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Audi Q7: Second-generation SUV revealed with 325kg weight drop

The second-generation Audi Q7 has been unveiled and detailed after leaked images of the production-ready car appeared on the internet.


Overall, the second-generation Q7 measures 5.05 metres from front to rear, stands 1.74m tall, is 1.97m wide and sits on a 2.99m wheelbase. Although the new car is shorter and narrower than the first-generation Q7, Audi claims that the new car not only offers more headroom, but also features a longer cabin.

The new Q7's engine is installed lower down, and this has helped to move the centre of mass 50mm closer to the ground.

Thanks to the use of ultra-high-strength steel, and the extensive use of aluminium at the front and the rear of the car, weight is down substantially. Equipped with a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6, the new Q7 tips the scales at 1995 kilograms or 325kg less than the outgoing version.

The squarer-looking second-generation Q7 is said to be very aerodynamic for a large SUV. With an underbody that's almost completely lined, the new Q7 boasts a co-efficient of drag of just 0.32.

Depending on the depth of the buyer's pockets the headlights flanking the car's thickly bordered single-frame grille can be equipped with either xenon, LED or matrix LED headlights; top-spec models feature dynamic turn signals.

The interior can be equipped with LED ambient lighting, a second row pew with reclining seat backs that can also be tipped forward for easy third row access, a sliding and fold-flat third row of seats, rear privacy blinds, a heated windscreen, and a 12.3-inch dynamic LCD instrumentation screen.

All Q7s are fitted with a think air vent strip that stretches the entire width of the passenger's side, similar to the setup seen on the next-generation Volkswagen Passat, as well as a dashboard with a minimal number of buttons.

As far as entertainment and navigation is concerned, the Q7 comes has a standard 7-inch or optional 8.3-inch central screen; navigation-equipped car can have their maps updated via LTE.

Buyers can also equip the front seat backs with 10.1-inch Android tablets, each of which has 32GB of on-board storage for apps, movies and music, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity to the car's main MMI system and most of its functionality.

In the seven-seat version of the Q7, boot space is rated at 295 litres with all seats in use, and at 770L with the rear pew folded down flat. The five-seat Q7 can hold 890L worth of gear in the trunk when the second row is upright.

Standard inclusions in Europe extend to rear parking sensors, cruise control with speed limiter, and automated emergency braking at city speeds.

Options include a powered tailgate with kick-to-open functionality, four-wheel steering, surround view camera system, automated parking assistant, blind spot monitoring that includes cyclist detection when passengers are about open their doors, active cruise control, lane keeping assistance, pre-emptive speed warnings prior to tight corners, night vision, and traffic sign recognition

There's also an power trailer hitch with trailer assistant, which allows Q7s equipped with the optional air suspension system to haul up to 3.5 tonnes worth of gear.

At launch the second-gen Q7 will be available with two engines: a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol.

The 200kW/600Nm V6 turbo-diesel can complete the 0-100km/h dash in 6.3 seconds, hit a top speed of 234km/h, is said to drink 5.7L/100km and emit 149g/km of CO2. A low-power 160kW/500Nm version of this engine will be available later in Europe.

The V6 turbocharged petrol motor develops 245kW of power and 440Nm of torque, which is good for a 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds, a top speed of 250km/h, an EU fuel economy rating of 7.7L/100km and CO2 emissions of 179g/km. According to Audi, a 184kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder will also be available down the track across Asia and North America.

All variants will be equipped with an eight-speed torque converter automatic hooked up to the company's quattro all-wheel drive system. Under normal circumstances the Q7's mechanical centre differential splits power 40:60 between the front and rear wheels; in extreme cases as much as 70 per cent of the power can be directed to the front wheels and 85 per cent to the rear.

Coming on-stream not too much after the car's launch will be a diesel plug-in hybrid variant, which will be known as the Q7 e-tron quattro, and produces a total of 275kW of power and 700Nm of torque. With a full battery, the plug-in Q7 has a claimed electric-only range of 56km and should return an official EU fuel consumption rating of 1.7L/100km.

The Q7 goes on sale across Europe during the second quarter of 2015. We're waiting to hear back from Audi Australia as to when the new SUV will arrive in local showrooms.

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