The German automaker Audi is working off the old maxim: “If you ain’t new, you’re through.” So only three years into the Q7’s life cycle Audi has given their premium full size SUV a face lift. Don’t worry if you can’t see the difference, because you’re not the only one. On the outside the new Q7 wears a slightly restyled grill, lights, mirrors, rocker panels and a new rear hatch. Meanwhile most of the new car’s interior remains much the same with the most noticeable upgrades being a few new wood bits and an upgraded satellite navigation system with a state of the art processor that is capable of delivering real life 3-D style maps and displays.
Audi hasn’t messed with the engine lineup for the U.S. market either with the 280 HP 3.6 Liter V6 and the 350 HP 4.2 Liter gas burning V8 as well as the 225 HP 3.0 Liter diesel V6 will power the North American Q7 range. Unfortunately for domestic luxury truck buyers the top of the line 500 HP 6.0 Liter V12 TDI remain a Europe only model. The 2010 Audi Q7 will be offered in three different trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus and Prestige, with prices ranging from $46,900 to $61,000.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
Press release
When it was first rolled out three years ago, the Audi Q7 performance SUV immediately achieved a leadership position – as a sporty, comfortable as well as high-performance recreational and business vehicle on a grand scale. Now Audi is making it even better – more elegant and more efficient, with lower emissions: the Q7 3.0 TDI consumes only 9.1 liters per 100 kilometers (25.85 US mpg). And now it’s also available in a new version as a TDI clean diesel, with the world’s cleanest diesel technology and even lower fuel consumption of only 8.9 liters/100 km (26.43 US mpg).
The Q7 is the large Audi for sporty individualists, for people who are seeking a vehicle that will take them anywhere they want to go for sports, recreation, and business. Its dynamic proportions and distinctive lines express this character, and subtle modifications endow its styling with even more elegance.
The design: The language of dynamics
At the front end, the large single-frame radiator grille has been redesigned. Vertical chrome bars contrast with its black high-gloss finish. The bumpers too have been restyled. Their lower section is now painted in a contrasting black or gray, depending on the body color. The newly integrated underbody protection in the center section of the bumper has a distinctive ribbed design.
3,6 liter V6 280 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque; 4.2 FSI V8 engine 350 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque; 3.0-liter diesel engine 225 hp and 406 lb-ft
As alternatives to the standard halogen headlights, Audi offers a xenon plus variant and a new adaptive-light system that integrates not only low-beam, high-beam and a special superhighway beam but also turning and cornering lights. In conjunction with the xenon headlights, light-emitting diodes assembled to form U-shaped bands provide the daytime running lights. The front blinkers are also composed of LEDs as straight-line arrays, located at the upper edge of the air intakes.
The side view too, with its coupe-like roofline, low window area and tautly curved body surfaces, reinforces the dynamic look of the Q7. Door moldings have been modified to add interest. The lightweight alloy wheels are size 7.5 J x 18, the wheels size 235/60. In the V6 vehicles they have seven spokes, in the V8 versions they have six.
At the rear end, the bumper has also been given two-tone paintwork; the tailgate, which includes a portion of the rear pillars in an S-shaped contour, has been given a new and distinctively 3D shape in the vicinity of the license plate bracket. To reduce the weight of the Q7, the tailgate has been made of aluminum, as have the engine hood and the fenders. Standard LEDs in the tail lights create a distinctive lighting pattern.
Eleven paint finishes for the Audi Q7 include four new shades: Ibis White, Graphite Gray, metallic, Teak Brown, metallic, and Orca Black, metallic. An aluminum exterior package is optionally available from Audi: gleaming chrome bars in the bumpers and door moldings; the lower portion of the bumpers is painted in the body color; the center portion of the front apron and the diffuser are painted in a contrasting shade.
The interior: Room to spare
Thanks to its luxurious 300-centimeter (118.11-inch) wheelbase within an overall length of 5.09 meters (16.70 feet), the Audi Q7 has interior room to spare, and the interior flexibility is unrivalled. The seatbacks in the second row are divided into three fold-down sections to provide a level cargo floor.
This increases the luggage space from a volume of 775 liters (27.37 cubic feet) to 2,035 liters (71.87 cubic feet). With the leather upholstery option, the middle seat now has an even more comfortable contour.
Two very useful features are optionally available: either a longitudinally displaceable second seat row or individual comfort seats that are separately displaceable. Another available option is a third row for passengers no taller than 1.60 meters (5.25 feet), combined with an improved easy entry function.
A multitude of detailed improvements in the interior enhance the elegance and the sense of well-being. The instrument cluster has been redesigned: the large, round, easily readable instruments are encircled by metallic frames. Interior lights in the door linings and an inlay on the passenger side enhance the interior styling. Many details of the control elements have been restyled and also enhanced by chrome elements.
The selection of interior colors and materials is also new. Upholstery fabrics are available in black and light gray; leather upholstery additionally also in Para Brown, Savannah Beige and Cardamon Beige. Standard inlays are finished in matt black. In optional design packages, aluminum and wood finishes are used.
The power train: Performance and efficiency
The Audi Q7 is available with six powerful and highly efficient direct injection engines, two of them gasoline-powered and four diesel engines, including the world’s most powerful diesel SUV, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI. Their power is transmitted via a convenient and fast-shifting six-speed tiptronic to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, which distributes it between the axles with slightly more than half to the rear.
0-60 mph in 8,5 seconds, 130 mph and 19.44 US mpg
The 3.0 TDI puts out 176 kW (240 bhp) and delivers as much as 550 Nm between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm, yet on the EU cycle it consumes only 9.1 liters / 100 km (25.85 US mpg). The optionally available 3.0 TDI clean diesel even consumes 0.2 liters (0.05 US gallons) less.
Despite highly complex exhaust gas recirculation and the resulting world’s cleanest diesel technology, it consumes just 8.9 liters/100 km (26.43 US mpg). It meets the strict LEV II Bin 5 US standard and already complies with the Euro 6 limits announced for 2014.
The technology of the TDI clean diesel is highly complex. An advanced version of the common rail injection system with 2,000 bars of pressure, new combustion chamber sensors and a high-performance exhaust recirculating system ensure a highly efficient combustion process. An innovative DeNOx catalytic converter reduces the remaining nitrogen oxides. Just upstream of it, a pump injects an additive named AdBlue into the hot exhaust flow, where this solution decomposes into ammonia, which splits the nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and water. Audi partners replenish the additive during regular maintenance servicing.
In the Q7 4.2 TDI too, fuel consumption has been drastically reduced – from 11.1 (21.19 US mpg) to 9.9 liters per 100 km (23.76 US mpg). Yet the V8 diesel is more powerful: with an output of 250 kW (340 bhp) and a torque of 760 Nm, it develops enormous propulsive power. This maximum torque is available in the range from 1,750 to 3,000 rpm.
At Audi, efficiency and dynamics go hand in hand. That’s also the case in gasoline engines. The 3.6 FSI, a V6 with a small cylinder angle, has a power output of 206 kW (280 bhp) and delivers 360 Nm between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. Its average fuel consumption is 12.1 liters per 100 km (19.44 US mpg). The 4.2 FSI, a V8, delivers 257 kW (350 bhp) and 440 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Its fuel consumption is 12.7 liters/100 km (18.52 US mpg).
A novel technology from the Modular Efficiency Platform further improves fuel efficiency in all the engines: the recovery system, which during braking and coasting phases converts mechanical energy into electric energy and buffer-stores it in the battery. It reduces CO2 emissions by up to 5 g/km (8.05 g/mile).
The chassis: Safe and sporty
In its suspension technology too the Audi Q7 is exceptional. As a customer option, Audi equips the Q7 with adaptive air suspension – a pneumatic suspension system that operates in conjunction with an electronic shock absorber control, varies the ground clearance at five different levels, and lets the driver select three driving modes: comfort, automatic and dynamic. In its road handling the Q7 excels in its sporty, highly responsive precision. Off-road, it provides a superior ride on widely varying terrains.
The choice of wheels ranges from 18 inches to the 10 J x 21 top version with 295/35 tires. Ten different designs are available, including two very elegant, high-luster, bicolor versions. Large brake discs provide superb deceleration – with 18-inch diameters front and rear.
Optionally available in the eight-cylinder models are carbon-fiber ceramic disk brakes which further enhance the dynamic character of this performance SUV: they are lighter than their steel equivalents, extremely abrasion-resistant and virtually fading-free. They achieve high driving performance and ensure short braking distances. The diameters of the ceramic discs are 420 millimeters (16.54 inches) in front and 370 millimeters (14.57 inches) at the rear. The calipers are black and adorned with the wording “Audi ceramic”. A total of 24 pistons are used on the front and rear axles.
The equipment: Luxury and high-tech
The Q7 comes with a splendid range of standard equipment. The speed-dependent servotronic steering system is standard, as is a double floor in the cargo area complete with a storage compartment and a dirt tray; there is also a roof rack, an automatic air conditioning system, and an MMI radio operating system complete with a CD audio player and eight loudspeakers.
The option program includes luxury features such as the remote key and four-zone automatic air conditioning. Another high-end option is the climate-controlled comfort seat, which can keep the body warm or cool it by means of small fans.
Particularly dynamic Q7 drivers may wish to consider one of two other quality option packages. The S line exterior package enhances the styling with details such as distinctive bumpers and a solid paint finish. The S line sports package includes a black interior, sport seats with Alcantara leather or Verano leather upholstery, aluminum trim (optionally in piano lacquer finish or birch grain wood), special exterior colors, 20-inch wheels, and a firmer setup for the steel spring suspension or the adaptive air suspension.
The Q7 also offers many intelligent solutions for the practical needs of everyday use – such as an electric luggage space cover, a reversible floor mat, a set of luggage rails, a removable ski bag, and a moveable storage box. The options program includes separation grids, an interior bicycle stand, various roof-mounted carriers, a distinctive off-road styling package, and a pivoting trailer hitch: this powerful SUV can tow up to 3.5 metric tons.
In the infotainment field, Audi provides a carefully differentiated selection of modules. The three optional systems are part of the new generation of Audi devices. The top-of-the-line version integrates a hard drive for navigation, music and telephone data, a high-resolution color monitor and 3D map graphics, a DVD player as well as voice control. It can be expanded into a luxury media center with features such as a Bluetooth telephone, a TV tuner, a digital radio tuner, plus rear seat entertainment. A very special highlight is the advanced sound system from Bang & Olufsen with its ten channels, 505 watts of power and 14 loudspeakers.
The range of optional equipment is rounded off by technologies from the luxury class. The radar-supported adaptive cruise control regulates the speed and the distance to the preceding vehicle in a range from 30 to 200 km/h (18.64 to 124.27 mph) by acceleration and deceleration. If a threat is detected, the integrated Audi braking guard warns the driver at two levels.
From a speed of 60 km/h (37.28 mph), Audi lane assist helps the driver stay in lane by means of a camera that recognizes the lane lines. Audi side assist ensures safe lane changes above 30 km/h (18.64 mph) with the aid of a radar system that monitors the traffic pattern within 70 meters (229.66 feet) behind the vehicle. Finally, the Audi parking system advanced assists parking by means of a rearview camera and reference lines on the onboard monitor.
Features: More from Audi
The 2010 Audi Q7 is available in three packages; the 3.6 Premium, equipped with a 3.6 FSI V6 engine, the TDI Premium with a TDI clean diesel engine and the 4.2 Premium, which boasts a 4.2 FSI V8 engine. All packages come equipped with a precise six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.
The 2010 Audi Q7 3.6 Premium comes standard with a wide array of features. Those include Electronic Stabilization Program® with Anti-Lock Brake System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and off-road mode. In off-road mode, ESP® includes Audi hill descent control. Hydraulic Brake Assist also is standard and provides an extra boost of braking power in an emergency situation. A standard tire pressure monitoring system provides an added level of driver information.
The exterior of the Q7 3.6 Premium benefits from standard LED taillights, contrastpainted lower body panels, and the signature gloss black Singleframe grille with vertical chrome accents. Brushed aluminum adorns the roof rails and side windows, and a power lift gate makes loading and unloading cargo easy. Inside, the driver receives a four-spoke multifunction steering wheel and a tilt/telescoping column. HomeLink® garage door opener, Bluetooth® hands free calling, and the world renowned Audi music interface with iPod® cable deliver added luxury and convenience, while the Audi MMI® Radio Plus allows the driver to control audio, climate and car setup with ease. Also standard, a driver information system provides a five-function trip computer, outside temperature, speed, and suspension information. Rain-sensing windshield wipers add to the level of driving ease inherent in the Q7 3.6 Premium as well.
The Q7 TDI Premium enjoys the same standard equipment as the Q7 3.6 Premium but makes use of TDI clean diesel engine and uses it as a differentiation strategy. Unique 19-inch five-arm V-cast alloy wheels, special badging, and a unique monochromatic full body paint finish with chrome accents distinguish this SUV from its gasoline-powered brothers.
The Q7 4.2 Prestige builds on the standard amenities of the Q7 3.6 Premium and the TDI Premium. The S line exterior package is standard, making the sporty intentions of the 4.2 buyer clear to all observers. Retractable headlight washers adorn the front of the vehicle, as do Audi xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running lights and turn signals. A massive three-panel panoramic sunroof pours light into the cabin, and the standard 20-inch alloy wheels allow a glimpse of the powerful six-piston front and four-piston rear ventilated braking system.
Inside, the tilt/telescopic steering wheel is electronically adjustable and features a memory function. An attractive wood shift knob is exclusive to the 4.2 model and replaces the leather unit on other models. A fully automatic, four-zone climate control system is standard equipment, and Advanced key allows the vehicle’s doors to be locked or unlocked and the vehicle started without the use of a physical key. Instead, the fob merely needs to be in the driver’s pocket. Audi MMI® Navigation plus also is standard, along with front and rear acoustic parking sensors and rearview camera, and comes with a seven-inch color display, allowing users to manipulate the climate control, instrument cluster, navigation and audio functions. A BOSE® sound system with AudioPilot® noise compensation delivers a 14-speaker audio experience. The Q7 4.2 Prestige also enjoys an eight-color driver information display.
Buyers also may chose from a number of convenience and technology packages to suit their needs. The 2010 Q7 is available with a Premium Plus package that includes BOSE® Surround Sound, a memory function for the driver’s seat, Audi parking system with rear view camera and navigation with third-generation MMI, among other options. A Prestige Package adds Audi side assist blind-spot awareness and 20-inch wheels. The Audi Q7 4.2 is offered exclusively in Prestige trim. On the 3.6 and TDI, buyers also may opt for a Warm Weather package, Cold Weather package and S Line sport package. A Luxury Package adds an Alcantara headliner in grey or beige and ventilated Cricket leather front seats.
3.0 TDI Premium with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$50,900
Premium
3.6 FSI Premium with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$46,900
Premium Plus
3.0 TDI Premium Plus with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$56,900
Premium Plus
3.6 FSI Premium Plus with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$52,900
Prestige
3.0 TDI Prestige with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$60,900
Prestige
3.6 FSI Prestige with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$56,900
Prestige
4.2 FSI Prestige with six-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro
$61,000
Packages
Package
Description
Price
Cold Weather Package
The Q7 Cold Weather Package includes features such as heated rear seats as well as a heated steering wheel, ensuring everyone is warm and comfortable
$500
Warm Weather Package
The Warm Weather Package includes a manual rear-side window and cargo sunshade as well as four-zone climate control, ensuring the driver and passengers of the Q7 are comfortable regardless of temperature
$1,150
S line Package
The Q7 S line Package offers a number of sporty upgrades that enhance the look and feel of your Q7. They include 20” S line wheels, integrated headlight washers and an assertive modified singleframe® grille, S line front and rear bumpers and side valances, S line badging, Brushed Aluminum inlays and a sporty multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles.
$2,000
Luxury Package
The Luxury Package offers an elegant look by adding an Alcantara® headliner, premium Cricket leather and ventilated front seats for extra comfort.
$3,500
Options
Option
Description
Price
Panorama Sunroof
The three-piece Panorama sunroof produces a unique, refreshingly airy driving experience and a light-filled interior atmosphere. Both front and rear glass elements can be tilted, and the front panel can be opened along a length of 19". The sunroof features a front power sunshade for automatic opening as well as a rear manual sunshade. Outstanding fresh-air comfort combines with excellent aeroacoustics, including a mesh wind deflector, for an extremely low noise buildup
$1,850
Towing Package
The Towing Package offers an outstanding 6600 lb. towing capacity as well as increased cooling capacity and trailer hitch
$550
All-weather Floor Mats and Trunk Liner
These precision-fit mats are made of long-life fabric to help protect the interior of your Audi from the elements. Skid-resistant. Available in Black. Set of four mats
$300
Rear side airbags
Rear side airbags offer the second-row outboard occupants enhanced impact protection. Airbags are supplemental restraints only and will not deploy under all accident circumstances. Always use safety belts and seat children only in the rear, using restraint systems appropriate for their size and age.
$350
Wheel Lock Kit
$80
Audi MMI® Navigation plus
Audi MMI® Navigation plus features a 7", full-color LCD screen and MMI® control logic. The Audi Q7 comes equipped with the latest generation of MMI®, powered by a 40-GB hard drive and an NVIDIA® processor to enhance graphics. This generation of MMI® offers 3D topography, including the buildings in many cities. A color driver information system, real-time traffic and navigation through audible route guidance and graphics are included.
$2,500
Running Boards
These stainless steel running boards make a strong style statement. They also make it easier to step in and out of your Audi Q7. Rubber pads reduce the risk of slipping.
$1,150
Audi Adaptive Air Suspension
Audi adaptive air suspension is an electronically controlled air suspension system at all four wheels with a continuously adaptive damping system. A lowering in ride height results in a lower center of gravity and significantly increased directional stability and sportier handling, while a higher ride height results in greater ground clearance and a more comfortable ride. Uniting sporty handling with a high level of ride comfort, air suspension improves the vehicle’s aerodynamics at the same time.
$2,600
Bang & Olufsen® Advanced Sound System
This 14-speaker sound system delivers more than 1000 watts of power and combines state-of-the-art technologies that include Acoustic Lens technology, proprietary Digital Signal Processing [DSP] and ICEpower digital amplification with a detailed study of the Audi Q7 interior. More than a sound system built into a car, the system is the ultimate driving and listening experience, a virtual concert hall on wheels.
"The Q7’s 3.0L diesel was also perfectly suited to Vancouver’s hilly roads. It may boast "only" 225 horsepower, not much in this world of mega-displacement, overly turbocharged 500-hp AMGs and M-massaged BMWs, but there is 406 pound-feet of torque on board, all of it available from as low as 1,750 rpm. The Q7 is, as the Scots would say, no small - in premium trim, it weighs in at 2,500 kilograms - but the moderate-displacement turbodiesel moves it all so effortlessly you’d swear there was a big-inch V8 under the hood. This is what Audi does best - making moderate-displacement engines (such as the gasoline-powered 2.0T) drive like they are much larger." (NationalPost)
A subtle, elegant approach defines the Q7. It’s not a brutish off-roader in the Land Rover vein, nor a monster truck like the bling-encrusted Cadillac Escalade. The Q7’s fastback shape is classy and stylish, with only a high ground clearance to give away the off-road appeal. Audi’s huge nose-to-ground grille dominates the front end, while sharp cutlines define the curvy body and athletic profile. The clean look-it’s actually a complex sculpture-integrates new LED taillamps, new headlamps and front and rear bumpers, and two-tone or body-color skirts, depending on the model chosen. The Q7’s richly appointed interior wears leather, suede, and wood well. It’s tightly integrated and attractively styled, with a generally uncluttered appearance save for some of the minor switches. (TheCarConnection)
The Porsche Cayenne is powered by a 3,6 liter six-cylinder engine with a total output of 290 hp at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 273 lb.-ft. at 3000 rpm. The top speed is 141 mph, and the price for the Cayenne starts at $ 45,500. The Cayenne S is powered by a 4.8 liters V8 engine with a total output of 385 hp at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 369 lb.-ft. at 3500 rpm. Prices for the Cayenne S start at $60,700.
There are three different US versions for the BMW X5:
X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive35d, and prices are ranging from $47,600 to $56,300. The X5 xDrive30i is powered by a 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine that develops 260 hp and is equipped with xDrive and all-wheel-drive system. The X5 xDrive48i is powered by a 4.8-liter V-8 engine with a total of 350 hp and the xDrive35d by a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with 265 hp.
The US market get three different versions of the Mercedes GL-Class: the GL350 BlueTEC, the GL450 and the GL 550, with prices ranging from $59,950 to $82,850. The GL350 is powered by a V6 diesel engine with an output of 210 hp, the GL450 by a V8 with 335 hp and the GL550 by a V8 engine that develops a total of 382 hp.
The 2010 Lincoln MKT is offered with a choice of two engines: a 3.7-liter V6 that delivers 268 hp at 6,500 RPM and 267 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,250 RPM; and a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 that delivers 355 hp at 5,700 RPM and 350 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,500 RPM. The car is on sale at a price starting from $44,200.
Conclusion
The Audi Q7 is for sure a car like no other. Of course is not the cheapest in its class, but if you ask us, is the most elegant one. It comes with an aggressive exterior styling, perfect for a large SUV, a finely trimmed interior, and for those of you with big families there is also a three-row seating. The car handles like no other and offers a great ride balanced. Of course that you can expect great fuel economy, we are talking about an SUV here, but if there are some environmentalist reminiscences in you, there is a diesel version for you.
Ya it’s a shame that Mercedes has gone and copied Audi with this one. BMW has it’s angel eyes, Audi has it’s R8 LEDs, and now Mercedes has its Audi S6 LEDs...
I dislike the trend of automakers forcing metal interior trim with the sport packages. I like the bigger wheels and the sporty exterior touches many of the packages provide, but 9/10 times I prefer the wood interior trim to the metal.
Posted on
03.30.2010 @ 19:56