Audi may not have any current plans to offer the monster R8 V12 TDI it showed in Detroit to consumers, but that doesn’t mean the 12-cylinder oil burner is going to waste. We first saw Audi’s 6L V12 diesel mounted in a Q7 V12 TDI concept at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and now it looks like it will be heading to showrooms. Volkswagen’s southern branch will be offering the Q7 V12 TDI quattro to customers with enough cash, although exactly how much lettuce will be needed is unknown at this point. Audi plans to start taking pre-orders for the 758 lb-ft, all-wheel-drive seven-seater in the second half of this year. The Germans also haven’t said if U.S. dollars will be acceptable for the transaction or Euros will be required.

What we do know is that mind-boggling torque figure and the 500 hp peak coming from the V12 oil burner. Even in this large, high-riding SUV, that should be enough to reach 62 mph in 5.5 seconds while going nearly 20 miles on each U.S.-sized gallon of diesel. Transferring that much torque to the asphalt will be the job of four 20-inch wheels, while dissipating speed shall be executed by clamping down on four carbon ceramic rotors. The front calipers have eight pistons each while the rears get by with four. Occupants of the Q7 will get to watch the sky whiz by from any seating position thanks to the optional glass roof, as well. Befitting what will undoubtedly be one of the priciest SUVs on the planet, the interior is done up in all kinds of special materials like bits of carbon fiber and aluminum. We can’t wait to try this beastie out on our favorite roads.

[Por: AutoBlog]

The Geneva Motor show promises to have plenty of green products on display, and Saab intends to join the fun with its 9-X BioHybrid concept, which we previously thought would be called the 9-1X. We already know the 9-X BioHybrid will draw heavily from the styling cues of the Aero X and the 9X concepts, and now we’re getting the scoop on the eco-friendly powerplant of the wagon/hatch.

World Car Fans Finland is reporting that the 9-X BioHybrid will draw motivation from a turbocharged 1.4L BioPower engine. As was the case with the 9-4X from Detroit, the 9-X will be E85-capable, and even though the engine’s four cylinders have the collective volume of a Super Big Gulp, it will still deliver 200 hp. If a small powerplant and corn power doesn’t deliver enough oil relief, the 9-X BioHybrid will also receive assistance from some form of a hybrid battery pack. We’ll deliver more details on the 9-X BioHybrid on Monday, so stay tuned.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Chrysler president Jim Press saw what hybrid technology did for Toyota, and now the 37-year auto industry vet wants to repeat that success with the Pentastar brands. Press informed attendees at a seminar in New York recently that Chrysler would one day utilize hybrid power in each and every Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep. Of course, the charismatic exec had no timetable for Chrysler’s full immersion into the land of hybrid hyperbole, but we would guess that kindergarteners may be ready for college by the time this happens. Before Press finished, he also mentioned an intention to sell as many Chryslers in other markets as the Auburn Hills-based company sells in the States.

While it’s easy to kick Chrysler when it’s down, the privately-owned company has to aim high or it won’t have much of a chance. From the day Press entered Chrysler’s hallowed halls, he’s had a consistent message that the company would have plenty of alternative powertrains for its vehicles. Maybe we’ll see Press one day driving down Woodward in a Dodge Zeo. OK, probably not.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Auto Bild has decided to “help” Volkswagen introduce the VW Golf TDI Hybrid concept that the automaker will be unveiling in Geneva a few days from now. So, how does it look? Pretty impressive. The car mates a 75 PS (74 HP) 3-cylinder TDI (presumably the 1.4L used in the Polo BlueMotion), a 27 horsepower electric motor and a 7-speed DSG to average 69 mpg (3.4l/100km) in the European cycle with carbon dioxide emissions of just 90 g/km. The electric motor is powered by a trunk-mounted NiMH battery. Based on the Google Translation of the page, we glean that the Golf TDI Hybrid is a full hybrid capable of running on electric power, diesel power or a combination of the two. It also uses regenerative braking, a stop/start system, and one of those energy monitor videogame screens that gives you a graphical representation of the powertrain’s activity. Visually, the car sports a new Vivid Blue finish and employs narrower grillework, a lowered suspension, and low-rolling-resistance rubber to help maximize aerodynamics and fuel economy. We’ll bring you full details from the show next week.

[Source: AutoBlog]