Audi SQ8 Shows Diesel Still Tops For Torque
Diesel is still the king of the torque curve according to Audi’s new biturbo V8 engine in the SQ8 heralded as the most powerful diesel engine available in Europe.
The engine delivers 423bhp and 664ft-lbs of torque to the rear wheels, enough to power the monster SUV to 62mph from standstill in just 4.8 seconds on the way to an electronically limited 155mph top speed.
Audi has made the diesel engine more responsive thanks to placing the hot exhaust side, with the two turbochargers, in the V of the cylinder block. Only one turbocharger operates at low revs, with the second turbo kicking in at around 2,200 rpm. There’s also an electrically-powered compressor (EPC) which helps the turbos were starting off, located in a bypass behind the intercooler. This ensures excellent throttle response and means the turbos can get up to speed quickly and efficiently.
The mild-hybrid system also uses the EPC for a 48-volt battery, which can recover up to 8kW of power during deceleration, feeding this energy into the battery. At speeds between 34 mph and 99 mph, the motor can recover energy from the crankshaft, travel while the engine is idling, or deactivate the engine entirely and coast for up to 40 seconds.
