Audi Q7 V12 TDI: Unleashing the beast!

Monday, January 08, 2007

Audi Q7 V12 TDI: Unleashing the beast!

As promised, Audi unleashed the Audi Q7 V!2 TDI, the world's most powerful diesel passenger car, at the Detroit Motor Show. Enjoy the impressions!

Audi refers to its new V12 TDI turbodiesel as "majestic", but somehow, that word fails to adequately describe the company's latest oilburner. Grammy-winning singer Seal was on hand to belt out his hit "Crazy", and that term more accurately describes a 6L diesel that makes 500 HP and 737 lb-ft of the twisty stuff (that latter number is maintained in the useful range of RPM). This is accomplished via a pair of variable-vane turbochargers that apply 1.6 bar (24 PSI) of squeeze to the intercooled intake charge, and a direct injection system which employs piezoelectric injectors to spray fuel - including multiple pre- and post-combustion events - at a mind-boggling 2000 bar (30,000 PSI). A compression ratio of 16:1 and heavy use of exhaust gas circulation also help keep down the emissions, which meet the 2010 Euro-5 standard.