Audi has whipped the covers off its facelifted Q7, handed the large SUV updated exterior styling, mild-hybrid technology and the latest dual-touchscreen arrangement in the cabin.
Clearly drawing some styling inspiration from its new Q8 sibling, the updated SUV employs a singleframe grille with six upright slats. The redesigned headlamps, meanwhile, are optionally offered in HD Matrix LED form with Audi laser lights. Round back, a new chrome strip links the flat taillamps.
[UPDATE: Audi South Africa says the refreshed Q7 is scheduled to hit local roads in the first quarter of 2020]…
The Ingolstadt-based firm will furthermore offer an optional S line exterior package that adds a blade in the front bumper, underbody protection at the rear, 19-inch alloys and a “slightly firmer” adaptive air suspension sport set-up (which lowers the ride height by 15 mm).
Interestingly, the facelift has seen the Q7 (still offered in five- or seven-seater guise) grow in length by 11 mm to 5 063 mm, which Audi says allows the SUV to outdo its “direct competitors” in terms of interior length as well as headroom and elbow room in the front and rear.
Perhaps the most obvious update, though, comes inside, where the German company has added its latest stacked touchscreen arrangement to the facia. As in the Q8 (and indeed the A7 Sportback and A8 sedan) these two screens provide haptic and acoustic feedback.
The MMI navigation plus system, meanwhile, features LTE Advanced, a Wi-Fi hotspot, voice control and the Audi connect portfolio. The cloud-based Amazon voice service Alexa, which is integrated into the MMI operating system, is likewise new.
There’s also Audi’s digital virtual cockpit, an optional head-up display, adaptive cruise controls and a new “emergency assist” function (the latter bringing the vehicle to a stop and initiating “protective and rescue measures” if the driver is deemed inactive).
In addition, Audi claims to have “substantially enhanced the dynamic attributes” of the refreshed Q7, offering electromechanical active roll stabilisation as an option along with all-wheel steering.
Under the bonnet, all engine options in the updated Audi Q7 are coupled to an eight-speed tiptronic and Quattro all‑wheel drive. A choice of two diesel engines will be available at market launch in Europe, with a petrol unit and plug-in hybrid variant following.
The now-standard mild-hybrid system comprises a belt alternator starter that powers a 48 V main electrical system in which a lithium-ion battery stores the energy.
