Audi releases lean diesel Q7

News out of Germany last week brought to the attention of the press that Audi's very frugal variant of the Q7 SUV has been launched.

Distinguished from other Q7 3.0 TDI quattro variants by its 150kW power output -- versus the 176kW figure for the 3.0 TDI variant launched in Australia two months ago -- the fuel-efficient model swaps grunt for greeness. The 150kW engine features the same innovations (lighter weight, lower friction and optimised thermal management) already introduced in the 176kW engine, along with auto-stop/start and kinetic energy recovery.  In addition to being 26kW down on peak power, the 150kW engine also gives away 100Nm of torque -- 450 versus 550Nm for the 176kW V6. But the fuel consumption figure for the Euro 5-compliant engine is correspondingly low at 7.2L/100km -- 0.6 litres less than the 176kW variant's figure of 7.8L/100km. CO2 emissions have also been whittled back, to 189g/km. Despite its environmental friendliness, the 150kW Q7 can still reach 100km/h from a standing start in 9.1 seconds and Audi claims it will top out at 205km/h when air suspension is specified.

Audi is treating this new variant as the entry-level model in the Q7 range, priced at €51,800 in Germany. When will we see it in Australia and in what role? Will the new variant be an entry-level Q7 or will it be a 'TDI e' model? Audi Australia is keeping schtumm as to whether the new engine will reach us in Australia and how it will be marketed here if it does, but Audi's public domain website in Germany already shows the new 150kW V6 diesel Q7 selling alongside the 176kW diesel. Presuming Audi Australia wants to sell this vehicle here, expect it to be sold as a 'TDI e' efficiency variant, even if it's not named as such. That's our call, but we wouldn't bet the farm on it...

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