because Audi wants to keep this tech for more premium models and it would also increase the cost of the VRs..... Not even the Golf Gti has this system (yet).

Hope this helps...

The 211ps Audi has the new variable valve timing system that does away with the throttle (equivalent to BMW's Valvetronic throttle-less system). This has allowed a large increase in torque to 350nm as standard, plus also allows them to tune the engine more efficiently during the emissions drive-cycle to the benefit of the rated CO2 figure. It's not fitted to Skoda's because Audi wants to keep this tech for more premium models and it would also increase the cost of the VRs..... Not even the Golf Gti has this system (yet).

Hope this helps...

Very interesting thanks. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it filters down through the group!

Very interesting thanks. Let's keep our fingers crossed that it filters down through the group!

Just noting again, if the torque figure is 350 Nm as you mention, then that is quite something!! I usually picture Turbo diesels as having about 20% more torque than their typical petrol equivelant in engine size. The 170 bhp 2.0Tdi only has 350Nm or torque. It looks like I need to have a drive in a car with the new 2.0T petrol!!

Cheers for the info!!