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Audi SQ7 Acceleration Test and First Reviews Are All About the Engine

Audi has officially begun selling the SQ7 this week. It's the company's most powerful diesel car and one of the most impressive SUVs out there, if not from the performance point of view, at least from the technological one.
Audi SQ7 Acceleration Test and First Reviews Are All About the Engine 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from YouTube
We've done our homework and found out the options list includes an Audi Design Select interior package worth no less than €9,900 and that there are four different configurations for the steering wheel. This really is a sister car for the Bentayga, but we decided to make this story all about the engine.

You see, when Audi first released the SQ7, it just said there was a new 4.0-liter V8 engine under the hood. But this is so much more than a replacement for the old 4.2-liter TDI. There's not one but two turbochargers, but you can't call it a twin-turbo system because they kick in at different RPMs.

In addition, there's an electric supercharger mounted to the left intercooler that quickly raises the boost. As a result, maximum torque is available right from 1,000 rpm.

Audi says that the SQ7 is capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. After watching the independent acceleration test, we're willing to believe that this 2.3 ton SUV really is as fast as an S3 hot hatch. But to be honest, the Toureg 4.2 TDI that was in production right up until the end of 2015 was also very fast.

What makes the SQ7 unique is the amount of technology that's stuffed into it. One of the major highlights is a 48V lithium-ion battery mounted in the boot to power the innovative EPC (compressor) and the decoupling antiroll bar system.

But it's not a vicious rally car like S2 or a great track tool like the RS5. No, the SQ7 is an off-road wagon with potential. At least that's the impression we got from the latest Carfection review. We'll let you guys get to it!

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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