Audi has officially unveiled the facelifted Q7 and SQ7, giving the SUVs a revised look and additional technology.
Audi South Africa confirmed to TopAuto that the Q7 will launch domestically in the fourth quarter of 2024, but that it cannot yet confirm which models are planned for a local introduction.
The revised Q7 is among eight new vehicles that the German automaker has planned for the country this year, the others being special-edition models of the A3, A4, A5, Q2, Q3, and Q5, as well as the facelifted Q8.
Features
The new Q7 and SQ7’s makeover includes several subtle changes to its exterior, including a revised grille, headlights, and colour-framed air intakes.
The Audi Singleframe, with its octagon design, now has vertical inlays with a teardrop shape on the base car and an L shape on the S line and SQ7.
The company has reduced the number of decorative elements to give the Q7 a more purist look, though the front bumper, door trim, and diffuser now come in contrasting colours to differentiate the base version from the S Line – the latter of which also receives accentuated front intakes to give it a sportier appearance.
There is an optional Black and Black Plus package that adds new accents to components like the window frames and the front and rear bumpers, too.
The SQ7, meanwhile, has a honeycomb grille with aluminium accents for the side mirrors, frame inlays, and side air intakes.
Another new addition is a set of OLED taillamps that are fitted to the Q7 for the first time, and complement the revised LED headlights and daytime running lights up front that are positioned higher than before.
Matrix LED headlights are also available as an option, which use 24 LEDs with a high-power laser and are recognizable thanks to an added blue ambient light incorporated into the headlamp. The headlight laser becomes active above 70km/h and significantly improves the high beam’s range.
There are three new paint options as well, namely Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red, and five alloy wheel choices ranging from 19 to 22 inches in size with a Black Metallic, Gray Silk Matte or diamond-cut Black Metallic finish.
Looking inside, the base Q7’s seats now have a grey contrasting stitch pattern, and the interior inlays are available in nine colour combos thanks to the addition of Natural Elm Burl Silver, Matte Carbon Twill, and Matte Brushed Aluminum.
The Audi Virtual Cockpit has been upgraded, allowing it to display the functions of the advanced assistance systems including lane-change warnings, other road users, follow-distance warnings, intersection assist, and traffic light info.
Other new additions include aluminium roof rails, a rearview camera with parking assist plus, a comfort centre armrest, and third-party app support for the car’s operating software.
Performance
Starting off the Q7 drivetrain selection is the 45 TDI quattro, a 3.0-litre, V6 diesel engine with 170kW and 500Nm that enables the SUV to reach 100km/h in 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 226km/h.
A more powerful version, the 50 TDI, boosts output to 210kW and 600Nm which reduces the acceleration time to 6.1 seconds and raises the top speed to 241km/h.
The 55 TFSI, meanwhile, uses a 3.0-litre, V6 turbocharged petrol plant with 250kW and 500Nm, cutting its 0-100km/h time down to 5.6 seconds with an electronically-capped speed of 250km/h.
All of the Audi’s V6 engines are connected to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system.
Every engine also receives assistance from a 48V mild-hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery, which reduces average fuel consumption by 0.5l/100km, said the company.
Adding to this is an ability where the car can coast for up to 40 seconds with the engine turned off at speeds between 55-160km/h when the driver takes their foot off the brake, and a stop/start function that operates below 22km/h.
Looking at the SQ7, it features all-wheel steering and electronically-controlled air suspension with a continuously adaptive damping system, which is available as an extra for the Q7.
This system has a Lift function that can raise the ground clearance by 60mm at low speeds, and the all-wheel steering can reduce the turning radius by one metre while improving stability at high speeds.
The SQ7 is the only model powered by a 4.0-litre, V8, turbo-petrol engine with 373kW and 770Nm, which like the Q7, is mated to an eight-speed gearbox and a permanent quattro AWD system.
This gives the otherwise bulky vehicle a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds, while its top speed is limited to 250km/h once again.
Accentuating the driving experience are active tailpipes that can modulate its sound depending on the engine’s load and speed.
With an optional advanced suspension package, the high-performance model gains two multi-disc clutches that shift torque between the rear wheels depending on the situation, helping to minimize understeer and improve traction.
Control is aided by active roll stabilization (eAWS) which incorporates a 1.5kW electric motor on each axle that functions independently when the car is moving straight, but can rotate in opposite directions in corners to prevent leaning.
More information on the new Audi Q7 and SQ7, such as the South African model line-up and pricing, will be revealed closer to the fourth quarter of 2024.
Audi Q7
Audi SQ7
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