if so, I will be grateful and willing to put down a deposit on one...

You know how bad that system sucks, save your money.

"With the latest generation of TDI technology, Audi is demonstrating anew the future-compatibility and the potential of this high-tech drive system. The optimised combustion process and an ultra low emission system enable these vehicles to satisfy the valid American LEV II BIN 5 standard and the strictest emissions limits due to come into force in Europe.

Audi will start its systematic TDI strategy in 2008 with the 3-litre V6 in the Audi Q7 and A4. Generating 176 kW (240 bhp) in each, and with an outstanding torque of 500 Nm in the A4 or 550 Nm in the Audi Q7, both models display the supreme dynamics and efficiently low fuel consumptions figures typical of Audi. Additional models will quickly follow. By 2010, Audi plans to offer the new technologies in other vehicles segments and power classes.

Thanks to its minimal emissions, these modern direct injection diesel engines can be used anywhere in the world, even in California, where the world's strictest emissions limits apply. Compared to the fleet average for the spark-ignition engines, the most common power system in the USA, the TDI has a consumption advantage of up to 35 percent. This means that diesel technology more than any other current power system can help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. Audi will offer these new models in the USA and Europe from the second half of 2008."<ul><li><a href="http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_3387.shtml">http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_3387.shtml</a</li></ul>

Especially with a manual transmission, that is the big question...

from guys at AoA the Avant TDI will make it here. The manual transmission is another question. I'd think that AoA would have to import the manual transmission to compete with BMW's 3 series Avant with AWD, but with some of the decisions that have been made lately, I wouldn't bet the house on it.

I would love to see the numbers for current A4 Avant sales in the US with breakout for manual and Tiptronic. Anybody have those numbers?