While its exterior hardware benefits from a reboot, now combining crisper detailing with the latest design hallmarks such as Matrix LED headlights, the interior gains seven seats, adaptive air suspension and an array of standard features for all UK variants, which are equipped to Sport, S line, Black Edition, or top tier Vorsprung specifications. The car’s headlights emphasise the width, with their contours and light signature.
At the rear, a chrome strip connects the flat rear lights and carries the horizontal body line that includes taut, flat surfaces that span the entire width of the car. Alloy wheels measure 20.0-inches diameter on the S line, 21.0-inches on the Black Edition and 22.0-inches on the Vorsprung, with Sport specification using 19.0-inch wheels. Fortunately, the suspension dynamics have also been altered to give more precise handling. Adaptive air suspension provides variable ground clearance and prepares the Audi Q7 (standard quattro drive) for terrain off the beaten track.
All of Q7’s engines are coupled to an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox, with two diesels first, followed by a petrol unit, and then the plug-in hybrid model. Its central component, the belt alternator starter (BAS), powers a 48-volt main electrical system in which a compact lithium-ion battery stores the energy. During braking, the BAS can recover up to 8kW of power and feeds it back into the battery. If the driver eases off the accelerator at speeds of between 34mph and 99mph, the Audi Q7 recuperates energy, rolls at idle, or coasts for up to 40 seconds with the engine switched off. The start‑stop range begins at 13mph.
During the redesign, the large SUV has grown in length by 11mm to 5,063mm; it is 1,970mm wide (2,212mm, inc. mirrors) and 1,741mm high. The Q7 offers greater interior length as well as more head, hip and elbow room in the front and rear seats. Dependent on the position of the rear seat backs, its luggage bay (on the seven-seater), offers between 865 and 2,050 litres of capacity, with a flat load area. An electric tailgate is standard, with foot-activated gesture control, for easier opening. Both haptic and acoustic feedback now feature through the touchscreen controls.
Complementing the fully digitised instrumentation, the MMI navigation plus (standard across the range) delivers top-of-the-line connectivity by incorporating LTE Advanced, a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice control and the extensive Audi connect portfolio, opening up everything from online traffic information and navigation with Google Earth to hybrid radio. The cloud-based Amazon voice service, Alexa, is integrated into the operating system.
Vorsprung trimmed models benefit from convenience technology such as the Audi Phone Box that provides wireless charging for all enabled mobile phones, a head-up display, for vehicle speed and assistance system notifications, and a particularly extensive portfolio of automated driver assistance systems. The list covers all the bases, from side assist, lane assist, cross traffic assist rear and turn assist to camera-based traffic sign recognition and the predictive efficiency assistant promoting the most economical driving style.
