2020 Audi Q7 initial details revealed; petrol option to arrive in Australia

Audi has given out a few initial details about its upcoming Q7 line-up, according to which the Australian market might benefit from a petrol unit as well.

The pre-facelift Q7 was not offered with a petrol power plant, despite Mercedes-Benz and BMW offering their large SUVs (rivaling the Q7) with petrol mills. However, all this is about to change with the 2020 scheduled launch of the new Q7.

The rollout of the stricter WLTP emission tests caused production constraints in Europe, which in turn left Q7 in limbo through 2019. Only 167 units have been registered in 2019 compared to 1197 units reported by the end of June 2018.

The Audi Q7 is one of the brand’s best selling models in Australia, and when the new cars arrive next year, it will give the company sales a much-needed boost. Audi is down by 32.2 percent in 2019, lagging behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

At the global launch of the all-new Q7, an Audi spokesperson said that the Q7 50 TDI turbo-diesel would lead the change in Australia, but a ‘55 TFSI’ petrol model might also make it to the market Down Under.

Mercedes-Benz caters to the petrol preferring customers with its GLE 400, while BMW offers the X5 xDrive 40i.

Powering the Q7 50 TDI is a V6 turbo-diesel mill that offers 286 PS of max power and 600 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Thus making the Q7 a direct competitor of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d and BMW X5 30d. The closest equivalent in the ongoing Q7 range is the $106,900 priced 3.0 TDI model.

As for the 55 TFSI unit, no detail is shared yet, but we can always use the Q8 55 TFSI as a reference point. Under its hood rests a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol mill developing 340 PS and 500 Nm. It is also paired to an 8-speed torque converter.