[Video] Audi introduces the SQ7 TDI, billed as the world’s most powerful diesel crossover [gallery]

Since the Volkswagen group – including Audi – can’t claim to be on the side of the environment and have the lowest consumption, apparently the Ingolstadt-based automaker has decided to go in the opposite direction.

While the automaker and its Volkswagen brand brethren are still in trouble from the Dieslegate scandal, Audi has decided that if it can’t win the economy race at least win the performance one. As such the brand has officially taken the wraps off its new SQ7 TDI, which should be the most powerful diesel SUV in the world when it reaches its intended markets. The main credentials are supported by the newly developed 4.0 TDI V8 engine which has an electric powered compressor (EPC) – a system debuting on a production car. The engine has been built from the ground up and comes with 435 horsepower (320 kilowatts) and 663.8 pound-feet (900 Newton meters) of torque from 1,000 rpm. This is enough to take the SQ7 TDI to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 4.8 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited 155 mph (250 km/h). Besides being very quick, the new 4.0 TDI V8 should also be fairly economical with Audi claiming the fuel consumption remains comparable with a six cylinder banger. We’re not going to take these figures for granted, but Audi says it can do 31.8 miles per gallon (7.4 liters / 100 km) and will have corresponding CO2 emissions of 312.2 g/mi (194 g/km).

Audi says that thanks to the EPC “turbo lag is history” as the system has been implemented to assist the eight-cylinder turbodiesel engine when starting off and during low rpms. The EPC is actuated by an electric motor and has a compressor wheel which can reach up to 70,000 rpm for power “with no perceptible lag.” Audi’s engineers also reworked the eight-speed tiptronic transmission and the output will reach all wheels through the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system paired to a self-locking central differential. There’s also an optional driving dynamics package with a sport differential, electromechanical active roll stabilization, and all-wheel steering. LED headlights will be standard, with the matrix LED headlights offered for extra cash. Audi said order books will be opened for European buyers this spring and the local asking price in Germany will be of 89,900 euros.