2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI First Impressions

Audi, the new king of diesel!

German luxury automaker Audi has been mastering diesel technology for quite a long time. In fact, the four-ring brand has sold TDI models for the last 40 years or so, albeit essentially in Europe. In recent years, Audi wrote its name in the history books by winning the 24 Hours of Mans with a diesel-powered supercar.

But the R10 TDI did more than that, literally crushing every opponent in its path, not only across the pond but also right here in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). All the expertise gained from racing does not go to waste, as Audi decided to carry over several track-proven technologies and components to its production vehicles. One of them, of course, is the TDI system, which can now be found in many VW-Audi models. Early in 2009, a new generation will make its debut, this time with a 3.0L V6 engine delivering outstanding power and performance while meeting the most stringent emission standards on the planet.

Aesthetically similar, it is under the hood that the differences are notable.

A more efficient Q7
To introduce this new technology, the manufacturer called on the Q7 full-size crossover, the many strengths of which do not include fuel efficiency. However, with the new 3.0L TDI powertrain, the big Audi is able to achieve a surprisingly good fuel economy rating of under 9.5 L/100 km while still delivering 0-100 accelerations in about 8.4 seconds.

Thusly equipped, the Q7's output amounts to 221 horsepower from 1,750 to 2,750 rpm, while torque is a remarkable 406 lb-ft. As a result, the Q7 proves to be extremely agile, flexible and efficient on the road.

How did Audi engineers pull this off? They rebuilt the V6 to drop its weight to only 226 kilos and reduce its length to 440 millimeters (17.3 inches). But the real tour de force was combining a common-rail direct injection system with variable turbine geometry (VTG) to ensure maximum low-end power and improved combustion of every single drop of fuel. The icing on the cake is a 30-percent increase in fuel efficiency, allowing for a range of 950 kilometers.

The cleanest of them all
Surely, it can't possibly get any better than that? Well, guess again. Audi's new system, which is set to hit the market in 2009, relies on a chemical solution called AdBlue to make the TDI V6 the world's cleanest diesel engine. 2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI First Impressions from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/q7/2009/review?carid=1090601800&artid=95361)

Audi's engineers spent a lot of time to refine this diesel powertrain.

2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI First Impressions

For 2009, the new Q7 Diesel will be available in two trim levels designated as the TDI Clean Diesel and the TDI Clean Diesel Premium. In more basic terms, think of the regular one as "The Feast" and the Premium one as "The Feast with Wine"! My reason for selecting this analogy is that the regular version has just about everything you could ever want in a luxury SUV. Adding extras that some will appreciate but are not needed to enjoy the vehicle is like adding a bottle of fine wine to an already outstanding meal. Not everyone wants or appreciates the wine, but the meal is a culinary experience by itself.

Q7 Diesel will be available in two trim levels designated as the TDI Clean Diesel and the TDI Clean Diesel Premium.

Billed as the "Clean Diesel", the new 3.0-litre TDI V6 in the Q7 is one of the first diesels to meet the tier 2, bin 5 emissions standards. These exacting standards are the same ones that a gasoline engine must meet. How Audi has done this is just as interesting as the upgrades made to the whole Q7.

If you are not a diesel fan, don't worry. The Q7 is available in the same trim levels with two different, direct-injected gas engines. The base engine is a 3.6-litre V6, while the optional engine is a 4.2-litre V8.

Trim and Options
I managed to get some seat time in both versions of the diesel, and much to the disgust of my hosts at the Canadian media introduction, I really couldn't tell much difference between the two. The most obvious difference is that seating for five is standard, while the third row of seating is optional.

Bluetooth is standard on the Premium level and a navigation package which is not available on the regular model is optional. In fact, the Technology and Audio packages are exclusive to the premium trim level. Navigation has a driver info centre included while the Technology package has things like Side Assist, Homelink and adaptive headlamps in it.

Audio includes an upgrade to a better Bose sound system, satellite radio and a music interface setup where you can put your iPod or any other personal music player into the system (as long as you get your own adapter cable). There is also a USB port so that if you choose to, you can just plug in a memory stick and have your tunes come out through the Bose system and put you in the middle of the concert hall. 2009 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI First Impressions from (http://www.auto123.com/en/audi/q7/2009/review?carid=1090601804&artid=106362)

The new 3.0-litre TDI V6 in the Q7 is one of the first diesels to meet the tier 2.