Audi SQ7 Will Pack New 4.0 TDI with 435 PS, Spec Sheet Suggests

Last time we checked, Audi had a 4.2-liter TDI making 385 hp under the bonnet of the A8, VW Tuareg and Porsche Cayenne S Diesel. That engine needs to be discontinued because it doesn't comply with the latest emissions regulations, so this 4.0 TDI could be its replacement.

At 435 PS (320 kW), the V8 would be one of the most powerful diesel engines in the world, certainly superior to the BMW tri-turbo 3-liter. We don't yet know the torque levels, but we expect somewhere in the region of 900 Nm (664 lb-ft).

Mind you, Audi isn't trying to go all crazy with a TDI power trip like it did with the V12 TDI it installed on the old Q7. That monster had 500 horsepower, but coped with a much heavier chassis.

In terms of performance, the 435 horsepower version of the all-new Q7 should take about 5 seconds to reach 100 km/h on its way to a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The fact that "tiptronic" is written on the leaked spec sheet suggests a ZF 8-speed automatic takes care of changing gears, the same as in the BMW X5 M50d.

Will the SQ7 bring its 4.0 TDI engine to the states? We don't yet know. Typically, a diesel shaves about 30% off the fuel bill, and there has been increasing demand for TDI engines Stateside. However, Audi could also use a de-tuned V8 TFSI (with about 450-500 hp), like the one used by the S6/7/8.

We'll get to see the SQ7 in all its glory at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. But the spy photos and videos below show the car completely undisguised to all those who are interested.