Audi Pulls the Cover From the Redesigned Q7

2016 Audi Q7

The new Q7 has been doing plenty of testing as of late, and although we’ve seen plenty of spy shots, the specifics behind it were still unknown. That all came to an end today, as Audi has unveiled the fully redesigned and significantly lighter Q7 crossover SUV.

From the outside, the changes to the Q7 are very obvious, but the basic look of the Q7 remains. The headlights and Singleframe grille receive a complete update, putting them in line with other four-ringed cars to debut recently. The headlights, which are available as xenon, LED or LED Matrix (non-U.S. models only) units, are thinner and more rectangular, while the Singleframe grille loses its rounded and soft appearance in favor of more angular corners.

Down the sides, the body lines are more aggressive than the previous Q7 and the roofline has a more direct downward slope, giving it a sportier look. Heading to the tailgate, it features a more raked look, while the taillights get a look that matches the headlights.

The Q7 is not only stylistically different than its predecessor, it is also significantly smaller. It measures 198.8 inches long, 77.6 inches wide and 68.5 inches tall, and it has a 117.7-inch wheelbase. For reference, the 2014 Audi Q7 was 200.3 inches long, 78.1 inches wide and 68.4 inches tall, and it rode on a 118.2-inch wheelbase. Additionally, a mixture of high-strength steel and aluminum drops the weight of the Q7’s body by 156.5 pounds, which combines with a lighter chassis and other components to make the Q7 as much as 716.5 pounds lighter than the 2014 model.

2016 Audi Q7

Despite the smaller exterior design of the Q7, the interior of the new Q7 is slightly roomier in some areas. For example, there is an extra 21 mm (0.83 inches) between the first and second rows of seats, and the first and second rows enjoy an extra 41 mm (1.6 inches) and 23 mm (0.91 inches) of extra headroom, respectively. Additionally, buyers can opt for a third row of seats that are intended for child use.

In terms of cargo room, the base Q7 has 890 liters (31.4 cubic feet) of space with the second row of seats upright and 2,075 liter (73.3 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded. In its seven-seat format, the Q7’s cargo capacity drops to 295 liters (10.4 cubic feet) with the seats upright and 770 liters (27.2 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded.

2016 Audi Q7

In terms of powertrain offerings, Audi has only revealed the available units for the European market, but we’re sure to learn its U.S. offerings at the Detroit Auto Show. The European drivetrain offerings start out with a 3.0-liter, V-6 diesel engine that produces 272 PS (268 horsepower) and 442 pound-feet of torque. This engine will allow the Q7 to hit 62 mph n 6.3 seconds, top out at 146 mph and deliver 47.8 mpg combined. A lower-output version of the diesel engine will hit the market later with 218 PS (215 horsepower) and 369 pound-feet of torque. These engines will mate to a newly developed eight-sped auto transmission that combines with Audi’s legendary quattro AWD for optimal traction.

Also available in the drivetrain department is the new plug-in hybrid variant known as the Q7 e-tron. This drivetrain will make use of a 3.0-liter, V-6, turbo-diesel engine and an electric motor for a combined 373 PS (368 horsepower) and 516 pound-feet of torque. This will allow the Q7 e-tron to hit 62 mph in just six second and top out at 139 mph. On top of great performance, the e-tron can travel up to 34.8 miles on electricity alone.

For now, all we know are the European specifications for the new-generation Q7, but all of the U.S. specs should be released at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show in January.