New eco-focused Audi Q7

Audi has announced that a lower-priced and more fuel efficient Q7 is to join its big 7-seater SUV range, with an entry-level price of £39,995 and best quoted economy of 39.2mpg, and CO2 at 189/g/km. Not bad for a 204bhp, 3-litre V6 motor with the unenviable task of hauling Audi’s grandest SUV.

Lifted from the A6, the diesel V6’s camshaft timing, turbocharger and high pressure common-rail system have been Audi-optimized with fuel efficiency front of mind. Using up to 450Nm of torque through an 8-speed tiptronic transmission, the latest V6 TDI achieves 62mph in a respectable 9.1secs and can march on to a 127mph top speed. 

As is the norm for the biggest Audis, a quattro permanent four-wheel drive system sends the grunt in a 40 / 60, front / rear split to all four corners, and combined with the model’s standard 5-mode air suspension that offers up to 240mm of ground clearance, should see even the most frightening of speedbumps looking for more rewarding work. 

As we’ve come to expect from Audi, the new Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 204PS can be bought in a whole host of different trim guises. Starting at £39,995 for the 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic Standard, on to £42,960 for the 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic SE, £44,620 for the 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic S line, and topped off with the £49,120 3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic S line Plus. 

And by way of temptation, it’s the S line Plus that really gets the goodies, including metallic paint, 21-inch alloys, Verano leather upholstery, privacy glass, hard disc-based sat-nav with Google Earth mapping, in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, Audi Music Interface iPod connection, powered tailgate operation, Audi Parking System Advanced with reversing camera, and some nostalgic-sounding running boards. The more sippy Q7 can be ordered now. 

www.audi.co.uk


By Daniel Anslow

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