Life with a V12 Audi Q7 6.0-litre SUV reappraised

Now here

’ s a blast from the past: a 2.6-tonne SUV powered by Audi’ s 6.0-litre, 500 horsepower diesel V12. So what did Matt Prior make of his new daily driver?

Walnut bedding comes with the £44,350 Exclusive Concept pack

This V12 was originally planned for the R8 supercar, and Audi made a concept version – the V12 TDI Le Mans. We drove it and were impressed, but Audi couldn’t make the sums for productionising it add up. It didn’t matter, then, but doesn’t it seem a pity? You’ll need plenty of time and money to fill the 5934cc tank

AUDI Q7 V12 TDI QUATTRO AUTO

Price £154,175 (2012) Engine V12, 5934cc, turbocharged, diesel Power 493bhp at 3750rpm Torque 737lb ft at 1750rpm Gearbox 6-spd automatic, 4WD Kerb weight 2635kg 0-62mph 5.5sec Top speed 155mph Economy 25mpg CO2, tax band 298g/km, 37% Rivals Porsche Cayenne Turbo, VW Touareg V10 TDI

It’s quiet and laid-back, if not undemanding

It’ s still pulling strong when, oh, hello, now I know why carbonceramic discs were standard

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FANCY BUYING YOUR OWN?

To say the Audi Q7 V12 TDI had limited appeal in the UK would be to overstate its success at the time. It’s said that over four years only 50 found homes here – which is probably no surprise, given not just the cost but also that if you wanted a fast SUV, Porsche sold a brilliant quick Cayenne, while a V10 diesel Volkswagen Touareg was the understated powerful 4x4 choice in a market segment not known for huge sales figures.

Today, while howmanyleft.co.uk can’t guarantee absolute accuracy (if it doesn’t say ‘Q7 V12 TDI Quattro Auto’ on the V5, it won’t show up on the database), there are at least 28 of them still around – a couple imported and registered later than the official off-sale date and at least six notified as off-road.

As I write, there’s only one for sale in the classifieds: a lefthooker with 125,000 miles on it for £40,000, though that’s double what one was going for with similar mileage four years ago.

So the V12 TDI’s earlier catastrophic depreciation might not have just passed – it could be becoming a future classic. I can see why.