- Lotsa new gear for new Audi Q7 and SQ7 TDI
- Black Edition joins the Q7 range in Europe
- 22″ wheels, super sport seats, extended leather
LONDON, England – The Audi Q7, according to its builder, “further narrows the margin between luxury limousine and SUV as it becomes available with a new Vorsprung specification”.
Interested? Read on. Possible buyer? Price in UK (Oct 2017) equivalent to about R1.4-million, speak to your local Audi dealer.
The seven-seat SUV, while also upgrading visual appeal and cabin, is said to have brought on board the highest level of standard equipment yet in a Q7, including a 204kW 3.0 TDI V6 or a 326kW V8 TDI.
Now the Black Edition has joined the Q7 range with, Audi says, “a distinct design differentiation and a highly desirable equipment package”.
It is the Black Edition option, available exclusively in conjunction with the 204kW 3.0 TDI, the first on the catalogue above the previous range-topping S line spec. The Q7 Black Edition units go “above and beyond” their S line counterparts with larger 21″ alloy wheel rims and a black styling pack that includes the radiator grille frame, profile trim strip, front bumper styling accents and external mirrors.
READ MORE Audi features on Carman’s Corner
“Black inlays set the tone in the cabin,” Audi says, “which also benefits from an upholstery upgrade to premium-quality Valcona leather. A full-length sunroof lets the sunshine in, at night an ambient lighting pack generates a soft diode-lit hue in various colours.”
A flat-bottomed multi-function steering-wheel and a virtual cockpit are said to expand the equipment list. “The latter renders a 31cm digital instrument display showing user-configurable graphics, infotainment menus, and high-resolution mapping.”
BIGGER WHEELS, ‘RUNNING BOARDS’
Also appearing for the first time in the UK Q7 range is a self-adjusting suspension that drops the body by 15mm and continually adjusts the shock-absorbers according to the surface being crossed.
A rear view camera completes the Q7 Black Edition specification.
The new Q7 Vorsprung edition delivers a wheel upgrade to a 22″ Audi Sport design and “running boards” (excluding SQ7 TDI models) come with the black styling pack. The Corner would point out that such additions are not a good idea if plan to cross rough terrain.
The front seats are described as “ultra-supportive super sport”, each with a memory setting function, diamond contrast stitching through the Valcona leather, and heating. There’s also an option pack that extends animal skin to the door pulls, armrests, lower-door trim, front centre console and the underside of the instrument panel.
SECOND INFORMATION DISPLAY
Seat heating has been added to the second row. Vorsprung units have a smart key and wireless cellphone charging.
A secondary info display focusing on speed but with other functions,can be projected on to the windscreen and the audio-visual system gains a3D Bose surround-sound system.
Matrix diode headlights will adapt their output according to road conditions.
A Driving Assistance Tour Pack, if selected for the Q7 Vorsprung, will add Level 2 partial autonomy in the form of adaptive cruise-control, lane-keeping and go-along-with-the queue progress (up to 60km/h) in heavy traffic.
…AND THE PRICES
An optional Parking Assistance Pack will steer the car into a parallel or perpendicular slot using a 360-degree camera.
Prices (converted to South African, October 2017) start at R1.16-million and rise through model choice to R1.6-million for the SQ7 TDI Vorsprung.
