Audi Q7 V12 TDI Revised

The World’s Most Powerful Diesel Passenger Car


Audi has stood at the forefront of diesel technology for the last three decades. The Ingolstadt brand now presents a further world first – the first V12 diesel engine in a passenger car. The new Audi Q7 V12 TDI is powered by a twelve-cylinder diesel engine containing a wealth of pioneering technology. With an outstanding 500 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque, the six-litre engine of the high-performance SUV provides the driving performance of a sports car. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and achieving an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI is catapulted into the echelons of top-class sports cars. New horizons have been set in the diesel market thanks to this outstanding power. None of our competitors can offer a comparable engine. The big performance SUV from Audi accelerates with impressive ease. Superior power reserves in any situation are provided by the world’s first 2,000 bar Bosch Common Rail system. The ultra-modern piezo-injection system offers impressive acoustics at the highest levels of driving comfort.

Exceptional comfort
The new six-speed tiptronic gearbox, which features extensive reinforcements, shifts quickly and comfortably. It transfers the enormous power to the quattro permanent four-wheel drive system. The new Audi Q7 V12 TDI has an average fuel consumption of just 11.9 litres per 100 kilometres. All diesel engines from Audi are highly dynamic thanks to their high performance and high torque characteristics. Audi has often proved its sporty character in series production, most recently through the six and eight-cylinder 3.0 TDI and 4.2 TDI engines. Audi also rewrote the record books earlier this year on the racetrack. Following its debut in Sebring, Florida, the premium R10 prototype sports car won every long-distance race it entered. These included the Le Mans 24 Hours road race, probably the most difficult race in the world for both man and machine. The V12 race engine in the R10 squeezed 650 bhp from its 5.5-litre engine capacity, reaching a top speed of 330 km/h. The power and endurance of the R10 was an immediate hit with fans and experts alike. However, what completely surprised them was the sound of the engine: unlike most racing engines, the powerful Audi diesel engine runs whisper-quiet. Transferring race car technology into series production is an Audi tradition. The FSI engine in the predecessor to the R10, the R8, notched up five victories in Le Mans with its petrol direct injection. Audi has already transferred FSI performance to the production line. The most recent examples of this are the high-revving V8 in the RS 4 and the V10 FSI in the S6 and S8.

Pioneering technical performance
The new series-production V12 TDI, assembled in our plant in Gyцr, Hungary, reaches a still outstanding level of “only” 500 bhp. When designing the engine, it was kept in mind that the six-litre engine would be a derivative of the current family of Audi V-engines, which up to now were limited to six, eight and ten cylinders. The basic findings from the race car were of course transferred to the series-production engine. The V12 TDI aggregate has a cylinder clearance of 90 mm, which is standard for engines of this type. Nonetheless, the engine has a cylinder angle of 60° instead of 90°, leading to an elimination of inertia in this type of V12 design. Driving comfort is thus ensured in every situation. The total engine capacity of 5,934 cm3 is derived from a bore measurement of 83 mm and a stroke of 91.4 mm, exactly the same as that of the 3.0 TDI. The large diesel engine is extremely compact. Measuring 684 mm in length, it is only 166 mm longer than the V8 TDI. These dimensions are the primary requirement for integrating the V12 into the Audi Q7. The crankcase of the V12 TDI is constructed from cast-iron with vermicular graphite. This high-tech material, known as GJV-450, has already been used in the V6 and V8 models. Produced in a patented casting procedure, GJV-450 is around 40 % more rigid and 100 % more fatigue-resistant than grey cast iron. This allowed the developers to reduce the wall thickness. The weight potential compared to conventional grey cast iron is around 15 %. The crankshaft, forged from a chrome and molybdenum steel alloy, is held by an extremely rigid main bearing bracket made from cast iron reinforced by nodular graphite. The forged piston rods are cracked, whilst the forged pistons are made from aluminium. Both cylinder heads are composed of three main elements. The lower section is made from a highly durable and light aluminium alloy where the intake and escape channels are integrated. The upper section guides the flow of engine oil, whilst both camshafts are stored within a reinforcing ladder frame. The valves are actuated using low-friction roller cam followers with a compression ratio of 16:1. The engine characteristic swirl variations of combustion air were taken from the V6 and V8 TDI engines. The optimum swirl with respect to emissions and simultaneous high performance can therefore be set.

Ultra-modern injection technology
Like most Audi V-engines, the maintenance-free chain drive is located on the back of the engine in a space-saving arrangement. A new layout is used in the new V12 TDI. The chain wheel of the crankshaft locks into the gearwheel. From here two simplex chains drive the camshaft. Two further chains drive the oil pump and both high-pressure pumps in the common rail injection system. Both new double stamped high-pressure pumps are part of the new common rail injection system developed by the specialists at Bosch. Both pumps amass up to 2,000 bar of pressure in the rails; only 1,600 bar was usually achieved up to now. The piezo injectors, with their eight-hole jets, have also been radically updated.An optimal spray is created in the combustion chamber through the high pressure. This in turn allows the ignition process to take place quicker and more homogenously, leading to a much better sound. The efficient combustion also improves performance whilst reducing emissions and fuel consumption. The current generation of inline injectors use the piezo effect. When an electric current is created, piezo crystals expand in milliseconds. This expansion is then directly transported (inline) by the V12 TDI injectors – containing over one hundred piezo plates – to the injection nozzle needles without the use of mechanisms in between. The number of injection processes per power stroke can be widely varied using piezo technology, in the case of the V12 TDI up to five injections. In addition to the main injection, pre and post-injections are possible. Pre-injections reduce the acoustic hardness of the combustion procedure. Post-injections serve to increase the temperature of the emissions, helping regeneration of both standard-fit particulate filters. Both turbochargers can be found on the exterior of the V-engine, each supplied with a cylinder bank. Thanks to its adjustable guide vane geometry, the complete gas emission stream is always fed through the turbines. The chargers respond even at low levels of revolution and reach high levels of efficiency. Both turbochargers amass a charge pressure of up to 2.6 bar and are a key aspect of the exceptional torque levels of 1,000 Nm that are supplied to the V12 TDI constantly between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm. With its 368 kW (500 bhp), the diesel reaches a specific performance of 62 kW (84.3 bhp) per litre of engine capacity. Two large charge air coolers reduce the temperature of the compressed air. The V12 comes with a double-flow exhaust system with two particulate filters. The suction unit is built in a similar way – each cylinder bank contains an air filter behind which an air mass meter is stored. Two control units manage what happens within the engine according to the master-slave concept. The Audi Q7 V12 TDI will conform to the Euro 5 emissions class which will come into force in 2010 and demand a reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions. Aside from the precise analysis of the fuel injection system through the common rail system, the Audi engineers have focused especially on exhaust gas recirculation. At partial load, up to 50 % of emissions are recirculated through the air intake in order to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. The large-dimension recirculation system is stored in the upper section of the V cylinder and includes a water cooler which reduces emission temperature significantly.

The design
The Audi Q7 V12 TDI is impressive not only with regard to technology but also in terms of appearance. The most striking visual changes to the Audi Q7 are the underbody panels at the front and rear. The chrome-plated single-frame radiator grille evokes the tradition of the Audi S6 and S8. These two cars, with their V10 FSI engines, are the top sports models in their class. The V12 TDI features a powerful braking system which is every bit its equal.

Audi AG

Launch of "LUV", EDAG's new concept car, at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show

EDAG's new concept car, at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show
Fulda/Geneva On 7th March, 2007, the cry of "Cast off!" will go up in Geneva for the "EDAG LUV", the latest concept car of EDAG Engineering + Design AG.
Conceived as a niche vehicle, the LUV presents a maritime appearance from its bows to its stern, and is targeted at customers who are not looking for just an ordinary car, and who appreciate something more distinctive.Oiled teak on the bonnet, inside as the floor covering , and again on the elegant loading plat-form, gives a nautical flair.
The dimensions of the "EDAG LUV" are also imposing. Taking as their basis a high end SUV, the EDAG Engineering + Design AG designers and engineers have constructed an LUV with an impressive overall length of 5.70 metres. Over 2 metres wide and 1.80 metres high, the "EDAG LUV" is a real eye-catcher.
Behind the two rows of seats with ample space for 5 passengers, there is a teak-covered loading platform. This, in keeping with the maritime look of the concept car, has the distinct air of a quarter deck. Retractable clamps mounted in the teak flooring provide the owner of the "EDAG LUV" with the same kind of practical means of securing loads found on ships and boats."LUV", the name of the concept car, is also a German nautical term, meaning "luff": Apart from this, however, the term also defines a new vehicle segment, namely the Luxury Utility Vehicle.
The harmonious lines of the body's design enable the loading platform and passenger cell to be joined together so elegantly that the utility vehicle character frequently manifest in pick-up models is no longer evident.
"LUV": A new vehicle type which, with its originality, size and elegance, has clearly been developed by EDAG as a niche vehicle for a target group who prefer vehicle concepts which diverge to one side or the other of the mainstream.
The entire project, from the concept defining stage, through the design process and development, culminating in the ready-to-drive prototype, took just three months to complete, and is ready for conversion into a premium edition. With the EDAG LUV, the world's largest, independent engineering partner has once again demonstrated its abilities as an all-round developer - from concept to production readiness.
The "EDAG LUV" is an example of how, with an economically acceptable outlay, it is possible to transform a model for volume pro-duction into an independent niche vehicle.
EDAG is currently in close contact with prestigious vehicle customising companies, looking into the possibility of a potential "launch" of the "EDAG LUV".

Interior design of the Chevy Volt concept at GM.

On the inside, near-term technologies and innovative materials combine with ingenious use of ambient light for an interior environment that’s light, airy and thoughtful.

Anteros XTM Roadster

ANTEROS XTM is a limited production 2-seat convertible sports car featuring 400 to 600 horsepower, a carbon fiber composite body with a fine leather & wood interior, and state-of-the-art technology throughout.

ANTEROS takes its name from the ancient god of Passion. It is a passionate expression of Automotive Fine Art. Anteros Founders, John Rothman, and son, David Rothman, commissioned a team of talented designers and fabricators to create a brutally elegant car that seamlessly blends both contemporary and classic sports car DNA into a stunning artistic sculptural statement. Anteros uses the base engineering of the C6 platform as a foundation to create this 550 horsepower rolling sculpture in carbon fiber and luxury leather.

'We had a fantastic reaction to the Anteros at the Monterey Classic Car Show, exotic car dealers around the United States are anxiously waiting production slots', said Mr. David Rothman, President of Anteros Marketing. With pricing between $125,000 and $135,000, the ANTEROS XTM will be manufactured on a semi-custom build-to-order basis.

Anteros Marketing, a California based coachbuilder, also has under development the ANTEROS XTS Targa featuring a removable hardtop. Their future plans are to release the ANTEROS XTR Hardtop based on the ZO6 platform that will feature horsepower of 505 to 655 HP.


Manufacturing

The Anteros is manufactured at San Diego-based HST Inc., an industry leader in the fabrication of high tech composites and carbon fibers.

HST Inc. is known throughout the composites industries for manufacturing highly specialized aerospace and sports equipment to extreme tolerances for clients around the world. In the past several years, HST, Inc. has developed a reputation as a premier manufacturer of specialty automobiles in North America. Currently HST manufactures the original Shelby authorized Cobra and Shelby Series I & II.

HST Inc. heralds a new era of automobile manufacture involving the adaptation and application of materials, techniques, and production standards employed in the composites and aerospace industries. Their goal is to utilize materials, tolerances, and craftsmanship consistent with these industries and apply them to the automotive manufacture in an attempt to make lightweight, durable, performance driven automobiles.

Anteros site

Aston Martin Rapide Concept

The Aston Martin Rapide concept is a four-door, high performance coupé of remarkable grace and poise. Based on Aston Martin's unique VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture, the Rapide combines the company's commitment to power, beauty and soul with space and practicality for every eventuality. It stands for stylistic excellence, market innovation and flexible manufacturing. The Rapide is the epitome of Aston Martin’s low-volume, high-technology approach, the synergy of modern methods and materials with traditional skills to create a new form of craftsmanship for the 21st century.

While the Rapide retains Aston Martin's inherent design characteristics the additional length and extra doors build upon the DB9’s taut, poised stance, generating a natural, even flow and a dynamic sensation that's conveyed even when the Rapide is standing still. “In terms of elegance the Rapide is adding value to the DB9’s undisputed elegance and subtle understatement,” says Dr Ulrich Bez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin. “Our cars must look beautiful from all angles, and the four-door is very well balanced.” Practicality and power are the Rapide's signature qualities, but above all it is recognisably an Aston Martin, a testament to the strength of the marque's design language. The Rapide's four-door body provides greater access to the extended architecture, making it a performance car for every occasion. “The proportions must be perfect,” says Dr Bez, “if we couldn’t achieve this then we wouldn’t have made the car.”

Press release

Limousine of US President

The 2006 Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a hand-crafted and armored version of the Cadillac DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) stretch sedan for the President of the United States. The new Cadillac DTS was first used during the second inauguration of George W. Bush in the January 20, 2005 parade.

The vehicle was custom built by O'Gara, Hess, and Eisenhart, armored vehicle builders who have been building armored presidential limousines since the 1960s. The base platform is a Cadillac DTS, but little of the original vehicle remains. For example, DeVille's flush-style door handles have been replaced by a loop-type design apparently borrowed from the 1992-99 generation Buick LeSabre, doubling as grab-handles for the United States Secret Service agents running alongside the car. Exterior examination suggests that the head/tail lights, and the wreath-and-crest emblem atop the grille are some of the few stock components.

Similar to its predecessor, the 2001 Presidential Limousine, the stretch Cadillac features an executive leather interior with a rear foldaway desktop, an extensive entertainment system featuring a 10-disc CD changer, and adaptive, massaging cushions. The president sits in the rear, facing a console-mounted secure communications panel connected to five antennas mounted on the trunk lid. The vehicle has a flag of the United States mounted on the right front fender, and a Presidential flag on the left front fender. Flush-mounted high intensity discharge (HID) spotlights illuminate the flags at night. Like a standard Cadillac DTS, the presidential limo is said to have a night vision system, but the camera moved to an undisclosed location.

The exterior is paneled with five inches of ballistic armor, and is said to be able to withstand anti-tank grenade launchers. The underside of the car is also armored. The windows, which do not open, are transparent armor thick enough to block sunlight, which is the reason the interior is illuminated with naturalistic artificial lighting. The doors require automatic systems to open and the car has a run-flat tire system. The limousine is also environmentally sealed against chemical and biological attacks. A four wheel drive system to improve traction might also be fitted.

A secret service communications vehicle (toting most of the communications equipment) and a paramedic-equipped ambulance aides the limousine as a part of any presidential motorcade. The Presidential Limousine uses the call sign "Cadillac One. "Cadillac One is transported everywhere the President goes, and is airlifted on domestic and international trips by Air Force transport planes. Cadillac One remains amoungst one of the most distinct automobiles in the world with its imposing frame and the Presidential Seal clearly affixed to the rear doors. When the President travels on domestic trips and working international trips, Cadillac One flys the American Flag and the Presidential Flag. When the President however performs a State Visit to a foreign country, the Presidential Flag is replaced by the flag of that country.

The Vice President of the United States also has his own distinct limousine which is manufactured by Cadallic and it is currently a 2001 DeVille model. It is similar to Cadallic One but instead flys the Vice Presidential Flag and bears the Vice Presidential Seal on the rear doors. It is not known if it too is transported wherever the Vice President goes or only operates in the Washington DC area.