Detroit Diesels: Audi Q7 V-12 TDI-powered concept trumps Mercedes-Benz

Fuel cells and hybrids may have a future powering lighter sedans and trucks, but the future of the full size truck or SUV--and probably of the biggest sedans-- is diesel. They simply provide way more torque more efficiently than other modes of propulsion. They're also more expensive to produce to current emissions regs, so it's no surprise that diesel's first big push into passenger cars will be in high-end high-performance vehicles.Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW all announced diesel-engine production plans in Detroit, but Audi trumped them all with a concept Q7 powered by a 60-degree twin-turbo V-12 TDI that churns out 500 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Tech highlights include an iron-graphite cylinder block cast in a unique process that allows thinner walls for a 15% weight savings. The common-rail piezoelectric direct fuel injection also breaks ground with injection pressures up to 29,000 psi. It's said to be capable of launching the Q7 to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds and returning up to 20 mpg.

Source: motortrend.com