2015 Audi Q7: second-gen luxury SUV spied up close

Snapped from afar by CarAdvice’s spy photographers back in August, the latest Audi Q7 shots clearly show sleeker headlights and LED daytime running lights up front, along with revised lower air intakes and new wing mirrors. A revised grille remains hidden beneath heavy black mesh and camouflage.

From the rear, a more upright tailgate, topped with a smaller spoiler, joins new LED tail-lights and a lower, smoother rear bumper.

Believed to be based on an extended-wheelbase version of the platform underpinning the new Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne and upcoming Bentley SUV, the new Q7 is expected to match the current seven-seater’s basic dimensions while shedding some 400kg.

Still unconfirmed, a range of turbo-diesel and supercharged V6 engines are anticipated to again power Audi’s biggest SUV.

Audi Australia managing director Andrew Doyle has previously confirmed that a yet-to-be-seen Q7 e-tron variant – taking advantage of hybrid technology seen in the A1 e-tron concept and A3 e-tron production car – would be shown before the six-year-old current-generation model is replaced in late 2015.

Receiving a facelift in 2009, the first-generation Audi Q7 has been on sale in Australia since 2006.

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