Gallery: 2016 Audi Q7 revealed at Detroit auto show
Audi rolled out its all-new, all-aluminum Q7 in Detroit. Why is that so significant? Because this is the first use of the new MLB platform which will underpin so many Audi, Volkswagen and even Porsche models, including but not limited to: the A6, Q5, Touareg and Cayenne, once those fall into the model change rotation. The Lamborghini SUV will use MLB, too.
So it’s significant in that regard, but it’s also a big change for the Q7 itself. Significant weight reduction has the potential to make it a somewhat sporty driver, certainly sportier than it’s been in the past. Knocking off over 700 pounds from anything will make it sportier, but particularly a big SUV like this.
Thanks to extensive use of aluminum the big-rig SUV is “up to” 716 pounds lighter than the Q7 it replaces, depending on how it’s optioned and which country it’s made for. US Q7s could be anywhere from 500 to 700 pounds lighter. Meanwhile size changes only minimally in all dimensions: it’s 1.5 inches shorter. 0.6 inches narrower on the outside but has about an inch more headroom inside. U.S. Q7s will come with a choice of two 3.0-liter V6 engines: a TFSI configuration making 333 hp and 324.5 lb-ft good for a 0-62 mph time of 6.1 seconds; or a TDI making 227 hp and a stump-pulling (imagine soccer moms pulling stumps with their Q7s!) 442.5 lb-ft of torque that’ll get you to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds. All U.S. Q7s will come with Quattro all wheel-drive. It’s also rated at 7700 pounds towing, Audi says.
Inside, the new car will get more standard features: Look for the Audi Virtual Cockpit you may have seen at CES to be standard in the new Q7 with that cool reconfigurable instrument panel and larger, higher-resolution (1440x540) main screen. You can also get a head-up display and Audi’s 3D sound, another item first shown at CES. The Bang & Olufsen audio will feature up to 23 speakers and 1920 watts of power.
The third-row seat will be power-adjustable and it’ll be easier to access thanks to a second-row tumble feature to make more room for legs and feet scurrying into the back.
So it could potentially be pretty cool, in a bland SUV way. Look for it in U.S. Audi showrooms in early 2016, after its late-summer 2015 launch in Europe.
About the Detroit Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show, known to most as the Detroit auto show, continues to serve as a barometer for the entire industry. Among the debuts this year will be the new Toyota Tacoma and a refreshed Chevrolet Volt. The 2015 event is held at Cobo Hall in Detroit and is open to the public from Jan.17-25. Check out our complete Detroit auto show coverage here.
