Audi India completes the year’s product launching spree on a high note by introducing the 2016 Audi Q7 flagship SUV in the country. With a starting price of INR 72 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi), the new gen SUV is not significantly more expensive that its predecessor but brings huge improvements to the table. The car was unveiled in the presence of Indian test cricket team captain Virat Kohli and director of the Indian cricket team Ravi Sastri. Both of them are Audi loyalists.
For starters, the aluminium intensive MLB 2 modular platform and various other weight saving measures make the new car lighter by a good 300 kg. So naturally, there would be marked improvement in efficiency, performance and dynamics.
The 7-seat luxury SUV adopts a brand new design language with edgier lines and clean surfaces. The visual bulk has been greatly reduced and this renders the new Q7 an athletic appeal.
The new car is around 300 kg lighter than the outgoing model.
The new interior is the main highlight of the 2016 Q7. The simple uncluttered dashboard has it AC vents cleverly camouflaged into the trim, and there is a standalone MMI on top of the dashboard. Customers can also opt for the configurable Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument console display. In addition to the usual safety features, the new Q7 is also equipped with a comprehensive array of assistance systems, comfort features and an off-road mode which raises the ground clearance by 60 mm.
The India-spec 2016 Audi Q7 is powered by an improved version of the 3.0-litre TDI engine which is mated to a 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive system. The motor pumps out a healthy 268 PS and 598 Nm of torque. Thanks to the impressive weight saving, the new SUV is claimed to accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 6.5 seconds.
2016 Audi Q7 – Prices
- Q7 Premium Plus – INR 72 lakhs
- Q7 Technology – INR 77.5 lakhs
[Note: Prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.]
