A few weeks ago, the Audi Q7 presented the second modernization, which focused mainly on design and lighting technology. The derived Q7 SUV underwent a facelift last year. In his case, however, it was the first rejuvenation treatment.
Both models are now also shown with an innovative plug-in hybrid drive, which is slightly more powerful, but above all relies on a battery with a larger capacity. If until now the maximum was 14.4 kWh (17.9 kWh in total), you now have a battery with 25.9 kWh at your disposal, with 22 kilowatt hours usable. In practice, this means that the roughly 45-kilometer range on electricity practically doubled to 90 kilometers. This is also helped by optimizing the drive, which is a bit more economical.
Again, two performance versions will be available. The base 55 TFSI e quattro with a 3.0 TFSI six-cylinder petrol engine (250 kW) and a 130-kilowatt electric motor (so far 100 kW) has a system output of 290 kilowatts and a torque of 600 Nm. In the case of the Audi Q7, you pay a minimum for this option 2,155,900 CZK, The plug-in hybrid base for the Q8 comes out at 2,310,900 crowns.
The more powerful 60 TFSI e quattro has the same drive, but differs in the setting of the electric motor, which gives most of its power here. In total, you have 360 kilowatts and 700 newton meters at your disposal. You can go from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds (the weaker plug-in is 0.7 seconds slower), the maximum speed is 240 km/h, and the top speed purely on electricity (135 km/h) is for both versions identical. The price of the 60 TFSI e quattro version starts at 2,287,900 CZK (Q7), respectively on 2,497,900 CZK (Q8).
What unfortunately hasn’t changed with the upgrade is the maximum charging power. It still only reaches 7.4 kilowatts, so you can reach a 100% battery level in about three hours and 45 minutes. The new Škoda Kodiaq iV with a plug-in hybrid drive supports recharging with direct current of up to 50 kW.
Matrix LED headlights are available as an option. In addition to these, the offer also includes HD Matrix LED headlights with laser lights, which significantly extend the range of the main headlights. New in the equipment of the top version of the headlights are the digital characteristic designs of the daytime running lights. For the first time, large-scale digitized OLED rear lamps are also available as an option, which also feature four digital signature light designs. In addition, the digital rear lights have a proximity recognition function realized in cooperation with the assistance systems.
The extras also include electronically controlled air suspension with continuously adaptive shock absorbers – in versions with adaptive air suspension or adaptive air suspension sport. For more powerful plug-ins, air bellows are standard. For the first time, all-wheel steering appears on both SUVs with a combined drive. When driving slowly, the rear wheels can turn up to 5 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels. This reduces the turning diameter by up to one meter and improves the car’s controllability during manoeuvring.
Also for the first time, the electromechanical eAWS system for active body roll stabilization can be ordered for plug-in hybrid versions. A compact electric motor connected to a gearbox is mounted on both axles, which divides the stabilizer into two halves. When driving in a straight line, the two parts are separated from each other and perform their function independently of each other, which minimizes body movements on uneven roads. In contrast, during sporty driving, the electric motor ensures mutual torsional stress between the two halves of the anti-roll bar, so that the anti-roll bar acts as a single unit. The energy of the eAWS system is supplied by a supercapacitor that works with a voltage of 48 V.
The compact and light energy storage, which can receive and emit large electric currents in a very short time, provides each electric motor with a maximum output of 1.5 kW.
