2016 Audi Q7 launched in India, priced at Rs.72 lakh; initially be sold through CBU route
The second generation Audi Q7 made its world premiere at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Following the Malaysia unveiling a few days back, the popular Q7 crossover made its way to New Delhi for launch in India today.
Build on the lighter MLB platform, the SUV sheds 325kg weight compared to the outgoing model. Like its predecessor, it will be assembled at Audi’s Aurangabad facility but initially be brought via CBU (Completely Built Unit) channel from the company’s plant in Slovakia.
The latest iteration of the German manufacturer’s flagship SUV will be in coherence with the new design language. The 2016 Audi Q7 comes adorned with a single-piece hexagonal grille and brushed aluminum surrounds up front. On either side of it, sleeker horizontal headlamps house the arrow-shaped Matrix LED daytime running lights.
The luxury SUV looks sharper from the front with newer bumpers and prominent bonnet lines whilst the side profile has very strict character lines running straight to the rear. At the back, the neat rectangular LED tail lamps are redesigned to bode well with the front end and the round-shaped exhausts have been ditched in favour of trapezoidal tail pipes.
The lighter MLB architecture led to the vehicle becoming 26% more fuel efficient than before. The 2016 Audi Q7 will be powered by revised 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesel engine that produces 272bhp of maximum power and 600Nm of peak torque. It’s coupled with an eight-speed triptronic automatic transmission whilst the power is transmitted to all the four wheels with the help of Audi’s quattro AWD system.
The chunkier SUV can reach a top speed of 230kmph. The car can go from standstill to 100kmph in just 6.5 seconds which is a highly-impressive over a second faster than the outgoing version.
The new Audi Q7 is 37mm shorter and 15mm narrower than its predecessor with revised dash board having standalone MMI on top, four-zone climate control, configurable instrument console display, new gear levers and improved infotainment system with 3D surround sound.
Between the front and middle row of seats will now be 21mm more spacious whilst the boot enables a volume of 295 litres of space and on off-road more the seven-seater luxury SUV can be raised up to 60mm . The 2016 Audi Q7 competes against the likes of Volvo XC90 and Mercedes-Benz GL class.
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