First Drive: 2017 Audi SQ7 TDI
In a word; technology.
That is what drives the latest—and most powerful—diesel SUV on the market, the 2017 Audi SQ7 TDI.
For starters, the SQ7 TDI produces a staggering 435 horsepower and a monstrous 663 lb.-ft. of torque from its twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre diesel V8.
It also features an industry first electric-powered compressor, which eliminates turbo lag by spooling the first of the sequential turbochargers to 70,000 rpm in about two tenths of a second.
It's not all about the power, though.
One of the more interesting pieces of tech is an electro-mechanical sway bar that is uncoupled on rough roads and locked during sportier driving.
There is also a 48-volt sub-system that uses a DC/DC converter to interact with the 12-volt system.
Having 48 volts on board helps with the various driving systems that simply can't be powered by 12 volts.
The interior is also nicely laid out and features all the materials and fit and finish you'd expect from Audi.
During my time behind the wheel in eastern France a few things became instantly apparent.
First, this is a quick vehicle—deceptively quick, actually.
All it takes is a light touch on the loud pedal before you're cruising at speeds that are, well, faster than you would expect.
It's also very quiet, though it can get loud when you use the drive mode selector to pick the Dynamic setting.
Through the twisty mountain sections around Mulhouse near the Swiss border the SQ7 was lights-out.
Fantastic launches out of hairpins brought massive smiles.
The braking and handling are on par with the power thanks in part to the all-wheel steering and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system that features a self-locking centre differential.
It was an absolute joy to drive, all while I averaged better than 10 L/100 km.
Canada won't see the Audi SQ7 TDI until mid-2017, but if you're in the market it's definitely worth the wait.