Audi's racing diesel heads for the road.The v12 diesel engine used by Audi to make history at the Le Mans 24 hour race is being modified to be fitted in a passenger vehicle. The Audi Q7 SUV is currently being tested with the six-litre TDI TDI - Transport Driver Interface engine. Once in production it will be the world's most powerful diesel car. Using the same technology from the V12 unit that powered the Audi R10 TDI to the first ever Le Mans victory for a diesel-powered sports prototype A sports prototype is a form of racing car that is used as a top category in sports car racing. These cars are purpose-built racing cars, commonly referred to as simply prototypes , the 500PS engine is intended to be available in production Q7 models. Currently undergoing pre-production testing, the compact 12-cylinder unit produces 1,000Nm torque peak ( 350Nm more than the acclaimed 4.2-litre V8 TDI powering the Audi A8 ( from just 1,750rpm. Performance is said to be in the region of 5.5 seconds for the 0 to 60 sprint while top speed is restricted to 155mph. Audi claims the Q7 V12 TDI will be capable of averaging around 23.7mpg. Externally, the Q7 V12 TDI test car is differentiated from the V6 and V8 Q7s with a new front end design featuring a chrome plated grille grille, in architecture, a system of bars, usually of decorative metalwork, forming an openwork barrier or enclosure. In its usual materials of wrought iron or bronze, it has been favored for decorative treatment in all periods. and LED strip daytime running lights, additional under-body protection panelling and large-bore exhausts. |
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