2011 Audi Q7 Goes To The Grand Canyon

Audi Q7 Goes To The Grand Canyon Front Three Quarter

Diesel Power tested an ’11 Audi Q7 TDI to keep you abreast of the latest diesel technology. We loaded the luxury SUV with six passengers and drove to the Grand Canyon to try it out. With so many rumors of new diesel vehicles finally being available for the United States market, we’re glad Audi kept its promise. This is one of the most advanced and refined vehicles on the planet. It’s exciting to watch diesel finally take its rightful place among luxury car enthusiasts.

Audi Q7 Goes To The Grand Canyon Engine Shot

Block
The Audi 3.0L V-6 is made from cast iron with vermicular or worm-shaped (under a microscope) graphite. This material is commonly called compacted graphite iron (CGI) and enables thin-wall construction. This results in a weight savings between 5 and 10 percent compared to gray cast iron, which has nodular or ball-shaped microscopic graphite in its structure. A one-piece bearing frame secures the forged crankshaft in four places and keeps the block stiff. The crank pins are offset 30 degrees. There are no internal belts inside this engine. Instead, four chains drive the valvetrain, balancer shaft (located inside the V), and oil pump. The six cylinders received a UV photon honing process. This involves a laser beam, which melts the surface. Then nitrogen penetrates it in order to harden and smooth the contact surface for the rings and aluminum pistons.

Injection System
The firing order is 1-4-3-6-2-5 and it’s handled by a Bosch (EDC17) common-rail system capable of 29,000 psi of maximum pressure. The piezo injectors have eight-hole nozzles and fire up to five times per combustion event. Pressure sensor glow plugs (PSG) enable optimized combustion because they provide the computer with data it needs to better understand what’s really happening inside the engine. Without the newly invented PSG, we probably wouldn’t be writing this review. Audi was able to bring an efficient diesel SUV to the United States while other companies backed down because they thought the air quality standards were too difficult (financially) to meet.

Turbocharger
A Garrett GT2056 variable-geometry turbo (VGT) with servo assist is located in the back of the V.

Audi Q7 Goes To The Grand Canyon Top Front Three Quarter

Notice the Q7 has a zero gap between the sunroof and the top of the door. Usually there is an ugly plastic trim piece that hides the seam, but since Audi used laser soldering, it looks like one piece. This reduces wind noise and creates a better look—even if you can’t describe why.

Notice the Q7 has a zero gap between the sunroof and the top of the door. Usually there is

2011 Audi Q7 Specifications:
Engine: 3.0L TDI
PRICE: $58,275
Type: 90-degree V-6 with chaindriven balancer shaft, oil pump, and valve control
Bore: 3.27 inches
Stroke: 3.60 inches
Displacement: 181.1 cubic inches (2,967 cubic centimeters)
Compression ratio: 16.8:1
Fuel requirement: Ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) B5 (5 percent biodiesel approved)
Valvetrain: 24-valve with dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and aluminum heads
Horsepower: 225 hp
Torque: 406 lb-ft
0 to 60 mph: 8.5 seconds (according to Audi)
Top speed: 130 mph (electronically limited)
Engine oil: 8.6 quarts
Fuel tank capacity: 26.4 gallons
Cooling system: 9.5 quarts
Brakes: Dual circuit with tandem boosters and antilock brake system (ABS), electronic brake pressure distribution (EBD), and electronic stabilization program (ESP)
Front brakes: 13.8-inch ventilated disc with six-piston calipers
Rear brakes: 13.0-inch ventilated disc with four-piston calipers
Turning radius (curb to curb): 39.4 feet
Transmission: Eight-speed Tiptronic
Curb weight: 5,567 pounds (fully loaded with people and gear: 2,960 pounds front and 3,100 pounds in the rear equals 6,060 pounds)
Range: 448 to 660 miles
EPA fuel economy: 17 city and 25 highway or 20 mpg combined

Audi Q7 Goes To The Grand Canyon Grand Canyon

Trip Log
Starting Point:
El Segundo, California
0 miles
Fuel: Full tank

Stop 1: White Hills, Arizona
Miles: 392.5 miles
Fuel: 14.024 gallons at $4.75 = $66.61
Fuel Economy: 27.9 mpg (At the beginning, there was stop-and-go Los Angeles traffic with the air conditioner on. Then the highway opened up and the sun went down, so we turned the A/C off. We cruised at about 75 to 80 mph.)

Stop 2: Flagstaff, Arizona
Miles: 705.7
Fuel: 12.15 gallons at $3.879 = $47.16
Fuel Economy: 25.7 mpg (Highway driving with the air conditioner on at first and lots of stop-and-go driving with idling periods while sightseeing.)

Stop 3: Baker, California
Miles: 1,060.3
Fuel: 4.06 gallons at $4.79 = $19.48
Fuel Economy: We didn’t fill the entire tank, so we couldn’t get a figure.

Stop 4: Canyon Country, California
Miles: 1,228
Fuel: 13.046 gallons at $4.59 = $60.00
Fuel Economy: 30.5 mpg (Highway driving with air conditioner on at the beginning; reduced speed 10 mph to around 65 mph at the end.)

Stop 5: El Segundo, California
Miles: 1,695.6
Fuel: 20.23 gallons at $4.55 = $92.26
Fuel Economy: 23.1 mpg (Back in heavy traffic conditions with the air conditioner on.)

There are two intercoolers located on both sides of the radiator. When the engine is cold, the intercoolers are bypassed. This helps create less emissions for the aftertreatment to deal with.
There are two intercoolers located on both sides of the radiator. When the engine is cold,
The towing package, which our test vehicle didn’t come with, brings the Q7’s towing capacity to 6,600 pounds.
The towing package, which our test vehicle didn’t come with, brings the Q7’s towing capaci
The AdBlue (urea) capacity is 6 gallons and lasts a minimum of 10,000 miles. There are two tanks that store the exhaust fluid (one is heated because the solution freezes). A special tool is needed to remove the cap.
The AdBlue (urea) capacity is 6 gallons and lasts a minimum of 10,000 miles. There are two

The urea injector sprays fluid in the exhaust before a catalyst to neutralize NOx. This, along with the oxidation catalyst and particulate filter, helps the Q7 meet Tier2Bin5 and ULEV II regulations.
The urea injector sprays fluid in the exhaust before a catalyst to neutralize NOx. This, a
The Q7’s tailpipe is way cleaner than any gas engine. As a rule, diesel exhaust is dry while gassers’ pipes look like they have a drippy, runny nose (especially at start-up). This moisture equals rust and wasted fuel.
The Q7’s tailpipe is way cleaner than any gas engine. As a rule, diesel exhaust is dry whi
The interior is incredibly comfortable, well laid out, and pleasant to look at. The all-in-one backup camera screen, radio, and navigation system is located in the middle of the dash. In order to get into the glovebox, you need to press the bottom button to the right of the screen. The climate control system is automatic and easy to use. The shifter is used for sport mode, but it’s kind of a bulky hangover from the mechanical past. We missed the paddle shifters found in the A3 but like how almost every other function needed to run the SUV was right at our fingertips.
The interior is incredibly comfortable, well laid out, and pleasant to look at. The all-in

We noticed the door hinges looked incredibly strong and that even the doorjambs were flawless. Other luxury items like an Espresso Brown interior, heated rear seats, a Bose surround sound system, plus others too numerous to mention, don’t usually come with SUVs—although they are very easy to get used to.
We noticed the door hinges looked incredibly strong and that even the doorjambs were flawl
With the third row of seats folded down, there is 42 cubic feet of storage space. With the second and third row of seats folded there is 72.5 cubic feet of storage space. The rear doorjamb has a seam joined with plasmatron soldering. Super-high-strength steels make up 32 percent of the Q7’s body.
With the third row of seats folded down, there is 42 cubic feet of storage space. With the
The third row is great for putting two car seats.

The second row of seating is comfortable for two full-grown adults and one child in the middle.
The second row of seating is comfortable for two full-grown adults and one child in the mi
In the back, underneath the storage tray, there’s an inflatable temporary spare tire, special tools, and a screw-in recovery point. A subwoofer is located inside the tire.
In the back, underneath the storage tray, there’s an inflatable temporary spare tire, spec
The torque converter found in the Aisin TR-80SD eight-speed automatic transmission has a lockup clutch and integrated damper. Another interesting feature comes when the vehicle is at rest—an internal coupling disconnects the transmission from the engine. This transmission is ready to work with Audi’s start-stop system, so look for that fuel saving approach next year.
The torque converter found in the Aisin TR-80SD eight-speed automatic transmission has a l

The 265/50R19 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and 19-inch alloy rims provided an excellent highway ride while still giving good traction on the dirt roads we blasted down. The front six-piston calipers made braking short a nonevent.
The 265/50R19 Goodyear Eagle F1 tires and 19-inch alloy rims provided an excellent highway
A BorgWarner center differential is able to vary the power sent to all four wheels as needed. This makes it a highly adaptable all-wheel-drive system.
A BorgWarner center differential is able to vary the power sent to all four wheels as need
The Q7 TDI delivered the factory rated power of the crankshaft to all four wheels. To see the dyno graph check out http://blogs.dieselpowermag.com
The Q7 TDI delivered the factory rated power of the crankshaft to all four wheels. To see