The Audi Q7 gets a minor facelift and the changes are few but striking. OverDrive (Sept. ’09) takes a quick look...
 Design-wise the changes make the car look younger and more in your face. The front grille gets chromed vertical slats, adding to the overall bling factor. The headlamps have the same silhouette but they now sport a techno looking enclosure for the beams. The bumper too has been redesigned and comes with sporty lower lip treatment complete with a skidpan in the centre.
The tail lamps also get the LED treatment and the tailgate has been slightly redesigned to accommodate larger number plates. Also the car flashes new chunky 18-inch, six-spoke alloys that can be upgraded to 10-spoke 20-inchers with the S-line package.
There is no great change in the interior design – it’s still as opulent and spacious as the older version but if a bit distinction is needed, the S-line package offers a new two tone finish. The interior upgrade also brings the new MMI High system seen on the Q5 with a 40GB hard disk (out of which 30GB will be used for navigation purposes). Unfortunately the system only accepts SD cards and no USB’s.
 The Q7 also gets the advanced parking system with a rear-view camera and guiding lines, including the super convenient guide for parallel parking. The S-line trim gets a Bang & Olufsen music system with pop-up tweeters in the dashboard, a huge sub-woofer at the rear and 14 speakers in all.
If one wishes to order for the Q7 in the six-seater configuration, one can also opt for a chiller compartment under the central armrest to keep the drinks cool. There is also a new ambient lighting package, with LED strips running under the door panels providing chic indirect illumination.
Nothing has changed under the hood though and the Q7 will continue to be available with the torquey 3.0-litre TDI diesel, producing 240PS of power and a staggering 550Nm of torque.
The two petrol engines on offer are the 3.6 litre V6 FSI petrol engine that develops 283PS of power and the range topping 4.2-litre V8 FSI with 350PS.
The pricing approximately should start at around Rs. 60 lakh for the base 3.0TDI and go up to 68 lakh for the 4.2FSI.
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