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Audi SQ7 TDI Goes on Sale in Mid-May as Most Powerful Diesel SUV

Call us wusses, but we're not sure we'd buy the "most powerful diesel SUV in the world," not when the TDI scandal is going on. Sure, the fuel consumption is going to be excellent, but not if they have to recall it and do a weird fix. If you have the same misgivings we do but want the Audi SQ7, you'd better make up your mind fast, as it's about to go on sale.
Audi SQ7 TDI 49 photos
Photo: Audi
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Audi issued a short press statement today, saying that the SQ7 TDI will be available around the middle of next month. That means we are weeks away from seeing 435 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque in action.

This is the first S version of the Q7 and it uses a brand new 4-liter TDI engine that replaces the old 4.2-liter That's a crucial little V8 lump that's about to power the Porsche Cayenne too, maybe even the VW Tiguan and Bentley Bentayga.

Pricing information has been available since the SQ7 TDI was revealed. In Germany, it will start at €89,900. While that seems like too much, Audi says it already includes popular equipment options from the Audi Q7 worth around €10,000.

The list is pretty long: LED headlights, adaptive air suspension with S-specific settings, a 3-spoke sport steering wheel with multifunction buttons and shift paddles, a larger 85-liter (22.5 US gal) tank, an anti-theft alarm, electrically adjustable, heated sport seats in Alcantara and leather, 20-inch wheels, sporty-contoured bumpers and door trim strips, plus brushed aluminum inlays. However, there are sure to be optional goodies that push the SQ7 over a hundred grand.

In a way, this is an SUV without equal, capable of reaching 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds despite the use of diesel fuel. We believe its main rival will be the BMW X5 M50d, popular because it also has many standard goodies. One of those will set you back around €85,700 and packs a tri-turbo 3-liter with 381 PS.

The BMW is slower to 100 km/h, taking 5.3 seconds, yet its fuel consumption is better (on paper) at 6.7 l/100km vs 7.2 liters in the SQ7. It's also worth noting that the old Q7 had a much more powerful V12 TDI engine capable of 500 horsepower.

Note: The SQ7 TDI is currently the most powerful diesel production SUV in the world, but there used to be a V12 model with 500 horsepower. Guess Audi forgot about its own car.
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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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