Audi announced today that the new top-of-the-line Q7 V12 TDI quattro that was introduced in production form at this year’s Geneva Show in March (see here) will finally make its way to dealers towards the end of 2008. Equipped with a massive 6.0-liter V12 diesel engine (the first of its kind to be offered in a passenger vehicle) generating an output of 500 HP and an awe-inspiring maximum torque of 1,000 Nm or 737.56 lb-ft, the, Q7 V12 TDI quattro accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 5.5 seconds and has an electronically capped top speed of 250 km/h (155mph). -Continued

In terms of fuel consumption the six-liter TDI, which features a completely redeveloped common rail injection system, requires an average of 11.3 lt/100 km or 20.82 US mpg which is less than the gasoline units produced by the competition. For example, BMW’s X5 4.8i that’s equipped with a V8 gasoline unit producing 355HP and goes from 0 to 100km/h in 6.5 sec has an average fuel consumption of 12 lt/100km or 19.6 US mpg.