If you're a complete nut for Audi products, you'll know that the vehicle pictured above is not our 2007 Audi Q7, but a 4.2 Turbo Diesel (TDI) version that's available in Europe for the time being. Why show you this one instead of ours? Because clean, powerful, and efficient Audi diesels are coming, and they won't be anything like you imagine. The version we'll be getting sometime next year will be a 3.0 TDI making about 240 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque compared to our 4.2 "petrol" engine which makes 350 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Still don't see my point?
Well, it's been about 6,000 miles since anybody's posted fuel economy averages for the biggest Audi in our stable. At 19,950 miles on the odo, the running average is now 14.5 mpg, or right in the middle of the 2008-method EPA averages of 12 city / 17 highway mpg. The most frugal foot on our staff belongs to Erin Riches with an 18.7 mpg run where she dared go the furthest distance on a tankful before stopping for more at 440.4 miles. Way to go Erin.
And the heaviest feet are attached to Mike Schmidt and photog Scott Jacobs, each with a 10 mpg fill ups. To be fair, Mike probably had the task of topping off the 26.4 gallon tank after instrumented testing, and Jacobs probably was hauling a cargo bay full of photography equipment while trying make it to a mountain-top sunset location.
Speaking of that big tank, at today's national average price for premium fuel, it'd cost more than $90 to fill from bone dry to full, which is almost what Scott Oldham did when he put 25.482 gallons in on one particularly brave day.
Oh, and this photo is of what Audi calls a Breadboard that simultaneously tests all of the electronics of a Q7. It's got nothing to do with this post in particular, but I found it on the Audi press site and thought it was a good example of stuff you never imagined existed in the development of a vehicle.
Chris Walton, Chief Road Test Editor @ 19,952 miles
billt9 says:
05:27 PM, 11/ 5/07
Here's the board for the CTS.
http://cadillac.gmblogs.com/2007/06/the_bench.html
I'd assume this is a logical engineering step for all vehicles.
Sucks trying to debug after you install all your buggy electronics.
desmolicious says:
06:08 PM, 11/ 5/07
Looking at those two breadboards, the Audi's seems much more upscale and better assembled..
langjie says:
08:38 AM, 11/ 6/07
1487 must be happy now
opfreak says:
09:13 AM, 11/ 6/07
desmolicious
I dont get your comment at all. both look equally impressive. I dont see how you can rip the build quality on ethier.
Or you just dont like GM?
stovt001 says:
09:16 AM, 11/ 6/07
That has the be one of the nerdiest arguments ever: Whose electronic breadboard is better. Time to break out the pocket protectors.
jriz says:
09:49 AM, 11/ 6/07
Sarcasm people. Sarcasm. I could explain the joke, but that would just ruin it.
boxermike says:
10:19 AM, 11/ 6/07
I don't see how Cadillac has the guts to show their face at engineering conferences employing that board! It doesn't even have a wheel!
cwalton1 says:
11:18 AM, 11/ 6/07
I forgot that our very own Dan Edmunds has driven the Q7 4.2 TDi and mentioned here.
--Chris
bimmerjay says:
04:02 PM, 11/ 6/07
Geez, GM lovers have no sense of humor!
estreka says:
03:04 AM, 11/ 7/07
Wow, those appear to be what my REACT console will look like 30 years down the line.
brucewinner says:
08:07 PM, 12/31/07
I love Audis. Some of the finest machines in the world- until they break. Then, everything cost at least $1,000 to fix. A shame, really, but that's why I sold my A6 and bought a Subaru. It doesn't inspire the love of the drive like my Audi, but there is no drama. It's painful if I think about it, so I try not to think. The Subaru just starts, drives and does its job. For a lot less $$$.