Audi has finally unveiled the second-generation Q7 SUV. The new Q7 will be shown to the audience for the first time at the upcoming 2015 Detroit Motor Show.
The new Audi Q7 is 325kg lighter than its predecessor in its 328bhp supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol version tipping the scales at 1,970kg. The new Q7 has gone through a detailed weight reduction exercise that has seen as much as 100kg cut from its suspension, an additional 71kg from its body, and around 24kg via the adaption of aluminium doors alone. It also features a new architecture for its electricals and refinements to the floorplan that now uses a greater amount of hot-formed high-strength steel and aluminum. The updated Q7 boasts an evolutionary appearance, the front gets a new bold single-frame grille which is similar to the recently updated Q3 SUV. It comes with heavily defined wheel arches, tauter surfacing and a more prominent shoulder and other crease lines within the flanks in order to make it look less bulky. It also features various aerodynamic refinements including the extensive usage of underbody cladding on some models, and elements within the grille that automatically close to reduce wind turbulence when the engine bay doesn’t require cooling. The new Audi Q7 comes as standard with 18-inch wheels.
The new Audi Q7 is 5,050mm long, 1,970mm wide and 1,740mm tall, which makes it 370mm shorter and 15mm narrower than its predecessor when underpinned by its standard steel-sprung suspension setup. Its wheelbase has also been reduced by 10mm and now stands at 2,990mm. Despite the reduction in external dimensions, the Q7’s interior offers greater accommodation than the earlier car. It is still a seven seater, but interior has been significantly altered. The new Q7’s interior has 21mm more between the front and second rows of seats, together with 41mm and 23mm more headroom respectively. The third row offers 24mm more headroom and 20 mm more shoulder room than before. Audi is planning to position the new Q7 at a more upmarket level, and the new model adapts contemporary dashboard styling with minimal switchgear, free-standing infotainment monitor, a digital instrument cluster, similar to the one seen in the latest TT, and a prominent centre console with newly designed MMI controller and gear selector.
The new Audi Q7 will be sold globally with the following engines.
• A 3.0-litre EU6 compliant V6 diesel engine good for 268bhp.
• A 3.0-litre (Ultra) V6 diesel engine good for 215bhp.
• A 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine good for 328bhp.
• A 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor good for 249bhp.
The second-generation Audi Q7 is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, which consists of a combination of hot-formed, high-strength steel and aluminum as part of its weight reduction programme.
The same underpinnings will be used for the following Volkswagen Group SUVs in future.
• New Volkswagen Touareg.
• New Porsche Cayenne.
• Bentley Falcon .
• Lamborghini Urus.
The new Audi Q7 is expected to make its India debut sometime in the latter part of 2015.
Rivan RS 
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
