Audi AG, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, has manufactured an array of super luxurious executive cars. The German car giant is perhaps the best selling luxury brand in India.
Audi AG introduced their first SUV Q7 in the European markets in 2005. In India, they started the manufacture of the Audi Q7 in November 2012 at their Aurangabad factory. From early 2013, the demand for the SUV is increasing in the Indian market and Q7 has become very popular in a short time.
This seven seater crossover comes in five variants; 3.0 TDI Quattro, 3.0 TDI Quattro Premium Plus, 3.0 TDI Quattro Technology and 4.2 TDI Quattro Technology in diesel and 3.0 TFSI Quattro in petrol. From the front, the massiveness of the car can be felt heightened by the prominent big black grille with vertical chrome bars. The body coloured bumper with a pair of fog lamps, the big wind screen with rain sensing wipers, the headlight clusters with Xenon headlamps and LED day light lamps and the sun roof are the other features at the front. Body coloured ORVMs with turning lights, the well contoured wheel arches with 18€ alloy wheels and a sloping roof gives a sporty look from the sides. At the rear there is a remotely operated tail gate, two big tail lamp clusters and a rear screen wiper/washer.
The Audi Q7offers maximum head room, shoulder room and leg space when compared with the similar SUVs. The leather upholstery looks rich. The car also comes with a rear reading lamp, steering mounted audio controls, electrically adaptable front seats, rear seat AC vents, and a music system with USB port and Bluetooth connectivity.
The safety features of the AudiQ7 include ABS, EBD, side and head airbags for the front passengers, an electronic differential lock electronic stabilisation programme. The front and the side impact beams, an anti theft alarm and an engine immobilizer add to the safety of the vehicle. This four wheel drive car has ventilated disc type brakes at the front and the rear. The suspension is 4 link wishbone type at the front and self tracking trapezoidal link with wishbone type at the rear.
The 3.0 types of Q7 use engines having 2967 cc volume, 241 bhp (328 bhp for petrol), 550 NM (440 NM for petrol), giving a mileage of 12.62 kmpl for diesel (8.8 kmpl for petrol) variants. The 4.2 type uses an engine with 4134 cc volume, 335 bhp and 800 NM torque giving a mileage of 10.1 kmpl.
The prices of Audi Q7 start from Rupees 62.45 lakhs and go upto 84.45 lakhs. The competition comes mainly from the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes M class.
