Fascination! It’s a powerful word. Humans have always been fascinated with the unknown, wanting to learn more and explore more. The Audi Q7 can attest to this as modern day automotives embrace technology and usher us into the future.
The new Audi Q7 is a revelation, bursting onto the scene and immediately stealing the limelight off the highly anticipated Volvo XC90. The Q7 has never hidden its ambition to be the best of the best.
Summer ready, the Audi Q7 has already shed 300kg over the outgoing model, making its body look leaner and more stylish.
It has been a long time coming though, with the first generation Q7 popping onto the scene a decade ago. It seems the saying: “good things come to those who wait” rings true as the Q7 loses its baby fat and what’s left is a sculptured goddess.
The flowing lines underpinning the car’s aggressive streak that is inherently present in the familiar Audi frontal grille. This seems to consume most of the front of the vehicle, leaving it with a bigger grin than the Joker and flanked by the now renowned Audi headlights.
The sheer size of the barge gives it plenty of presence on the road and the smoothness that is synonymous with the 3.0 TDI engine offers an impeccable ride. Add to this a smooth shifting eight-speed auto transmission leads to the refined drive.
The optional adaptive air suspension makes the car cushy as it floats along on our war torn roads and the Quattro system complements the package.
The engineers over in Germany have done a particularly fantastic job at getting the most out this marvel of a machine. The stats like 0-100 in 6.9 seconds means the Q7 is like a raging bull that’s just seen red, but it doesn’t end there with Audi claiming a combined fuel consumption of 6.3 litres/100km. It’s sophistication with a wild streak.
While the car might look big when stationary, out on the streets there is enough tech to constantly keep you aware of your surroundings and the car is rather simple to drive and maneuver.
Probably the biggest talking point of this gentle giant is the interior. Driving the way forward in minimalist design, the strong horizontal themes are consistent throughout the cabin and the virtual cockpit showcases Audi’s new user-interface. It’s easy to use nature makes toggling through the icons a breeze.
But the build quality cannot be ignored. Its sophisticated and well put together with strong attention to detail and it’s easy to get comfortable in with electronically adjustable front seats and a generous dollop of rear legroom. The boot can hold up to 890 litres of cargo.
The Audi Q7 is an elegant machine and I suppose it would have to be on its A-game as its set to take on the likes of the ever popular BMW X5, the newly launched Merc GLE and the much anticipated Volvo XC90. All I can say is those who drive it love it and Audi seem to have gotten the pricing right too.
| Base Price | R924 000 |
| Engine Capacity | 2 967 cm³ |
| No. Of Cylinders | 6-cylinders |
| Aspiration | Turbo |
| Power | 183kW at 4 500 r/min |
| Torque | 600Nm at 2 910 r/min |
| Transmission | 8-speed Automatic |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Acceleration | 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds (claimed) |
| Top Speed | 225km/h |
| Fuel Consumption | 6.3l/100km (claimed combined) |
| CO2 Emissions | 164g/km |
