New Audi Q7 spied on test in India again

The next generation model of Audi’s flagship SUV, the Q7 has been spied on test yet again, this time by Shifting-Gears.com. Like before, the SUV was caught on camera while negotiating through the streets of Mumbai. 

The new Q7 recently made its public debut at the 2015 Detroit Motor Show. While it may look all too familiar, the new Q7 is now a whopping 325kgs lighter and roughly 26 per cent more efficient than the outgoing model.  Thanks to an all-new chassis and multi-material body composition, the Q7 now weighs less than 2 tonnes. 

The SUV’s exterior reflects Audi’s new design philosophy which now sees its cars moving away from rounded edges to sharper features. Inside, the steering, instrument panel and climate control system are all new while the screen has moved from being in the dashboard to the top of it and has now also become larger as well. It now uses Audi’s latest MMI system while offering support for Android Auto as well as Apple Car Play.

Under the hood, the Q7 is being offered with the 3.0-litre TDI which in higher spec models produces 272bhp and 600Nm of torque. It is available in a lower spec configuration where it produces 218bhp and 500Nm of torque. On the petrol front, there’s a 3.0-litre unit that produces 333bhp and 440Nm of torque. The India-bound models are expected to be offered with 3-litre petrol and diesel engine options to maintain optimum balance between performance and efficiency. 

The old Q7 has been around since 2006 and up till now, it has managed to cement its position among the best-selling full-size luxury SUVs. However, it does now feel a little traditional due to the advent of new rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Naturally, this comprehensive makeover was due and Audi India is now hard at work reading the new Q7 for an official launch later this year.

Source: Shifting-Gears