The newest addition to Audi's Q7 luxury SUV is an oil burner. The 3.0-liter V-6 TDI develops 233 bhp - a specific output higher than many gas engines. More importantly, it generates 369 lb-ft of torque at a superlow 1750 rpm, which will help make quick stoplight getaways.
The V-6 debuted at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show in the A8 sedan, and was the first production diesel to use piezo fuel injectors. These injectors allow the TDI's computer to inject diesel fuel directly into the combustion chamber at pressures of up to 23,500 psi. Their quick reaction time and precise metering allows up to five injections to happen for each power stroke, enabling more precise combustion, smoother running, and a less clattery engine note.
The TDI-equipped Q7 can travel more than 600 miles on a single tank of diesel, though that range would likely decrease significantly when traveling at the SUV's commendable top speed of 134 mph. Remember when sports cars could barely clear the 130-mph mark?
A six speed automatic transmission will help the Q7 sprint to 60 mph in about nine seconds, and keep fuel consumption to almost 30 mpg when cruising at that speed. Who needs a Hemi?
