Clarkson on the Audi Q7 V12 TDI: It's crap and it's brilliant!
Audi Q7 V12 TDI - click above for a high res gallery
Last year, Audi announced the most insane version of the Q7 SUV yet in the form of the Q7 V12 TDI. The V12 is an all-new engine diesel engine that, for now at least, only has a home in the Q7 but at some future date it may appear in some other VW group products (think Bentley). The V12 produces 500 hp and a ridiculous 758 lb-ft of torque, enough to get the 2.5 ton SUV to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds.
While Audi has said it has no plans to bring the V12 Q7 to America, Jeremy Clarkson got to try one out and came away with mixed feelings. Like many people, Clarkson is no fan of the Q7's looks and thinks the whole premise of this vehicle is ridiculous. On the other hand brute force does have a way of twisting people's opinions and this big Audi is no exception.
Generally, any sporting motorcycle can leave a four wheeled conveyance in the dust. Apparently, this Q7 is the exception as Clarkson was supposedly able to keep pace with Top Gear co-host Richard Hammond on a Suzuki Hayabusa. Even with all this power, the V12 TDI is still rated at 21 mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle. In Clarkson's own words "Mad. Bonkers. Stupid. [...] It's crap. But it's brilliant too." Too bad they canceled the R8 with this engine.
Gallery: 2008 Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro
[Source: The Times of London]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2LS7? 2:16PM (5/26/2009)
Except in a straight line, generally any fast 4-wheel conveyance will leave a motorcycle in the dust. Motorcycles have less rubber on the road. This limits their ability to take turns quickly. They can partially make up for this by accelerating quickly, but this also is hampered by reduced rubber and the short lever arm (short wheelbase, high CG) of the vehicle threatening to flip it over when you put the gas (or brakes) on.
An R8 with this engine would make no sense, the engine is just too heavy, and who cares about fueling costs when the car is $140,000?
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MikeW 3:42PM (5/26/2009)
It isn't about driving range, it is about a different driving style.
Who cares if the engine is heavier, it is in the middle of the car.
tekd 3:33PM (5/26/2009)
What the hell are you on?!? You have it completely and utterly backwards-motorcycles are slower through turns because they have to slow significantly and lean into every turn. On a straightaway they are batsh*t fast. How many cars can go 0-60 in two seconds?!?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/51453/powerful_bike_with_turbo/
Seriously, this is the most ridiculous post I've ever seen-you basically make up your own BS theory about motorcycles and acceleration and post it like you have a clue what you're talking about. They're much faster when going in straight lines, and much slower when going through turns because a car can go through a turn without leaning to keep balance.
tekd 3:35PM (5/26/2009)
fark, misread your comment since I haven't slept in forever. Rated myself down =(
Why the hell isn't there an edit.
Phil L. 4:34PM (5/26/2009)
tekd -
At least you admitted your own goof, something few will do here.
Yes, ABG: A basic edit-your-own-post-for-a-short-time-period capability would be much appreciated...
why not the LS2LS7? 6:16PM (5/26/2009)
tekd:
Your reading comprehension is poor.
MikeW:
You can't hide weight. Even in the middle of the car, it makes the car less maneuverable.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:17PM (5/26/2009)
tekd:
Sorry, I should have read further down before posting my response. I see you already caught your error. Sorry about that.
downtoearth 7:00PM (5/26/2009)
why not the LS2LS7:
> Except in a straight line, generally any fast 4-wheel
> conveyance will leave a motorcycle in the dust.
You couldn't be more wrong. Simply check this out: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=5th+Gear+superleggera+ducati
A supercar manages to keep up with a super bike. Anything slower than the Gallardo wouldn't stand a chance. Now plot a fat diesel SUV against a bike that is even faster (Hayabusa is a hyper sport). 5 seconds after the start and you see the bike no longer.
Clarkson hates bikes, hates hybrids and basically has no clue. Everything adverse to what he says is true.
Matt 9:20PM (5/26/2009)
Actually, the Hayabusa was a good choice for them to compare it to; for Clarkson's purposes, it's powerful, but not very maneuverable. You might even say it has too much power. If you keep up with AMA Superbikes, you'll see that the 600cc bikes regularly post times very close to the 1,000cc bikes. This is because they are all very close to being able to lift the front tire at any given time in a race. If you add weight AND power, it needs to be exponentially more power, and linearly more weight to keep up. At a certain point the bike becomes more of a drag racer (what the Hayabusa was built for, street racing) and less of a true track bike. The problem with the busa is it's CG is too low, making it hard to turn. Also, its 1340cc engine pushes enough ponies that on street tires it's at risk of spinning the back wheel all the time, making it a horrible track bike. Ever wonder why there isn't a 1300cc race series? It's for all the reasons I stated, and one more: only fat guys ride them :p
MikeW 12:01AM (5/27/2009)
Cry me a river. Doesn't the R8 4.2 weigh roughly 3600lbs.
and how much will the V10 weigh, 3800lbs
So a V12 would weigh what, 4000lbs?
11% more. And how much would the weight distribution change 44/56 to 43/57 for V10, 42/58 V12
and doesn't the Veyron crush the scales at 4400-4500lbs
Sure an extra 200lbs can be good for a Lotus Elise, but this german 'light weight' sports car can handle it.
or just don't EVER have a passenger :)
why not the LS2LS7? 3:37AM (5/27/2009)
downtoearth:
Just look up any track and look at the track record for bikes and for cars. The car figure will be lower.
You can post 5th gear videos all you want.
A street car can turn 0.9g or higher cornering force. This is very difficult on a motorcycle. On a motorcycle, since you have to balance, you have to lean over about 45 degrees to turn at 1g. When's the last time you saw that happen? A race car (regular street car modified, we're not even talking about an open wheel racer) can have cornering forces of 2g or more. This is impossible in a motorcycle since you cannot lean over enough to do it. And the car has big advantages on braking too. A Busa will stop from 70mph in 174 feet. A Corvette will do it in under 150.
Only adding 11% weight? Okay. But why add it? It will make the handling worse, the braking worse and the acceleration worse. All it might add is mpg. Do you really think people buying $140K cars will spend more to get better mpg at the expense of handling, braking and acceleration?
It just doesn't make any sense.
MikeW 1:00PM (5/27/2009)
If Audi offered the R8 V8 for 80 large, V10 for 100K, and V12 for 120K.
[and Audi offered nice gearing for the V12 manual shift transmission 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60mph per 1K] I'd take the V12 every time.
Nobody else offers a V12 diesel sports car. It would have a relaxed personality if you wanted that-cruising at 90mph at 1500
and only 5% more mass than the V10.
and Audi doesn't offer a V12 in the Gallardo.
Think again 6:47PM (5/27/2009)
LS2LS7:
The track times for track-prepped race cars will be quicker. We're talking about an SUV that was designed for the street.
If you track down the article, this guy was chasing a Hayabusa on a public road and they weren't actually racing.
When was the last time I saw a bike leaned over at 45%? The last time I rode up to the local mountains.
Thanks.
FitFan 7:21PM (5/27/2009)
I checked the track record at Willow Springs Raceway in California. The motorcycle results can be found here:
https://my.wsmcracing.com/ul/file/Newsletters/WSMCNews0309Rev1.pdf
and the car results here:
http://www.willowspringsraceway.com/trackinformation/records.asp
The record for a 750CC motorcycle is 1:22.337. Only 26 car drivers have ever beat that time, and all of them were race cars.
Mike!!ekiM 2:53PM (5/26/2009)
Intel Monopoly Abuse:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104081558
It says the company gave rebates to computer manufacturers Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and NEC for buying all or almost all their x86 computer processing units, or CPUs, from Intel and paid them to stop or delay the launch of computers based on AMD chips.
I bring this up, because again, the auto industry continues to build the STUPIDEST Cars In the World. There is no customer demand for 600 HP. No Customer is that STUPID. This is clear proof there's KickBack Money and a Lot of it in the Auto/Oil Business.
The Whole West Coast is under threat of Drought because of Global Warming.
Higher Gas Prices are just around the Corner, with an economic recovery. A buyer stupid enough to buy this thing will be blowing his brains out when gas hits 4$ a gallon again.
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Rick 4:23PM (5/26/2009)
I absolutely LOVE the Q7's looks. It's gorgeous up close. The interior is amazing. It's not as big as it looks, though the curb weight and demands a bigger engine, the TDI is welcome. Now hurry and get the TDI in the Q5 as well!
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Marc 5:00PM (5/26/2009)
There is no way this can keep up with a Hyabusa if its 0-62 time is 5.5 sec. The Hyabusa 0-60 time is 2.75 sec. And unless it has a top speed of 200+ it will never catch up unless the Busa runs out of gas.
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ale 5:51PM (5/26/2009)
not to menton matchin the stability of a busa over 200...
why not the LS2LS7? 6:20PM (5/26/2009)
Stability? What? Longer wheelbases make a vehicle more stable. This vehicle is more stable than a Busa at any speed, especially at high speeds.
As to the 0-62, you might want to look into the situation. Turns out there's more to performance than just 0-62 figures. You're dead right that in a 0-62 contest, this thing would get trounced by a Busa (what wouldn't?).
Jon 5:00PM (5/26/2009)
Ambitious... but rubbish
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