Survey: Compact/Large SUV

Own an SUV? Take part in our driver survey and stand a chance to win R3000.

Win a track day and riding gear!

Stand a chance of winning a track day for you and your mates along with amazing biking gear to the value of R20 000.

Audi spruces up Q7, adds V12

2009-04-15 09:59

 



Audi's behemoth SUV rolls up for a facelift and while you'd be hard-pressed to see the cosmetic changes, it now boasts cleaner engines.

Getting the aesthetic differences out of the way, the Q7's front end has been redesigned. The vertical chrome bars across the radiator grille contrast with a black high-gloss finish and restyled bumpers are finished in black or grey.

Audi's signature LED daytime running lights are visible while a new xenon plus lighting system, which incorporates a special "superhighway beam" but also turning and cornering lights, is optional.
 
At the rear, the bumper has a two-tone finish and small detail changes have been effected.

An aluminium exterior package is optional, as is the S line sports package and S line exterior package.

As for its interior, new seating configurations are offered and the middle seat is said to have a "more comfortable contour…". The instrument cluster has been redesigned and several controls enhanced with chrome detailing.

TDI with the soul of a sports car

As before, the Q7 uses a six-speed tiptronic gearbox to channel power to the four wheels via the quattro system.

The revised 3.0 TDI turbodiesel produces 176 kW and 550 Nm while consuming 9.1 l/100 km on the EU cycle.

The 3.0 TDI clean diesel, which uses an advanced common-rail injection system, new combustion chamber sensors and an advanced exhaust recirculation system, uses 8.9 l/100 km and already complies with Euro 6 emission standards that will be enforced from 2014.

Fuel consumption is down significantly on the 4.2 TDI too, from 11.1 to 9.9 l/100 km. Outputs for this engine are 250 kW and 760 Nm.

Moving to the petrol powerplants, the 3.6 FSI produces 206 kW and 360 Nm with an average fuel consumption of 12.1 l/100 km. The V8 4.2 FSI develops 257 kW and 440 Nm and consumes 12.7 l/100 km on average.

Audi's Modular Efficiency Platform is a recovery system that converts mechanical energy into electric energy during braking and coasting phases and it in the battery. It reduces CO2 emissions by up to 5 g/km and is available on all the engines.

A big addition to the line-up though, is the V12 TDI with 368 kW and 1 000 Nm on tap from 1 750 to 3 250 r/min. It accelerates from 0 - 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and has a top speed limited to 250 km/h.

Audi SA has confirmed that South Africa will not receive the 3.0 TDI clean diesel due to technical reasons. The V12 TDI is currently being explored for local introduction.

The facelifted Q7 range will be available locally from the fourth quarter of 2009.



 
Anonymous User
4/16/2009 3:08 PM
OK! the REVISED 3.0 TDI turbodiesel that produces 176 kW and 550 Nm while consuming 9.1 l/100 km on the EU cycle VERSUS the current BMW 3.0D engine that produces 180kW and 540Nm while consuming 7.2l/100 km on the EU cycle. Anyway BMW doesn't have V12 Diesel, so its difficult to compare apples with apples.
Anonymous User
4/16/2009 2:41 PM
jody/wtf I fully agree with you. There must be easy tax dollars for government to tax these blond mobiles. Who cares about euro 6 we are in Africa. The taxis will not even pass euro minus 100 controls and drive more in one day than I drive in a month. Most people that drive this cr@p don't care about the planet so why speak about emissions control its just a feel good factor. The immersions generated to make the money to buy the blond mobile is more what a village will generate in a decade. So who are u fooling only yourself. People who drive these blond mobiles have deficiencies in other areas. Little guys would always buy big cars
Fireball
4/16/2009 1:40 PM
Jody's just a hater! i cant afford this machine yet, but if i had the bucks i'd buy it in a jiffy. Its most prob a great experience to drive such a car. Anyway we all know that when a V engine blasts past you on the free way one admires the power.
Anonymous User
4/16/2009 1:24 PM
The people that are complaining about the the LED lights clearly dont keep abreast about the car/motor industry they need to start reading. Soon it will be ilegal to drive without them, so get used to them.
Anonymous User
4/16/2009 12:56 PM
Would like to see one with a "anti pantzer" sticker.
arthur
4/16/2009 12:56 PM
i want one baby...its so beautiful
Anonymous User
4/16/2009 12:46 PM
Boring! I read about a 18 cylinder TDI MAN truck making 900KW and 4800NW 5 years ago. Maybe the truck will be cheaper than this puffed up station wagon too.
Mcnasty
4/16/2009 11:26 AM
anyone with two or more kids will know how handy it can be to have space like this,and performance for when dad drives alone...especially if they`re babies and you`re carting strollers,camping cots etc around.Great car,but i don`t need that much room yet,will stick with the a4 for now.
Anonymous User
4/16/2009 11:24 AM
I bought the X5 purely due to the sloping roof of the Q7 as occupants in the 3rd row sit more comfortable in the X than in the Q but I must admit that audi make great vehicles and I will buy an audi again for the government when she wants to replace the current TDI.
Titus
4/16/2009 11:12 AM
This is still my dream car... Can you get a better combination than a TT that can intimidate any taxi on the road??? Plus it has space for the whole family, the braai and the coolerbox. It's the perfect South African family car!!!
rendani
4/16/2009 10:16 AM
save the planet, we need 10 000 000 earth hours js 2 save the plant from audi alone
boet
4/16/2009 9:31 AM
Jody, its not our problem your poor...
ExBoyRacer
4/16/2009 9:25 AM
Allan/FIFO - nicely written, and you made a good point without slating any products. You're obviously a very sensible person. Oh, you did slate Jody, but who cares.
Rob
4/16/2009 12:28 AM
Converted from X5 to 4.2 FSI Q7 more than a year ago and have never been happier with the car and the service. Audi quality is astounding!
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 3:52 PM
Tony Yengeni will like this one
Craig
4/15/2009 2:46 PM
I do not particularly like the way the Q7 looks, but I REALLY like what goes on inside and what is stuck under the bonnet of the beast. That V12 will certainly make any enthusiastic driver go "koekoes" in anticipation of/dreaming of driving it. Poor Jody...Eish
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 2:42 PM
I'm a huge Audi fan i certainly think this Q7 is beautiful big up to the designers. The speed, fuel efficience, exterior design is one of the best things about the car.
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 2:27 PM
@realdesign. I think the only thing you should be re-designing is your ignorance. Why compare a Q7 oil burner to a M-powered X5. First of all the Q7 is 200kg heavier than a X5 to seat 7 people comfortably. For a 2 and half ton oil burner 5.5 sec is very impressive in all respects. The X5 needs to be fettled by a motorsport division and all it does is beats the oil burner by seven hundredths of second from 0-100. But I am sure it makes you feel better that BM has taken a race engine against a diesel and beaten it.
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 2:03 PM
Isn't it amazing to see so many people complaining about the power of this beast? I bet if it was a BMW nobody would complain... As for the looks - it makes one hell of a statement, either you like it or you hate it - I like it!
Allan/FIFO
4/15/2009 1:29 PM
To Jody: What happens if i want a family car, that is still exciting to drive? Fortunately for you, you are not part of the target market. Firstly because of money, secondly because you would be happier riding a bicycle. That is fine with me as i am sure you would be happy on your bicycle, but please do not comment where you know very little about the topic and refrain from calling people idiots simply because you do not understand. Just so you do understand, your 8yr old 1.6 unfortunately will not pass the Euro 6 emissions standards. As you probably read in the article, the 3.0tdi will. This Euro 6 is the highest possible standard and if ones vehicle passes this test then it means that you are driving one of the most environmentally friendly cars available in the world. As for you seeing only one person in the car, it does not mean they do not have a family or have use for the space. I think your problem is that you are resentful to the fact that you do not fall into the target market for this vehicle, not actually with the vehicle itself. In progressing countries and in a progressive world, progressive people like to accomplish new things, and are constantly on a mission to improve. Audi, Porsche, BMW are always going to look for ways to make their small and large cars faster, safer, more fuel efficient etc. Why settle for a 3.0tdi when you could have a V12 Tdi? You see not everyone wants to settle, that does not make them stupid but quite the opposite.
John
4/15/2009 1:22 PM
Jody, do you not think that it would be more appropriate for people who drive 8 year old dinky cars to reserve comment about stunning vehicles such as the Q7? Maybe one day you will grow up and afford a real car.
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 1:12 PM
Audi paid Ssang Yong to keep it's cars on the road. Why? They're the only things stopping the Q7 from being the ugliest vehicle on the face of the planet. So many great Audi designs and then this.......
GuviJ
4/15/2009 1:12 PM
Power to the wealthy! The power figure, though impressive, is completely ridiculous. All it allows the driver to do is intimidate lesser vehicles on the road - otherwise, I am not going to be told you need 1000nM to park it on a pavement... Also, why is everything optional with the German brands, why not just follow the Lexus route and give an option of a few engines with everything else standard? Noboby expects to pay the listed price in any case when it comes to Audi/BMW/VW et al because of all the add-ons.
Tata Tiger
4/15/2009 12:49 PM
What a huge lump of over- engineering!!Who in their right mind needs this?Ok I concede.. our SA politicians to make themselves feel really important as well as any person with little man syndrome BUT any normal (read level headed living in the real world) person has zero use for this exercise in sheer OTT motoring.Perhaps they can offer this powerplant to the shipping industry for powering oil tankers. Surely anyone driving these things must feel like a real tool when others including starving street kids etc stare in amazement at the toss in the ship on wheels.Just dont park anywhere near the kindergarten when doing the school run, all the kids will run scared its so darn ugly and biG!!Does anyone know if it produces its own gravity force?
corleone
4/15/2009 12:48 PM
jody, you're an idiot. How dare you compare your 1.6 scrap to this beast??!! you need a slap!! Anyway, i'm a Audi fan and once again audi has worked it's magic!
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 12:39 PM
Nathi? what will anyone do with 1000NM in a luxury car?
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 12:38 PM
Dus audi, look at all the chrismas lights, pls put some on the roof as well - DUS sprungVOrs
ExBoyRacer
4/15/2009 12:30 PM
The LED lights that everyone is complaining about are there for daytime driving. Soon all cars will have daytime running lights - same as with bikes where it is illegal to drive without the lights switched on at any time of the day. It helps other motorists see YOU.AUDI has LED's, and BMW have Angel Eyes. When you've had some idiot pull out right infront of you, like what happened to me, and the guy says "aaahhh I didn't see you" then you'll understand why these lights are so important. BTW why can't you people just commend AUDI for their achievments? If BMW built an X5 like this, then this blog would have been 4X longer.
Hendrik
4/15/2009 12:26 PM
Nathi, dont be an idiot. Of course they can. But they dont want to. And if Audi wanted to they could turn out 500kW out of that engine.
JoJo
4/15/2009 12:26 PM
Wow, very very nice. Well done Audi!!!
jon
4/15/2009 12:12 PM
Jody/wtf...please don't slam the car because you can't afford it...suggestion: Get to drive a real car and not your 8 year old 1.6 sedan and then you can make informed comments on this site! Driving a 3.0Tdi and very impressed still after 80 000km!Very nice allrounder vehicle, 4.2Tdi my next buy!
AnTiYota (aka AntiJap)
4/15/2009 12:03 PM
I agree. Audi is taking things way to far now with the LED looks. Don't want to know how much it'll cost to replace any of those fancy lights. Ouch!!
oooo
4/15/2009 12:00 PM
jackey - you better start liking the LED lights. By 2012 all manufacturers in europe are required to have the daytime running LED lights on new cars. Won't be long before that law gets passed in SA. Don't know if it should be LED, but the lights will have to be on during the day. BMW have already started using LED lights in new models (not daytime, but for indicators etc).
Clintonv
4/15/2009 11:54 AM
I must agree with "jackey" , those LED's are looking like Kalahari Ferrari Specials now. Was a gimic last year, now too "cheap" and so "check my lights out, kiff hey?" V12 sounds impressive but what engine capacity? it wont sound so great at 6.0l. It would sound about right
Moto
4/15/2009 11:34 AM
Jody ... you're not a petrolhead ... go read Women24.
Billy
4/15/2009 11:26 AM
Cool car. Terrible colour.
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 11:22 AM
@ Robbie. We get it, you like Audi.
David
4/15/2009 11:13 AM
Cayenne still beats the Q7 in the ugly stakes...
RealDesign
4/15/2009 11:06 AM
All those LEDs. Viva Las Vegas.
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 10:47 AM
Interior magnificent. Exterior not so good. Great diesel engine technology.
RealDesign
4/15/2009 10:36 AM
Audi Q7 V12 TDI = 368 kW, 1000 NM, 0- 100 km/h in 5.5 sec. BMW X5 V8 = 408 kW, 680 NM, 0-100 km/h in 4.7 sec. Shows that efficient dynamics is more than a tagline.
jody/wtf
4/15/2009 9:51 AM
this is plain rediculous.anyone seen driving this must be shot.it's slightly less ugly,but is still very pointless.how many Q7s have you seen with more than 1 person.it's absurd.the government should tax these idiots who buy such large crap.those engines aren't clean,they're just SLITGHTLY cleaner than before.my 8 year old 1.6 sedan is still cleaner and can drive comfortable at the national speed limit.what the point with all this power.it makes no sense.
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 9:46 AM
I lost liking for the Q7 for a while, but this is a good change, and the colour looks real good. Nice one!
jackey
4/15/2009 9:30 AM
The LED lights are now become ridiculous...
Robbie
4/15/2009 9:16 AM
AhA - More Vorsprung. Congratulations Audi
Robbie
4/15/2009 9:14 AM
More excellence and Vorsprung. Congratulations Audi
Robbie
4/15/2009 9:13 AM
More excellence and Vorsprung. Congratulations Audi
Anonymous User
4/15/2009 9:11 AM
These xenon/christmas lights are going out of hand now...really.
Peter
4/15/2009 9:07 AM
This still has to be the Ugliest Vehicle on the Roads today !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nathi
4/15/2009 9:05 AM
I must admit that the Volkswagen Group is the king of diesel engines.....my goodness V12 TDI = 368kw and 1000Nm from 1 750r/min. Not even the Bavarians nor the Daimler AG can make such a miracle with the diesel engine. Perhaps the people who can match them in diesel engine is Japanese Nissan.

Standard commenting

Your Name *
Email *
Comment *
  Please enter the text below:

*
 

Inside Wheels24

ADVERTORIAL

Renault Koleos

If you’re on the lookout for a capable SUV look no further than the Renault Koleos.

Advertorial
More from Renault

Jobs - Find your dream job

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING MANAGER

Gauteng,Western Cape - Cape Town
Hire Resolve

Application Engineer

Gauteng,KwaZulu Natal,Western Cape - Cape Town
Hire Resolve

Mechanical Project Engineer

Gauteng,KwaZulu Natal - Durban,Western Cape - Cape Town
Hire Resolve

Cars - Search 1000's of new and used cars

TOYOTA

Yaris T3 1.3 5-dr AC
2007
R 105,990.00

AUDI

A6 3.0 T FSi Quattro Tiptronic
2009
R 509,000.00

TOYOTA

Yaris T3 Sedan 1.3 Spirit
2008
R 125,995.00

Property - Find a new home

PAULSHOF

House R 2 300 000

SILWERKRUIN

House R 3 600 000

UMHLANGA

Townhouse R 5 400 000

Travel - Look, Book, Go!

Free Games - TOO MUCH NEWS? TAKE A BREAK!

Kalahari.net - shop online today

The Hottest New Music Releases

Get your favourite new albums from the music shop. Low prices on ALL albums.

Buy your UNISA & Academic Textbooks & WIN Big

Buy your textbooks from kalahari.net and 50 lucky buyers will receive a R100 shopping voucher everyday from Monday, 19 July to Saturday, 31 July.

DVDs for R129.95 Each

Get all the bestsellers and new releases for R129.95 Now! 100s of DVDs to choose from.

Lower prices on Books!

Millions of titles to choose from. Now save up to 40% off!

Up to 20% on Electronics

Visit the Electronics Shop for the latest products and appliances. Get great deals on branded products.