Since the first Audi Q7 model made its stunning debut in 2006, Australian buyers have had a true love affair with the big luxury SUV. Now, Audi has revealed the new Audi Q7, due to arrive Down Under in the first half of next year and continue that strong relationship that began with a spirited drive right across the continent.

To introduce the original Audi Q7 to Australia in 2006, Audi Australia undertook what many believed at the time was a very risky strategy and invited members of the Australian automotive press to drive the vehicles in four stages from Sydney right across the country to Broome on the west coast.

Taking a large, luxury SUV with no transfer case through these very remote and extremely harsh parts of the country was not considered a good idea by would be critics, who felt that anything short of a hardcore off-roader was destined to failure. They were wrong.

The fleet of Audi Q7s did the trip without a single hitch, and did it in style. The legend of the Q7 Down Under was born and the even the notoriously critical Aussie motoring press were impressed with the way the vehicles handled everything that the outback could throw at them and deliver their occupants in supreme comfort and style.

The new Q7 is set to build on that legacy and introduces not only new styling inside and out but also the very latest in technology, driver assistance systems and infotainment.

Although unmistakably a Q7, the new model brings the current Audi design language into its core design with a much larger octagon-shaped Singleframe that features six upright slats providing the structure and as a result looks even more powerful. The two-part side air inlets have a much more expressive line, just like the sill area that underscores the significant ground clearance that allows the Q7 to venture far off the beaten track.

The headlights, optionally available in HD Matrix LED technology with Audi laser light, emphasise the width of the Q7 and the restyled rear features a chrome strip that connects the flat rear lights with their technical-looking graphics and carries forward the horizontal body line. The new Audi Q7 is particularly striking with the optional S line exterior. A blade in the front bumper, accentuated underbody protection at the rear along with full paint finish and 19-inch wheels come as standard. 

As has always been the case, the Q7 doesn’t just look as though it can handle anything – it can. Electromechanical active roll stabilisation is available as an option, where adjustable stabilisers reduce the body movements on uneven roads when driving in a straight line. Start pushing on in the driving stakes and the focus shifts to optimum roll compensation and the tendency of the car to lean into the bend is reduced substantially. 

All-wheel steering is also optionally available where the rear wheels turn by up to five degrees in the opposite direction to the front at low speed, or in the same direction to promote stability as speeds increase. 

Yet despite displaying the agility of a much smaller vehicle, the Q7 again delivers in the supreme comfort stakes, particularly in conjunction with the adaptive air suspension. It also provides variable ground clearance and the appropriate offroad mode can be selected via the Audi drive select dynamic handling system with its seven profiles. Air suspension comes standard on all seven-seater Q7 models, while the S line exterior includes the slightly firmer adaptive air suspension sport, which lowers the ride height by 15 millimetres compared with the regular air suspension system. 

Although exact specification and equipment for Australian release won’t be confirmed until closer to its arrival date, a choice of two TDI engines will available at market launch in Europe, followed by a petrol unit after the market introduction and then a plug-in hybrid model – all engines will work through an eight-speed tiptronic and permanent all‑wheel drive. The standard mild hybrid technology plays a major part in the efficiency of the engines and in customer operation, reducing consumption by up to 0.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Its central component, the belt alternator starter (BAS), powers a 48-volt main electrical system in which a compact lithium-ion battery stores the energy. During braking, the BAS can recover up to 8kW of power and feed it back into the battery. If the driver takes their foot off the accelerator at speeds between 55 and 160km/h the Audi Q7 recuperates energy, rolls in idle or coasts for up to 40 seconds with the engine switched off. The BAS restarts the engine the next time the accelerator is depressed, and does so faster and more gently than a conventional starter. The start‑stop range begins at 22km/h. 

The new Q7 is larger than its predecessor and will again be available as both a five and a seven-seater. Depending on the position of the rear seat backs the luggage compartment on the five-seater version offers between 865 and 2050 litres of capacity – the latter with a flat load area. An electric tailgate is standard with a foot-activated gesture control available as an option, and the rear seat bench plus can also be ordered, where all three seats can be moved individually fore/aft and the backrest angle adjusted, as well as a third seat row with two electrically lowerable seats.

Inside the changes are significant with the Q7 adopting the new operating system and clean new architecture seen in vehicles such as the Audi A8, A7 Sportback and new A6.

Forming part of the dash layout are the two large touch screens which provide haptic and acoustic feedback when clicking on the touch controls. Comfort equipment options include four-zone automatic air conditioning, a power-assist function to close the doors quietly, the Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System and the air quality package with special fragrances and ionizer. Customers can also opt for the contour ambient lighting package, while highlights in the seat lineup include the customised contour seats with numerous adjustment functions and the S sport seats plus, both available with climate control and massage function. 

In terms of navigation and connectivity too, the Q7 represents the pinnacle. The MMI navigation plus delivers top-of-the-line connectivity and features LTE Advanced, a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice control and the extensive Audi connect portfolio. The latter ranges from traffic information online, navigation with Google Earth, to the hybrid radio. The cloud-based Amazon voice service Alexa, which is integrated into the MMI operating system, is also new.

The adaptive cruise assist, which combines the functions of adaptive speed assist, traffic jam assist and active lane assist, reduces the driver’s workload – particularly on long journeys. In combination with efficiency assist it brakes and accelerates the Audi Q7 in anticipation of the conditions ahead. The emergency assist is also new – if the driver is inactive, the system brings the car to a stop and initiates protective and rescue measures.

The result is another extraordinary offering from Audi in the large luxury SUV ranks, and one that is set to build on the Q7 legend that was born 13 years ago with a long drive right through the middle of Australia.