Clarkson on the Audi Q7 V12 TDI: It's crap and it's brilliant!
Audi Q7 V12 TDI - Click above for a high res gallery
Last year, Audi announced the most insane version of its Q7 SUV yet in the form of the Q7 V12 TDI. The V12 is an all-new diesel engine that, for now at least, only has a home in the Q7, but at some future date, it may appear in some other VW group products (think: Bentley). The V12 produces 500 hp and a ridiculous 758 lb-ft of torque, enough to get the 2.5-ton SUV to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds.
While Audi has said it has no plans to bring the V12 Q7 TDI to America, Top Gear mouthpiece Jeremy Clarkson got to try one out and came away with mixed feelings. Like many people, Clarkson is no fan of the Q7's looks and thinks the whole premise of the vehicle is ridiculous. On the other hand, brute force does have a way of twisting people's opinions and this big Audi proves to be no exception.
Generally, any sporting motorcycle can leave a four-wheeled conveyance in the dust. Apparently, this Q7 is the exception, as Clarkson was supposedly able to keep pace with Top Gear co-host Richard Hammond on a Suzuki Hayabusa. Even with all this power, the V12 TDI is still rated at 21 mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle. In Clarkson's own words, "Mad. Bonkers. Stupid. [...] It's crap. But it's brilliant too." Too bad they canceled the R8 with this engine.
Gallery: 2008 Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro
[Source: The Times of London]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Swede 4:43PM (5/26/2009)
If they get lucky they'll be able to sell two of these.
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Jei 5:16PM (5/26/2009)
Crazy, but I agree. Much more expensive than what Audi's intended customer may want to spend. Too bad Porsche is too "uppity" to pop the V12 TDI in their Cayenne. If Audi made a 5-passenger version of the Q7, I'd be begging for a V10 or V12 TDI option.
Other Man 6:29PM (5/26/2009)
@ Jei
Why would you want LESS functionality? Just fold down the third row (it folds flat) if you want a two-row look.
Anyways, I love this thing. I can't buy one, and even if I could I can't afford such a thing.
Danny 9:54PM (5/26/2009)
@jei
its called the Q5, but I dont think it will have the V10 or V12 :O
Venom 5:26AM (5/27/2009)
People spend $100,000+ on Porsche Turbo trucks all the time.
I don't know why they do, but they do, so they will get buyers, not necessarily bright buyers, but buyers nonetheless.
Jei 12:07PM (5/27/2009)
@OtherMan, Danny:
I was thinking a short wheelbase version of the Q7 (Touareg?). Isn't the Q7 the long wheelbase version of the Touareg, Cayenne? or shared platform at the least.
I don't necessary want a smaller SUV, just a shorter version. I think the Q7 is too long and doesn't really need 3-row seating.
I would have thought that VW should have taken the family (hauler) route and made a 7-passenger Touareg. Then made a 5-passenger Audi Q7 for a more sportier design and dynamics.
Aloysius Vampa 4:45PM (5/26/2009)
[Russian mobster]
Good. Very good. Does it come in black?
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Swede 4:49PM (5/26/2009)
In Soviet Russia, car gold plates YOU!
TigerMil 4:54PM (5/26/2009)
Must be a real dick on the 'busa to let a Q7 take him....my '73 Kaw 900Z would do 0-60 in 4.0 seconds.
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zamafir 4:59PM (5/26/2009)
reading comprehension fail.
Shiftright 5:00PM (5/26/2009)
Yeah, don't quite get that. Maybe in the wet or going in the opposite direction.
zamafir 5:05PM (5/26/2009)
@Shiftright - well that and the fact that both autoblog and clarkson mention it's the twisties where he manages to keep close.
jcar302 5:17PM (5/26/2009)
Shiftlight.
Not even in the wet, this truck lost to a bmw m3 recently on wet pavement in a drag race. How does awd lose to 2wd on wet pavement? Not only did the m3 win, but it beat it out of the hole, wtf?
This audi monstrosity is a POS, big deal 5.5 seconds, the srt8 cherokee does i in 4.7
The audi is all bark and no bite. Hp and torque from it look good on paper, but thats about it.
Alex 6:24PM (5/26/2009)
jcar302, you have no clue what you are talking about.
First, the race of which you speak was against an m5, and i would expect an m5 to be faster than the q7. The fact that the m5 was only one car lenght ahead shows how fast this truck actually is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsStoFUydfA
Second, the srt8 is much smaller, wheighs less, doesn't seat 7, is not as luxurious, and drinks way more,
"The EPA rates the SRT8 at 11 miles-per-gallon city and 14 highway. Over our 450 miles of mostly highway driving, we got 15.1 mpg"
as quoted by autoblog when they tested it.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/16/review-2009-jeep-grand-cherokee-srt8/
You may not like the q7, and thats fine, but that doesn't make it a pos cause its a little bit slower than an srt8, and in no way does it take away from the fact that this is on hell of an engine. This is more an exercise of "I have this engine and i need somewhere to put it" than "I want to make a performance suv to go up against the srt8, merc amg, x5m or the porsche cayenne turbo" in my opinion, thus comparing it to an srt8 doesn't make much sense.
larry a 7:22PM (5/26/2009)
Richard Hammond was on the busa lol
jcar302 10:27PM (5/26/2009)
Alex,
Yes the audi seats 7, there's one minor advantage, although i don't see many people packing these full of families.
Yes, the srt8 is lighter, but not by too much. The audi still has the power to weight ratio in it's favor considering it's up 80hp and a couple hundred ft lbs of torque.
Yet it still would get wasted by the cherokee.
Gas mileage? who cares, if you are purchasing either one you really don't care about mileage.
Luxury, that's going to make up for the extra 50,000 this thing is going to cost?
And how exactly does the race against the m5 show how fast it really is?
The freakin pavement was wet. Have you ever driven a powerful awd vehicle? Or a rwd sports car? On wet ground the awd makes a world of difference or what exactly would the point of it being awd?
I could of accepted this audi's usefulness if at least on the wet pavement it beat the m5 out of the hole, but it didn't.
Dave 10:55PM (5/26/2009)
LOL Hamster on a 'busa! And a 'busa isnt exactly what Id call a corner carver. But leave it to Clarkson's anti-motorcycling mentality to pick the pig of the sportbike world. Fun bike, and def "sporty" but not the bike Id use if you are trying to show how great your car is. Unless your car isnt really that great in the corners and is REALLY good in a straight line. The 'busa is freakin missle in a straight line man. Quick little ECU mod and 200MPH is very possble for very little money.
Now if the Q7 could keep up with an R1 ridden by Valintino Rossi or Ben Spies in the twisties, then Id be impressed. Today it is much easier to drive a car on the ragged edge of control than it is a motorcycle. One gets the trac light blinking and fuel cutout to save your sorry ass when you screw up. The other throws you into a violent highside crash.
MikeW 1:00PM (5/27/2009)
A big advantage that the Q7 has-four wheel drive.
The SRT8 is rear wheel drive, with PTO front axle drive.
MikeW 5:27PM (5/26/2009)
What!? No 8 speed automatic [yet]
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pmiddle5 2:52AM (5/27/2009)
why would a diesel need all those gears?? probably turning only 1300 at 70mph as is