Updated Audi SQ7 TDI brings it back to top form

The latest in Audi design and engineering know-how has brought the updated Audi SQ7 TDI right up to speed. The high-performance seven-seater has remained true to its roots in one area that will please devotees of maximum displacement - the 429bhp bi-turbo V8 diesel engine remains the star attraction for the updated vehicle.

The 4.0-litre bi-turbo TDI backs up its output with 900Nm of torque available between 1,250rpm and 3,250rpm, enough to catapult the SQ7 TDI from rest to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds and to take it to an electronically governed top speed of 250km/h.

A 48V electrical subsystem feeds an electrically powered compressor (EPC) that assists the two turbochargers whenever the load demand from the accelerator is high while the available energy in the exhaust gas is still low, resulting in tremendous torque availability even when accelerating from low speeds or when starting off.

Integrated into the intake air tract, the compact electric motor can accelerate its compressor impeller to up to 70,000rpm in 250ms.

This engine is paired to a quick-shifting eight-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive to slickly convey its immense power onto the road. The standard S-specific adaptive sport air suspension and progressive steering, whose ratio becomes increasingly direct as the steering angle increases, create excellent driving dynamics, and in Vorsprung versions standard all-wheel steering makes the large SUV even easier to handle. The system turns the rear wheels by up to five degrees in the opposite direction at low speed to maximise manoeuvrability, and at higher speeds turns them slightly in the same direction to promote stability.

The interior of the Audi SQ7 TDI now features sports seats upholstered in dark Valcona leather with integrated head restraints, 'S' embossing, rhombus stitching and pneumatic lumbar support adjustment. In the SQ7 TDI Vorsprung they are also climate controlled and also feature a massage function.

Soft Alcantara door inserts and brushed aluminium inlays complement these seats, as do the illuminated door sill trims bearing the 'S' logo and the pedals, footrest and loading sill protector finished in stainless steel brightwork.

MMI navigation plus, which includes touchscreen operation, delivers top-of-the-line connectivity as standard. It features LTE Advanced, a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice control and the extensive Audi connect portfolio, bringing benefits such as traffic information online, navigation with Google Earth, the hybrid radio and the cloud-based Amazon Alexa voice service. There is also a performance view, which places the rev counter in the centre.

Additional convenience 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 fragrancing and ionizer. Audi also offers HD matrix LED head lights including laser light as an alternative to matrix LED head lights with dynamic turn signals. The adaptive cruise assist, which supports the driver with longitudinal and lateral guidance, is among a variety of driver assistance systems that are available upon request.

The Audi SQ7 TDI will start at €94,900 (approx. $144,788) in Germany, while the seven-seater model will also be available in Germany from €96,420 (approx. $147,107).