King Kong Q7: Paris debut for Audi Q7 V12 TDI
UPDATE 1 - Audi's official press release added after the jump
Friday, we brought you the initial report that Audi would be dropping a 6.0-liter V12 TDI based on it's Le Mans-winning engine into the Q7 SUV. That report has been confirmed today with the release of additional details and photos from Audi, which will publicly unveil the beast later this month at the Paris show.
Pumping out 500 horsepower, the big TDI also generates 1000 Nm / 738 lb-ft of torque, so if you ever feel inclined to pull your house off its foundation, you'll be well-prepped to give it the 'ol college try (if the car makes it to this side of the Atlantic).
All that power is channeled through a 6-speed Tiptronic and Audi's Quattro AWD system. 0-62 mph takes just 5.5 seconds and it'll keep running up to a governed top end of 155 mph. Fuel economy is 11.9 liters per 100 kilometers. That's 19.7 mpg for us Yankee-types -- a very respectable number, all things considered.
When we first reported this on Friday, some questioned why Audi would choose their SUV as the first platform for the twelve-cylinder diesel. Simple: it's the only vehicle in the lineup with an engine bay large enough to swallow the big motor. Visually, the Q7 V12 TDI is differentiated by a modified front end with enlarged intakes on either side of the company's corporate grille. In back, the exhaust outlets are neatly integrated into the rear bumper.
Look for it in Europe as a 2008 model, and pray that Audi can get it to pass US emissions regs. This is one we want to see here, too.
Update: According to the press release issued by Audi, there are no plans to import this engine to the US. Sigh...
[Source: Audi via Auto Motor und Sport (translated)]
PRESS RELEASE:
THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL DIESEL PASSENGER CAR
Note: There are currently no plans to import this engine to the U.S.
INGOLSTADT, Germany - Audi is proud to present a world first – the first twelve-cylinder diesel engine in a series passenger car. This six-liter V12 makes its debut in the Audi Q7. It produces a colossal 500 hp and 738 ft.-lbs. of torque. With this engine Audi has opened a new chapter in diesel history.
The V12 TDI is reminiscent of the engine featured in the new R10 Le Mans racing car – it catapults the driving performance of the Audi Q7 into the echelons of top-class sports cars. The car sprints from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.5 seconds, and has an electronically governed top speed of 155 mph. Maximum torque is available from just 1,750 rpm. The high-tech diesel engine, with the world's first 29,000 psi Bosch Common Rail system, provides the high-performance Audi SUV with superior power reserves in any situation. The impressive sound of the new Audi is provided by the ultra-modern piezo-injection system. The V12 TDI transmits this power through a new six-speed tiptronic gearbox to the quattro permanent four-wheel drive system.
Although the V12 TDI belongs to the Audi V-engine family, this model features a special cylinder angle of 60° – perfect for this engine type. Apart from the light and highly durable crankcase, a further highlight is the new chain drive assembly. This includes the two newly developed high-pressure pumps in the common rail injection system.
Up to 29,000 psi of pressure is kept within the twelve piezo injectors – a further technological breakthrough. Both performance and efficiency are optimised by this high injection pressure, and the running smoothness also remains excellent. Exhaust emissions are also low. The twin-turbo V12 TDI conforms to the Euro 5 emissions class which should come into force in 2010. Fuel consumption is nearly 20 mpg. With the high-tech twelve-cylinder engine using TDI technology, the diesel pioneers at Audi have opened new horizons in motoring.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Michael Karesh 11:07AM (9/11/2006)
The huge grille actually works in this instance, at least when viewed straight on. Nicely done front fascia as well. The Cayenne never has had a front end nearly as attractive.
A bit bloated/rounded from the side, like all Q7s.
For those of you who haven't driven a modern diesel, even the 201-horsepower unit in the MB E320 outpulls a gas V8 at low rpm. Excellent for maneuvering in city traffic. See a hole just ahead in the next lane? Blip the throttle and you're there. No doubt the Q7 TDI will be amazing in this regard.
The irony is that Americans have always gravitated towards torquey engines, while Europeans have favored peaky engines. And now they're the ones getting--and buying--diesels.
My E320 CDI review:
http://www.epinions.com/content_208751922820
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Dan 11:17AM (9/11/2006)
If the six-litre is demanded properly, then the Q7 is to accelerate in 5.5 seconds of zero on 100 km/h. The maximum speed places itself electronically limited with 250 km/h. AUDI indicates consumption as 11,9 litres per 100 kilometer.
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dejal 11:36AM (9/11/2006)
That had better be a very clean diesel if you're going to route the pipes thru the bumper. If the mixture is too rich, there's going to be a lot of black soot on those bumpers.
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Mike 11:42AM (9/11/2006)
Where can I get one??? I'm a huge fan of the Q7 this just makes it even more appealing to me.
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Renton 11:44AM (9/11/2006)
738 lb-ft? I'm sure when you floor it, you can change the Earth's rotation...
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UK-KID 12:12PM (9/11/2006)
"738 lb-ft? I'm sure when you floor it, you can change the Earth's rotation..."
LMAO!!
Good One.
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Olivier 12:04PM (9/11/2006)
I agree with dejal, Audi better have that particule filter installed or else these Q7s will have dirty backs.
This thing wil probably snap your neck if you floor it too hard while crusing around 40.
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ruggels 1:40PM (9/11/2006)
a more in depth article:
http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Audi_News/article_2535.shtml
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DPC car videos 2:02PM (9/11/2006)
Awesome SUV, this is my top choice at the moment as far as SUV's go. Can't wait until they drop this engine in the Audi S8.
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awful mpg 2:03PM (9/11/2006)
What is the reason to buy this?
I can get a 2000 S4 wagon that will do 0-60 in 5.4 secs, gets 24mpg highway and has a stick. And premium gas is cheaper than Diesel around here.
I'm sorry, but 20mpg just ruins this whole thing. There's no reason to buy a Diesel if it doesn't get good mpg.
And I'll tell you why this was put in an SUV, because in any kind of sports car you'd notice the extra 300lbs in the nose.
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Ricky 2:22PM (9/11/2006)
+1 on the s4 avant. The reign of SUV's are ending, wagons are back for the better! To name a few very competent wagons:
Audi S4 Avant
Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon
Subaru Legacy GT Wagon
and for the safety conscientious,
Volva V70R Wagon
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verdegrrl 4:13PM (9/11/2006)
#10
There are rumours that this diesel engine will go in the S8 as well as the R8.
As for placing it in the Q7, it's an ideal choice for people who like to go fast but also want to tow or carry more than your S4 can hold.
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ruggels 2:33PM (9/11/2006)
'I'm sorry, but 20mpg just ruins this whole thing. There's no reason to buy a Diesel if it doesn't get good mpg."
Ah, well aside from that rock you've been living under, Audi's been trying to bring diesel technology into performance vehicles for it's pure performance potential - much as lexus is attempting to market some of their hybrid performance vehicles. I'm not sure if you've looked into the subject of large displacement performance diesel engines in the slightest, but the V10 T'Reg did not get exceptional mpg either.
Were audi attempting to provide a powerful diesel engine with good fuel economy, they would have. They're not. They're trying to make a case for performance diesel engines. Have you ever bothered to compare the R10's MPG to the R8's? Have you ever noticed there isn't a huge fuel savings (in the same way, say, the Q7 V6 TDI vs the V6 offers... though even then we're only talking 5mpg).
It might be wise to take the actual limits and advantages of this technology to mind before dismissing it just because it's not providing 40mpg. Given the V6 TDI Q7 manages around 25 combined and produces significantly less power, 20 is damn impressive. But it's only impressive if you take it in the context of, you know, other SUVs.
The X5 4.8is has 355hp/369tq and returns 21mpg... thus the Q7 will provide 138 more hp and twice the torque while sacrificing 1.3 MPG
The case is much more impressive when you take into consideration the cayanne turbo or Mercedes AMG offerings.
You might just want to check this out, it seems right up your alley:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060906.jpg
And in the future, it might be wise to think about these things in context. Would you like an audi TDi with great fuel economy? Go with the A8 TDi. But don’t expect a car putting down more then 700 lb ft of torque to return MPG well outside the realm of any performance SUV, that’s nonsense.
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ruggels 2:45PM (9/11/2006)
"+1 on the s4 avant. The reign of SUV's are ending, wagons are back for the better! To name a few very competent wagons"
x2 but that bares no relevance in regard to why audi is producing this car.
Audi is a motor sport company who frequently commemorates their victories with limited run cars sharing some linage to their winning race cars. DTM looking body kits on the A4, the RS4's engine, etc are all representative of this trend. The Q7 V12 TDi is simply a continuation of said trend.
Audi is imbuing the Q7 with a detuned version of the R10's engine strictly because it is the only production vehicle in Audi's entire range which has an engine bay large enough to acomidate the V12... were the A8 capable of swallowing it whole, I'm sure we'd see an RS8 instead of a Q7... and it would be exhempt of SUV disdaine even though it provided meager mileage simply because it wasn't an SUV.
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loikll 3:38PM (9/11/2006)
That's just a DODGE CALIBER.
You've got to wake up pretty early to fool me.
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MikeW 3:40PM (9/11/2006)
Were not worthy!
421hp@3000 rpm, peak torque from 1750-3000 (and is probably limited to prevent spontaneous transmission explosion)
The V12 is only 6" longer than the V8 diesel according to 4titude.
How tall is top gear? 45mph/1K rev.
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Scott 6:12PM (9/11/2006)
This may be the best multipurpose car ever. Its an offroading, sports car, soccer mom suburban replacement, diesel powered rocketship. And with 500HP and almost 750 FT/LBS of Torque it still gets 20MPG. I hate SUV's but I love this thing I would honestly pay the $85,000 (At least) if they brought it to the US.
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chewy 8:53PM (9/11/2006)
This is a beast. The MB ML 63 AMG with 503 uses up 39% more fuel. Think about that. Power and efficiency=TDI. The 2,000 bar injection system is directly from the R10 (R10 uses similar pressure) and it will go to other smaller TDIs.
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Typesbad 9:16PM (9/11/2006)
It's hard to determine which manufacturer's design went from sublime to hideous more quickly or thoroughly, Audi or Peugeot. But it does seem that VW's recent "pimp my ride" ads might not have been satire after all.
Ditto other's comments on the utter uselessness of the thing, unless you insist and looking at a high quality dash while towing a medium sized strip mall in the rain.
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chewy 9:54PM (9/11/2006)
Typesbad
It will look awesome, in the " am going to pulverize you" sort of way. It makes MUCH more sense than a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S or a Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG or Jeep Cherokee SRT-8. It gets better fuel economy than the regular V8 gasoline version with 350 hp, probably very close to the V6 fuel economy.
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