New second generation Audi Q7 is here! The big and charming SUV from the Audi has a new face, a new drive train and new technologies. Personally, I never liked the first generation Audi Q7. It was not offering anything different or exciting. First generation Q7 was an SUV that is cheaper than its rival and offers lots of space, that was all.
However, Audi decided to change this perception and with the second generation Audi Q7, they introduced the first Android based SUV tablet! Actually, second generation Audi Q7 offers a plug-in hybrid e-tron Quattro model. What does this mean? If you purchase the second generation Q7 plug-in hybrid e-tron Quattro model, you will be able to achieve 50 g/km CO2 level from a tank! It will be powered by a 3-lt turbo diesel with 258 HP and the electric motor produces 127 HP, the total of 373 HP with the total torque of 700 nm! This model accelerates to 100km/h in 6 seconds and the top speed is 225 km/h. The rest of engine range is quite boring I will mention them later.
The exciting parts of the second generation Q7 are the pre-crash system, autonomous driving and tablets! Up to 60 km/h second generation Q7 can drive by itself on the road. Basically, when there is a traffic jam, Q7 can drive by itself. X5 already offers this! Also, the new Q7 can detect the cross traffic when you are reversing. Active line assist intervenes the steering-wheel to keep you on your lane. And if you are planning to crash to a car, Q7 can stop by itself.
The exterior design of the Q7 is terrible! It looks like a Lexus LX from the front-end and the rest of Q7 looks like an A6 estate with steroids. Basically, Q7 is an ugly from the outside. However, the interior of the new Q7 is really improved. Material quality looks like the pinnacle for the SUV segment. Unlike the first generation, you won’t be able to spot anything with cheap feeling with the new Q7.
Now you can order the new Q7 with two Android tablets that are powered by NVIDIA Tegra 4 cpu. Tegra 4 is based on ARM Cortex A15 processor with four cores (1.9 GHz), also the same CPU is used with Microsoft Surface Pro 2. The Audi tablet offers a full HD camera, 32 GB internal memory and a NFC connectivity.
The new MMI of the Q7 offers around 185 pixel density per inch (PPI) level (1440 x 550, 8.8-inch). It is not close to Retina displays but still a great achievement for the automotive industry. Land Rover should learn some lessons! Now the MMI is powered by NVIDIA T30 processor to bring very detailed 3D images and the animations.
Google Android Auto, Apple CarPlay are available with the new Q7!
Audi assumes that the new Q7 will be able to understand your sentences by natural speech control. But they never work!
Lastly, the second generation Q7 is 325 kg lighter than the first generation. Basically, the new second generation Audi Q7 looks uglier, offers more luxurious interior, has better driving assistance systems, comes with Android tablets. And has a locking centre differential. Q7 shifted to boring in terms of design but increased the competition via its new toys!
