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]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Saracen @ Sep 8th 2006 8:27PM
That's it I'm moving to Europe..
Diesel Power @ Sep 8th 2006 8:36PM
Second that!!!!!
Rishi Khaitan @ Sep 8th 2006 8:37PM
If Audi brings that engine here, I'll head down to the local Audi dealer, pop the hood and bow down repeatedly.
Chivo @ Sep 8th 2006 8:42PM
Incredible, simply incredible! Now imagine that engine on, let's say, the TT! I
Art @ Sep 8th 2006 8:50PM
Porsche Cay-ant (like can't) Turblow!!! hehehe
danny @ Sep 8th 2006 8:57PM
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.
A.J. @ Sep 8th 2006 9:49PM
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 ¢.
DJ @ Sep 8th 2006 9:55PM
What's the towing capability of this thing? The Queen Mary 2??? Or maybe just a small island nation.....
Max @ Sep 8th 2006 9:56PM
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.
Mustang @ Sep 8th 2006 10:08PM
Is there really a market for such a thing?
chewy @ Sep 8th 2006 10:10PM
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.
JAG @ Sep 8th 2006 10:10PM
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.
chewy @ Sep 8th 2006 10:15PM
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.
Michael Karesh @ Sep 8th 2006 10:18PM
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
A.J. @ Sep 8th 2006 10:28PM
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.
Eddie @ Sep 8th 2006 10:35PM
This engine is also to be going in the new Audi supercar dubbed RS8.
Michael Karesh @ Sep 8th 2006 11:28PM
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.
Eddie @ Sep 9th 2006 12:09AM
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]
DPC car videos @ Sep 9th 2006 1:00AM
Awesome SUV, we need stuff like this here in the United States. For some reason we never get the ulrta fun stuff.
Gunnar @ Sep 9th 2006 1:15AM
Why? Who needs or wants a 12 cylindered diesel Audi SUV?
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com