Audi Q7 TDI V8 Quattro

Audi diesel muscles in

Big trailerboats also need a big vehicle and Audi claim to have the most powerful SUV diesel in the recently released Q7 4.2 TDI V8

Over the past year our boat testers have constantly noted the shift to bigger and bigger trailerboats such as the Haines Hunter 800 Patriot that featured on the front of TrailerBoat's 2007 edition of Fishin' Boats magazine for those that want to fish far offshore in more lucrative waters.

That particular rig (on its trailer) hit the scales at around 3480kg, according to our reviewer, and requires a small truck or a maxi sized 4WD to haul around, such as the topic of this article, the recently released Audi Q7 4.2 TDI V8 quattro.

Selling for $123,900, this premium-priced German machine is certainly not cheap and out of bounds for most of us, but the rationale here is, if you can afford an 800 Patriot it is more than likely you can also afford the afore mentioned vehicle to go in front of it.
And if that is the case, then Audi are pitching the Q7 4.2 TDI V8 - released to showrooms here late last month - to its Australian audience as the most powerful diesel SUV in the country.

Audi said the 4.2lt TDI V8 is also the most powerful V8 diesel engine it has produced, quoting performance figures of 240kW (approx 322hp) and 760Nm of torque – available constantly from 1800 to 2500rpm – a 0 to 100kmh acceleration rate of 6.4 seconds (a second faster than the Q7 equivalent 4.2 FSI petrol V8), a top speed of 236kmh, a 3500kg towing capacity, and good fuel economy of 11.1lt per 100km.
The carmaker said the Audi Q7 4.2 TDI transmits its power through the six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission to a quattro driveline, which splits the propulsive force 40:60 between the front and rear wheels under normal driving conditions.

Audi said there are numerous assistance systems in the Q7 providing support for the driver, including new technology like 'lane assist'. The company said that from a speed of around 65kmh, 'lane assist' alerts the driver by inducing a slight vibration in the steering wheel if they have inadvertently moved out of a lane. If the driver has not indicated, the system issues the warning shortly before or while the vehicle is crossing the lane marking.

Other high-tech systems include a camera to monitor the rear for parking, an optional adaptive cruise control that is radar-based incorporating active distance control which is combined with brake assist, and 'side assist' that monitors the blind spot utilising radar technology and informs the driver if a vehicle approaching from behind could endanger the lane-changing manoeuvre.

Audi said that there are countless interesting features available to enhance the dynamic lines of the exterior and for the spacious interior of the 5.09m long Q7; from 21-inch wheels, the open sky system glass roof through to the rail system for the luggage compartment, which has a capacity of up 2035 litres. A deluxe automatic air conditioning system is standard and the seating system is versatile with the new 4.2 TDI available as a five, six or seven seater.

» Click here for CarPoint's further news & reviews articles on the Audi Q7 range