Audi SQ7 is the world’s first triple-turbo super SUV

Those who closely follow the world of concept cars and prototypes might remember the Audi RS5 TDI from recent times. It was the car Audi used to demonstrate its new electric turbo diesel technology, something the brand has been developing for several years. Well, now you can get this production car world-first for yourself in the Audi SQ7.

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Without going into too many gory details, the SQ7 houses a mighty 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet that is highly advanced in its own right. But what makes the SQ7 even more of a wolf in sheep’s clothing is the addition of a third turbo – this one powered by electricity.

Where a normal turbo takes a little time to get going – commonly referred to as ‘turbo lag’ – the electric turbo spins up almost instantly. Audi’s clever system means the electric turbo does the job when you first put your foot down, then the conventional turbos take over to make turbo lag a thing of the past.

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What all that equates to is 320kW of power and a monstrous 900Nm of torque from a virtual standstill.

We have driven the Audi Q7 quite a lot and we really like it. It’s a beautifully refined and comfortable place to be and it shifts along effortlessly using its relatively tame 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V6. We can’t wait to see how the SQ7 compares when it arrives in Australia later this year. Pricing will be announced closer to that time, but expect it to be around the $140,000 mark.