Report: Audi Q7 to get Le Mans-derived V12 TDI
Audi's gonna do it. According to a German report, they're putting a race-derived 6.0-liter V12 TDI in the Q7 SUV for 2008. The street version of the V12 TDI will be the most powerful passenger car diesel in the world, with -- get this -- 500 horsepower and a staggering 720 lb ft of torque on tap. And it doesn't end there. According to the same report, the monster diesel will find its way into the next A8 sedan, due in 2010.
Unless you've been living in a cave, you know that the V12 TDI is the engine that led the Audi R10 to American Le Mans Series dominance this year, and powered Audi to overall victory at the 24 hours of Le Mans.
Now, the million-dollar question is this: Will we see this engine here?
We sure hope so. Keep your fingers crossed...
[Source: Stimme.de via German Car Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Saracen 8:27PM (9/08/2006)
That's it I'm moving to Europe..
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Diesel Power 8:36PM (9/08/2006)
Second that!!!!!
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Rishi Khaitan 8:37PM (9/08/2006)
If Audi brings that engine here, I'll head down to the local Audi dealer, pop the hood and bow down repeatedly.
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Chivo 8:42PM (9/08/2006)
Incredible, simply incredible! Now imagine that engine on, let's say, the TT! I
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Art 8:50PM (9/08/2006)
Porsche Cay-ant (like can't) Turblow!!! hehehe
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danny 8:57PM (9/08/2006)
Geez, this would probably be faster than the ML63, which is already faster than a Cayenne Turbo S. That blue color actually makes the car look pretty good too, most I've seen have been silver or white and it just makes it look obese like a lot of the American SUVs as opposed to the more athletic ML or X5 style.
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A.J. 9:49PM (9/08/2006)
Hey, when you move here don't forget your credit card, that car is going to be expensive. The Vw Phaeton Tdi v10 313 bhp starts at 100000 euros, so there's no way this is less than 120000 ¢.
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DJ 9:55PM (9/08/2006)
What's the towing capability of this thing? The Queen Mary 2??? Or maybe just a small island nation.....
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Max 9:56PM (9/08/2006)
So you've got a hot new engine derived from a race car, and to show off the engines enormous capabilities the first vehicle you put it in is a SUV.
Greeaaaaat. What, did the Gallardo's V10 not fit?
Granted, The Q7/Cayenne are probably the best handling SUV's out there (go check out the Cayenne Nurburgring time,) but still....launch this new engine in something more befitting of its racing heritage.
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Mustang 10:08PM (9/08/2006)
Is there really a market for such a thing?
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chewy 10:10PM (9/08/2006)
The Q7 handles just as well as the Cayenne. If you look at Car and Drivers latest luxo SUV comparison, the Q7 blew all the others away in handling. This is still crazy, 500 hp from a 6 liter diesel, amazing. The torque and the efficiency are present of course as well.
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JAG 10:10PM (9/08/2006)
Sorry to spoil the party but the diesel for the TDI was a special blend not even close to the street version, so if they put the same (will never happen) engine in the Q7 they will have to build new gas stations too.
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chewy 10:15PM (9/08/2006)
JAG
They are making a production engine that will use some of the principles of the R10's engine. It will run fine on regural diesel fuel.
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Michael Karesh 10:18PM (9/08/2006)
This engine no doubt weighs too much to put it into a much smaller vehicle. It would throw the weight distribution of a TT way out of whack.
For a large SUV (over 200 inches long) the Q7 handles quite well. I've never driven a Cayenne, so I cannot compare those. The C&D test shows that the GL is substantially quicker, but the Q7 FEELS at least as quick thanks to a racier soundtrack from its V8. And it feels much better around curves.
A link to my review of the gas V8 Q7 can be found here:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Q7.php
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A.J. 10:28PM (9/08/2006)
Handling is not that important for this kind of cars. The usual buyer ( at least here in Europe) prefers a relaxed ride to take the kids to school or going to the mall. Sometimes I think that the only guys that use these cars off-road or fast are the motoring journalist writing about them. All the SUVs I've seen were perfectly clean and with road tires.
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Eddie 10:35PM (9/08/2006)
This engine is also to be going in the new Audi supercar dubbed RS8.
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Michael Karesh 11:28PM (9/08/2006)
The sort of handling the Q7 is good at pays off in everyday driving. You don't have to push it hard to feel its advantage in this area vs. a GL or other large SUV. Even switching from one lane to another it feels more precise and agile.
I'm a car person myself; I doubt I'll ever buy an SUV. But there is something special about driving a vehicle that feels commanding and powerful without feeling ungainly.
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Eddie 12:09AM (9/09/2006)
DPC car videos:
The reason why they don't come to north america is because of much stricter emission rules.
But if you all think this engine will be a beast in the Q7, but what do you think of it being in the RS8? [R8 supercar]
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DPC car videos 1:00AM (9/09/2006)
Awesome SUV, we need stuff like this here in the United States. For some reason we never get the ulrta fun stuff.
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Gunnar 1:15AM (9/09/2006)
Why? Who needs or wants a 12 cylindered diesel Audi SUV?
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
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