India is a ground for testing Audi's new products.
Just days after its online premiere, the 2016 Audi Q7 has started tests in India. This hardly comes as a surprise, as Audi India's former CEO, Michael Perschke told Indian Autos Blog that India is part of Audi's global testing program. India's varied climate and road conditions makes it an apt testing ground, the executive said.
[Head to YouTube if you're unable to view the video above.]
Coming to the Q7, the public premiere of the SUV will take place next month at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS 2015). Sales in Europe should commence by mid-2015, and an Indian launch can be expected in end-2015 or early-2016.
Based on a new MLB Evo platform, the Q7 is now lighter by a whopping 325 kg, which has directly resulted in an improvement in fuel consumption by 26 percent. At launch, the SUV will be available with 3.0-liter TDI and TFSI engines, both offering all-wheel drive. The diesel takes 6.3 seconds to hit 100 km/h while the petrol does it in 6.1 seconds.
Also read: Old vs New - Audi Q7
Inside, the second generation Q7 gets Audi's hi-tech interior which sees a digital instrument cluster, a new MMI system with Google Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and a 3D audio system.
Competitors: Mercedes-Benz GL Class, BMW X5, Volvo XC90
Tentative Price: INR 75-90 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Launch Date: First half of 2015 in Europe
[Source - OverDrive]
