German Car Forum

We have total faith in Audi’s ability to engineer an oil-burning uber-engine after watching one of its two R10 TDi racers set a new track record at Sebring during qualifying last weekend and take the checkered flag after 12 hours of endurance racing. Hopefully the trickle down theory of motorsports technology will be in effect when Audi makes its Q7 sport ute available with a diesel engine in the U.S. by 2008.

In addition to the hybrid Q7 we’ve already been promised, the diesel-powered version will feature a 3.0L V6 TDi that generates 230 hp and 369 ft-lbs. of torque. Audi’s engine has already met emissions standards in 45 states, but five remain to reach before the company says it will release the engine in this market. California, which has the strictest emissions standards, accounts for 40-percent of Audi’s sales, so don’t expect to be burning oil in your Q7 until the Golden State’s been satisfied.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

I was going to mention this in the thread about Audi at Sebring, I'm wondering how all this will play out. It seems like Audi is just doing hybrids for the sake of doing so when they (MB/BMW too) really have more faith in diesels. I don't see both a hybrid Q7 and diesel Q7 being on sale here at the same time. Would that be overkill or the ultimate in choice? They hybrid still won't get the mileage of the diesel and it will no doubt be more mechancially complex, its pretty clear to me at this point the diesel is the better choice. The only fly in the buttermilk with diesel is getting them to comply with big markets like California and New York's emission standards. Mercedes I think will be the first to attempt this in the fall with their Bluetec models, and if successful I predict a diesel invasion on the part of MB/BMW and of course Audi. Looking the LeMans footage I'm thinking Audi should really be pioneer and develop a high-performance diesel version of the upcoming R8. Wouldn't that be aweseome!

M