Audi has revealed the next-generation Q7 SUV ahead of the much-anticipated official debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month.
The second-generation Q7 will roll onto dealership lots next year as a 2016 model. It’s been completely restyled, though it still has the same silhouette as the model it’s replacing.
The biggest update lies under the sheet metal. The Q7 is the first SUV that uses Volkswagen’s new MLB Evo platform and, as a result, it is significantly lighter in weight than the original Q7.
In the 3.0-litre TDI trim, the Q7 is a healthy 716.5 pounds lighter than the first-gen model. Now weighing 4,398 pounds, the 2016 TDI model is one of the lightest options among premium seven-seat SUVs. The SUV is also 1.5 inches shorter and 0.6 of an inch narrower.
Despite the weight loss and smaller dimensions, the most remarkable aspect is that the Q7 is actually more spacious than ever before. There is an additional 0.8 inches between the first and second rows and headroom has increased by 1.6 inches and 0.9 inches in the first and second rows respectively.
Under the hood, there are three engine options that will debut with the SUV, all matched to an eight-speed S tronic automatic transmission. There will be two gasoline models and a single diesel model that will hit North American shores.
There will also be a second TDI model launched later in the year, but it’s unlikely to make it across the pond. What is expected to make the journey, however, is the Q7 e-tron quattro model. This will be a plug-in hybrid that matches a 3.0-litre TDI engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 373 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. This will be the most efficient and quickest of the bunch.
There is also a long list of updates that have been made to the exterior and interior of the Q7. Audi has equipped this vehicle with the most up-to-date technology features available, and the list of driver assistance systems lengthens as well. Audi also says that new, more advanced systems will be coming soon.
The 2015 Detroit Auto Show opens its doors to the public on January 12. One of the biggest highlights is the upcoming reveal of Volkswagen’s new crossover, but we’re sure there will be many more.
