New lead-in 204PS V6 TDI versions of popular seven-seat luxury SUV arrive alongside lavish new range-wide S line Plus specification
- New Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 204PS models complement existing 3.0 TDI quattro 245PS versions
- Available in conjunction with Standard, SE, S line and new S line Plus specification levels – OTR prices from £39,995 to £49,120
- Combines seven-seat practicality with quattro four-wheel-drive and variable height adaptive air suspension for genuine off-road capability
- Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 204PS @ 3,200 to 4,400rpm, 450Nm @ 1,250 to 2,750rpm – 0-62mph in 9.1 seconds, top speed 127mph, combined MPG 39.2, CO2 189g/km
- New S line Plus specification includes metallic paint, 21-inch alloy wheels, Verano leather upholstery, privacy glass, hard disc-based navigation with Google Earth mapping, in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, Audi Music Interface iPod connection, powered tailgate operation, Audi Parking System Advanced with reversing camera and running boards
Audi Q7 drivers can now use fuel more sparingly and savour seven-seat comfort more completely in the new Q7 3.0 TDI 204PS S line Plus. Taking the lower output V6 TDI engine first seen in the A6 on board the Q7 for the first time, and combining its 39mpg capability with an exceptional new specification, the lavishly appointed newcomer is available to order now priced at £49,120 OTR. At the same time, this punchy but remarkably efficient unit also appears in the most attainable lead-in Q7 model to date – the 3.0 TDI 204PS Standard priced at £39,995 OTR.
To strike its impressive balance between performance and economy the timing of the 3.0-litre engine’s camshafts, its turbocharger and its advanced common-rail system (with an injection pressure of 2,000 bar) have been optimized specifically with fuel efficiency in mind. As a result, up to 39.2mpg is possible according to the combined cycle test, equating to CO2 output of 189g/km.
With the help of a super-smooth eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the latest V6 TDI uses its 204PS and its 450Nm torque reserve to power the Q7 to 62mph from rest in 9.1 seconds, and enables it to reach a 127mph top speed where conditions allow.
In common with all Q7 models drive is channelled to all four wheels in a 40% front to 60% rear ratio by the quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system, and both on and off the tarmac the standard five-mode air suspension with its variable ground clearance of between 180mm and 240mm helps to iron out the most imperfect of surfaces.
Choice of four specification levels
Four specification levels are available for the Q7 – Standard, SE, S line and the new S line Plus – and it is the latter which enables the imposing seven-seater to make its boldest visual statement. Externally it includes 21-inch 5 segment-spoke alloy wheels, standard metallic paint, tinted privacy glass from the B-pillar rearwards and running boards. Powered tailgate operation also boosts practicality.
Inside, an upgrade to even more supple Verano leather upholstery makes for an even more luxurious ambiance. Up to seven occupants can be accommodated in the three rows of seats that are included as standard, two of which can be folded down if required to create a load area of 2,035 litres.
The air of sophistication is enhanced further in the S line Plus by features such as hard disk-based satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone preparation with online services giving access to Google Earth navigation mapping and creating a Wi-Fi hotspot for in-car internet access, Audi Music Interface iPod connection linked to an upgraded speaker system and the Audi Parking System Advanced with reversing camera.
S line Plus specification carries a premium of £4,500 over the existing S line option, and is available in conjunction with five of the six available engines, which include the supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrols in 272PS and 333PS forms, the 204PS and 245PS V6 Diesels and the 340PS 4.2-litre V8 TDI. The mighty Q7 V12 TDI with its incredible 1,000Nm torque peak has its own unique specification.
Audi Q7 on the plus side – A new lead-in 204PS V6 TDI engine has joined the Audi Q7 range, increasing its economy potential to up to 39.2mpg and reducing CO2 to 189g/km. The Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 204PS is priced from £39,995 OTR, and is also available with a lavish new S line Plus specification that can be combined with all the six and eight cylinder engines in the range.
The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI quattro 204PS – UK OTR pricing
3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic Standard
£39,995 OTR
3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic SE
£42,960 OTR
3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic S line
£44,620 OTR
3.0 TDI 204PS eight-speed tiptronic S line Plus
£49,120 OTR
In 2010 Audi recorded its best ever worldwide result of 1,092,400 sales, a 15 per cent improvement over 2009. In the UK, 99,828 Audi models found homes last year, a 9.5 per cent increase on 2009. To sustain the technological lead embodied in its Vorsprung durch Technik slogan, the brand plans to invest €11.6 billion, mainly in new products, between 2011 and 2015.
By this point, its range will have expanded from today’s 38 models to a total of 42. Recent additions include the A1 Sportback subcompact, the A7 Sportback, the new A6 Saloon and Avant and the Q3 compact SUV. The R8 e-tron, the first fully electric series production Audi model, will also arrive in late 2012. On the race circuit Audi Sport has contested the Le Mans 24-hour race twelve times since 1999, achieving a podium finish on all of these occasions as well as outright victory 10 times. In 2011, Audi won Le Mans with an entirely new TDI diesel-powered ‘closed’ coupe sports prototype, the Audi R18.
