I’ve finally managed to see the new (Second generation) Audi Q7 in Mayfair, London. Actually, it was the pre-production model and didn’t feature all the new gadgets. Despite being in pre-production, the new second generation looks way way better in real life than the Internet photos. The main reason for this? The press photos from Audi have been taken when the Q7’s air suspension is lowered to the bottom, thus making the Q7 look like a raised estate car. In real life, the Q7 looks like a real SUV.

What’s New!

Interestingly, it is 30mm shorter than the first generation but it does look really long. Despite its size, this model features a class-leading pre-crash and warning system. It is also capable of semi-autonomous driving up to 65 km/h. That’s a great feature, I love it! You don’t need to drive whilst the car is moving. The Q7 also features a night vision assistant. And if that isn’t enough, it can understand whether you’re sticking to your lane or not, blindspots as well!

In terms of gadget features, the second generation model features an NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor and you can even order it with two Android tablets at the rear. However, you do have to deal with the Android updates! Did I mention there is a 1,920-watt Bang Olufsen sounds system? I am not into sound systems.

The coolest features are the all-wheel steering and 1000-rpm driving mode. Rear wheels can steer up to 5-degrees depending on the situation. And the new vaporisation system enables the engine to run as low as 1000-rpm without any vibration. This reduces the fuel consumption.

The interior ergonomics are very good and it was really easy to control Audi’s MMI information system. The massive touch pad makes it so easy to access the menus and set the navigation or the radio.

Despite the unexpected external look of the second generation, the features and the quality of the interior space compensate for that non-charming exterior. For me though, it is more of a massive gadget than an SUV!

Price starts from £50,000. Technical details are;

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (272 HP) 5-seater:

Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 6.1 – 5.7** (38.6 – 41.3 US mpg);

Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 159 – 149** (255.9 – 239.8 g/mi)

Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI (333 HP) 5-seater:

Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 8.1 – 7.7** (29.0 – 30.5 US mpg);

Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 189 – 179** (304.2 – 288.1 g/mi)

Camera: Canon 70d with 50mm f 1.8 lens.