Audi SQ7 News

I’m okay with picking pattern progressions, but begin to fall short when the pressure of upper level IQ testing starts to bring me undone. That said, even I could detect the clear sequence of super performance carmakers following one another into the world of the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8.A slew of British, German and Italian brands using the same performance vs consumption vs emissions equation to propel their exotic machines towards the horizon at warp speed with maximum efficiency.So, why did white-coated boffins from all points of the automotive globe come up with the same engine configuration, capacity and induction answer?Well, at the recent global launch of the Lamborghini Temerario (a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 hybrid) we asked Lambo’s Chief Technical Officer (and drift king) Dr. Rouven Mohr exactly that.He confirmed the broadly accepted answer that an individual cylinder volume of 500cc is the magic number.That’s right, the capacity that took the ‘Wollongong Whiz’ Wayne Gardner and ‘The Master of going Faster’ Mick Doohan to 500cc World Motorcycle Championship glory is the Goldilocks zone for an individual engine cylinder. And that’s because a cylinder of that size, ideally undersquare (with a stroke length exceeding its bore diameter), optimises the combustion process thanks to a relatively small internal surface to volume ratio (as the piston nears top dead centre) which helps improve fuel efficiency while producing optimum power and minimising C02 and NOx emissions.So, 500 times eight equals 4000, which, with the benefit of forced induction pushes the golden ratio to its maximum.And Lamborghini should know because the all-new (L411) unit it developed for the Temerario produces 588kW on its own, before a trio of electric motors tips in another 89kW for a total output of 677kW (920hp).Two turbos producing 2.5 bar located in the engine’s ‘hot vee’ optimise packaging and thermal management; titanium conrods reduce rotating mass; a flat plane crank delivers an even firing order and super hard finger followers in the valvetrain allow more aggressive cam profiles. The result? A 10,000rpm rev ceiling, which is… nuts.Other brands within the Volkswagen Group portfolio are on the same train, like Audi’s SQ7 and SQ8 with Bentley and Porsche directly sharing engine tech.And what about Mercedes-AMG with the GT63 and SL63 or McLaren just about matching Lambo for specific power output with its 750S rocketship?But hands up those who remember JLR’s ‘Ingenium’ modular engine family. Three-, four- and six-cylinder units built around 500cc cylinders. BMW Group with its triple, four- and six-cylinder engines, along with many others have also struck on the 500cc formula. But maybe Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann has the most compelling reason for joining the club.While acknowledging the capacity of the cylinder premise - “Six cylinder is usually three litres, eight is four and 12 is six” - he lets slip that the 4.0L thing “is also a matter of taxation in a lot of countries”. So, follow engine efficiency or follow the money, the 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 answer is the same.

Another facelift for the Audi Q7 has been revealed, with the Four Ring Brand's large SUV refreshed for its current generation to go on selling for almost a decade.

I’ve road-tested 48 cars this year alone and I’ve seen the weird, the wonderful and everything in between. So, out of all of the cars I’ve been fortunate to be in, these were my favourites (in no particular order).

Is Audi about to spring a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) surprise on EV-crazy premium SUV buyers? While not confirming the Q5 PHEV as yet for Australia, the local arm has hinted strongly that the petrol-electric midsized crossover version of one of its bestsellers might be the next electrified model for our market.

Audi's revamped SQ7 large SUV has hit Australian showrooms with a slight price drop of $400, now commanding a $161,500 before on-road costs pricetag.Changes to the outside are subtle with the front grille now wearing vertical slats and the headlights refr

Audi Australia is preparing a torrent of new RS and less-potent S models to launch this year that is expected to give a massive boost to its sportscar sales.No less than 12 full-fat Audi Sport models - RS-badged vehicles and the flagship R8 - will either

Audi has unveiled a Q8 Sport concept at the Geneva motor show this week

Global Audi Sport managing director Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed the German brand's range of RS-badged SUVs will expand beyond its current sole RS Q3 model.Audi's SUV range already offers two S-branded variants for the Q5 and Q7 models, but the RS treatment is yet to be applied to anything larger than the Q3.Mr Winkelmann said the popularity of the SUV segment was responsible for the increased demand for high-performance variants, which has motivated Audi to broaden its RS SUV model range.As the leader of the Audi Sport division, Mr Winkelmann is responsible for the global development team for all RS models plus the R8 sports coupe hero model, while less-manic S-badged vehicles are produced by Audi's overarching engineering and development team.While he did not reveal which exact models will be elevated to RS status, Mr Winkelmann suggested that as many as 10 new projects are currently being developed by his team.Of these 10 new RS models, not all will be SUVs as some will be replacements for existing variants, including the top-of-the-wish-list RS4.Geneva could see the debut of the first-ever RS Q5 as a follow up to the already-potent SQ5 mid-size SUV.Despite quickly dashing any hopes of a March debut for the new RS4 at the Geneva motor show, when questioned, Mr Winkelmann revealed that another model from Audi Sport was instead scheduled for reveal.“Geneva is in front of us and we will have a launch there which is going to be very important for us because it’s a new era in the B-segment of these cars,” he said.The A-segment usually refers to the smallest compact vehicles, but Mr Winkelmann placed all A3 and Q3 models under the same classification, attributing the A4, A5 and Q5 to the B-segment.RS-branded B-segment sedans and coupes are currently not expected, meaning Geneva could see the debut of the first-ever RS Q5 as a follow up to the already-potent SQ5 mid-size SUV.The recently revealed SQ5 – which will be released in Australia later in the year – will forgo its former diesel engine for petrol-only power, despite suggestions from Audi at the second-generation Q5's launch in Mexico last year that a high-performance diesel version of the SUV was in the works.This may suggest the monstrous 320kW/900Nm 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 diesel from the just-launched SQ7 might be transplanted into the Q5's body, which could create the debuting RS Q5.Electrification is another possibility for the “new era”, meaning hybrid technology or an electric vehicle (EV) may be introduced to the RS line-up.As for other RS-badged SUVs, the smaller end of the line-up is likely to gain new offerings as well.Audi is also trying to maintain the high-performance brand's exclusivity alongside its growth in volume.The recently revealed all-new version of Audi's bespoke five-cylinder turbo-petrol engine – which features exclusively in the TT RS and forthcoming RS3 Sedan – could populate across the German brand's smaller SUV line-up.Mr Winkelmann said that despite the 294kW alloy engine's versatility, it will remain the enterprise of the A-segment, which signals that the debuting Q2 compact SUV could receive the RS once-over sometime in the future.He said that while a new generation of buyers will join the RS family via the smaller end of the range, Audi is also trying to maintain the high-performance brand's exclusivity alongside its growth in volume.

An electric compressor aids turbos in SQ7 for earthmoving torque, writes John Carey.