Audi is preparing a new diesel-powered, high-performance Q7 to hit the streets, but this time it won’t be a SUV of titanic proportions. Engine-wise, at least…

I’m talking about the upcoming performance-oriented SQ7, which we spotted rolling around in a camouflaged suit not so long ago. According to a leaked sheet document discovered by Autoblog.nl, the big twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre diesel V8 powering the SUV will develop 320 kW – That’s almost 430 horses.

Sure, it isn’t as exotic as the last range-topper – which had a Le Mans-inspired, 490 Hp, 1000 Nm (737 lb-ft) of torque, 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel engine under the bonnet – but judging by the specs, Audi’s new proposal for the Q7 puts it in a league of its own against the diesel-powered competition.

Furthermore, it looks like the German car manufacturer stays true to its diesel super-SUV recipe, and even though the new engine seems to be significantly down on displacement, power, possibly torque, and number of cylinders – compared to the previous model – the upcoming SQ7 will most likely run rings around the old V12 TDI variant thanks to its lighter chassis and improved dynamics.

That means the 0 to 100 Km/h (62 Mph) sprint-time could take less than 5.5 seconds, while the top speed could easily surpass the the 250 Km/h (155 mph) mark – if it won’t be limited.

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