Johannesburg, 16 November, 2020 – The Audi Q7 has just undergone an all-round update – both visually and technically. The large SUV now features the new design of the Q family and offers superb dynamics and excellent comfort, in addition to its superior spaciousness. The updated digital operating interior concept and the full suite of Audi connect services are just some of its new highlights. The new Audi Q7 is now currently available for sale in South Africa.


Robust look: the exterior design

The Audi Q7 demonstrates the hallmark SUV elements of the current design language. It bears the large octagon-shaped Singleframe, with six upright slats providing the structure. As such, the SUV looks even more powerful. The two-part side air inlets have a much more expressive line, just like the sill area that underscores the large SUV’s ground clearance and, in turn, its off-road capabilities. The headlights, optionally in Matrix LED technology, emphasize with their contour and light signature the width of the full-size model. On the restyled rear, a striking chrome strip creates the visual connection between the flat rear lights with their technical-looking graphics and carries forward the horizontal body line. The designers achieved the clear view with taut, flat surfaces, which span the entire width particularly in the license plate region. The Audi Q7 is even more striking in the S line model with enhanced exterior accents: A blade in the front bumper, radiator grille in titanium black with vertical slats in aluminium sliver matte, sportily accentuated underbody protection at the rear along with full paint finish, high gloss package, roof rails in aluminium and 20-inch wheels which come standard.


Sporty on road, powerful off: the suspension

Audi has substantially enhanced the dynamic facets of the Q7. The optimized all‑wheel steering allows the rear wheels to turn as much as five degrees in the opposite direction. As such, the Audi Q7 is maneuverable, precise and agile in urban traffic and on hairpin bends. In contrast, the Q7 behaves as a highly comfortable, poised touring SUV with excellent ride comfort on freeways – particularly in conjunction with the optional adaptive air suspension. It also provides variable ground clearance and prepares the Audi Q7 with its standard quattro drive for terrain off the beaten track. The relevant off-road mode can be selected via the standard Audi drive select dynamic handling system with its seven profiles.


The drivetrain

There is one diesel engine in the local model range line up. It is coupled to an eight-speed tiptronic and permanent all‑wheel drive. The Audi Q7 45 TDI quattro tiptronic produces 183 kW of power and 600 Nm of torque. It accelerates the large SUV from a standstill to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 225 km/h.


Luxury-class lounge: the interior

Whether with five or seven seats – the Audi Q7 combines immense prestige with practical everyday qualities. Through its new design, the large SUV has now grown eleven millimetres to 5,063 millimetres long. It measures 1,970 millimetres wide and 1,741 millimetres (including roof aerial) high. The Audi Q7 outdoes its direct competitors with interior length as well as headroom and elbow room in the front and rear. A host of storage compartments, a new compartment in the instrument panel as well as the high load capacity provide functional utility value.

Depending on the position of the rear seat backs the luggage compartment on the five-seater version offers between 865 and 2,050 litres of capacity – the latter with a flat load area. An electric tailgate is standard including foot-activated gesture control. Audi optionally supplies the rear seat bench plus as part of the Comfort Package; all three seats can be moved individually fore/aft and the backrest angle adjusted, upgradable to a third seat row with two electrically lowerable seats which turns the Q7 into a comfortable 7-seater.

The cockpit architecture harmonizes perfectly with the new, digital operating concept, which incorporates two large touchscreens. They provide haptic and acoustic feedback when clicking on the touch controls. When off, the top display slots almost invisibly into the large black decorative surface. All elements refer logically to one another, from the flat air vent strip to the wide console on the centre tunnel. The optional contour ambient lighting package illuminates the interior in the dark. Convenient equipment options include four-zone automatic air conditioning (standard), a power-assist function to close the doors quietly and the Bang & Olufsen 3D Premium Sound System.


High-end connectivity: Audi connect

The standard MMI navigation plus delivers top-of-the-line connectivity. It features an embedded SIM, a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice control and the extensive Audi connect portfolio. The latter ranges from online traffic information, point of interest search, navigation with Google Earth and live weather updates. The Audi connect functionality also includes Car2X services which consists of standard safety and service features in the event of damage, breakdown or minor accidents. This functionality (through a built-in emergency button in the vehicle’s roof module) allows an emergency safety or service call to an Audi call centre to support in any event. Additional functionality, accessible through the MyAudi application, includes remote functions that network the new Audi Q7 with the driver’s smartphone. This includes car finder, remote lock/unlocking, speed and theft alerts, to mention a few. The all-digital and standard Audi virtual cockpit Plus – and the optional head-up display – provide an enhanced digitalised cabin environment.


Local packages: offering simplicity

The new Audi Q7 will offer the package concept as introduced on other new models launched in South Africa. The concept aims to reduce complexity when ordering a new vehicle, considering that a customer is generally faced with a long list of options to choose from. It classifies key options according to a specific customer need and offers a straight-forward value proposition that is easy for a customer to understand. These packages have been defined by a combination of customer preferences as well as strategic options which aim to highlight the vehicle’s uniqueness.


The packages include:

Comfort

Black styling

S line interior

Within each package structure is a few options suited to the particular proposition. Please visit the Audi website to find out more.


Market introduction and pricing

The Audi Q7 is now currently available for sale at all Audi Dealerships in South Africa.

The model range is priced as follows:


Audi Q7 45 TDI quattro tiptronic R 1,328,500

Audi Q7 45 TDI quattro S line tiptronic R 1,388,500

Both models come standard with the 5 year / 100 000km Audi Freeway plan, inclusive of all taxes.