Audi Q7: Luxury SUV For Sailing

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Audi Q7: Luxury SUV For Sailing
Audi Q7: Luxury SUV For Sailing

Video: Audi Q7: Luxury SUV For Sailing

Video: Audi Q7: Luxury SUV For Sailing
Video: 2020 Audi Q7 - Large And Practical Luxury SUV 2024, March
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The new Audi Q7 will be in dealerships in September. Then the upper-class SUV from Ingolstadt will also be on the road with a mild hybrid.

When Audi launched the current Q7 in 2015, it was hard to imagine that the flagship SUV could no longer be up to date. Because everything was state-of-the-art at the time: engines, comfort, controls, infotainment. What more do you want?

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But developments, especially in terms of electrification and connectivity, are progressing faster than many would like. And the competitors Mercedes and BMW have even brought a new generation of their SUVs to the road with the X5 and GLE.

Facelift for an existing model

One more reason for the Ingolstadt-based premium brand to add more quickly. But until the successor to the Q7 comes, buyers have to be satisfied with an update of the existing model, known in the industry as a facelift. This turned out to be relatively generous with the Q7. The designers especially took on the face of the maxi SUV. Thanks to the other grill and the flatter laser light headlights, everyone immediately recognizes: Attention! Here comes the new Q7. At the rear, attempts were made to visually emphasize more width, once with a thick, transverse chrome clasp and second with a modified tailgate and new LED taillights in 3D optics.

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A lot also happened under the sheet metal. When the refreshed Q7 has its market launch in September, all engines will be equipped with mild hybrid technology. A belt starter generator (RSG) helps accelerate and generates electricity as soon as you take your foot off the accelerator or brake. This should help to save fuel in short-haul traffic. In addition, hybridization enables “sailing”. The Q7 can glide between 55 and 160 km / h for up to 40 seconds without the diesel engine running, powered only by the electric motor.

Entry with 231 hp

The entry into the world of the Q7 is the 45 TDI, a three-liter diesel with 231 hp. It costs from 66,900 euros. Above that is the 50 TDI, which is basically the same engine, only with 286 hp. The Ingolstadt-based company offers the SQ7 as the top diesel. It has a four-liter V8 diesel engine with 435 hp under the hood. Shortly after the dealership launch, Audi wants to submit the 55 TFSI, a three-liter petrol engine with 340 hp, but which should be an exception for us. Diesel is simply the most economical form of transportation in this segment. As an alternative, the plug-in variant planned for 2020 could at most keep up. Here, an electric motor and a V6 TFSI form the drive unit. The Q7 should be able to hum electrically for over 50 kilometers.

The 50 TDI was available for a first driving impression. It quickly becomes apparent how well the three-liter diesel fits the character of the car. 600 Newton meters of torque are an announcement. Harmony in perfection, to which the silky-soft eight-speed Tiptronic also contributes.

The calm, comfort and more precise steering are just as positive. The engineers have revised the air suspension and fine-tuned it. Overall, the Q7 looks more balanced and more active to drive, its weight of over two tons is not noticeable, but its handiness all the more. The fact that after our mixed test drive on the on-board computer there is still a seven before the decimal point shows the high efficiency of the combination of diesel and mild hybrid.

New cockpit like in the Q8

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In the meantime, today's Q7 may seem a bit old-fashioned in the cockpit, especially if you use the Q8 as a direct comparison. Since both are technically based on the same platform and the structure behind the dashboard is the same, Audi decided to use the ultra-modern black panel cockpit of the Q8 in the new Q7, including the latest electronics architecture. These include, for example, WiFi hotspot, natural language recognition and the Amazon voice service Alexa.

The Q7's ample space remains unchanged. At 5.06 meters, it easily outperforms its direct competitors, so it can also set the tone in the interior for almost all important dimensions. On request, there is a rear bench seat that can be moved lengthways plus a third row of seats that can be lowered. As a five-seater, the Q7 offers an impressive 865 liters of luggage volume, which even exceeds the 2,000-liter mark with the backrests laid flat and thus offers more cargo space than the best estate cars in the luxury class. (SP-X)

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