Diesels aren't nearly as popular in North America as they are in other markets. Part of that comes down to fuel pricing (diesel not being as economically priced in the US as it is overseas), and part of its comes down to the availability of enticing diesel models on this side of the Atlantic. Those two factors may be mutually reinforcing, but Audi continues to champion the cause. Now the German automaker has announced that it is launching four new diesel models for the US market at the upcoming LA Auto Show.

The announcement revolves around the 3.0-liter TDI with 240 horsepower and a whopping 406 lb-ft of torque, which Audi will be offering for the first time in the A6, A7, A8, Q5 and updated Q7. The new A8 TDI, for example, runs from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds, yet returns 24 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway - 30% better than the equivalent gasoline engine while cutting carbon emissions by 30%. The new diesel models join the A3 TDI and Q7 TDI in Audi's oil-burning range in the US market. Since the arrival of those models in 2009, Audi says that its customers have saved 4 million gallons of gasoline or 240,000 barrels of imported crude oil.