Audi is giving the big Q7 SUV an update for 2024, and you'll spot it easily enough because of that face. The Q7 now gets very slim, almost aggressive-looking headlights and a revised grille with a more obvious chrome surround and chunkier patterns in the middle. If it's the sportier SQ7 model, then it gets bigger side intakes at the front. Those new slim headlights get HD Matrix LED technology with lasers as an additional beam light for the top-spec versions.
LEDs with laser light
These lights use 24 LEDs and a high-power laser diode each and are immediately recognisable via a blue ambient light incorporated into the headlights. The lasers switch on at 70km/h and above to extend the high-beam range. You can also pick from four digital light shapes and signatures via the car's MMI infotainment system.
There are new lights around the back, too, with OLED brake lights, which allow you - again - to pick from four different rear light shapes and signatures - but this function is for the top-spec models only for now. The brake lights also have a proximity alert to warn drivers coming up behind at low speeds that they're getting too close.
There are some new paint finishes for the Q7, too - Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chilli Red - and these can be matched with new alloy wheels, which now go up to 22 inches in diameter.
The infotainment system has been updated and now comes with native Spotify and Amazon Music installed. Needless to say it gets over the air software updates, and there's an online store for further and future apps.
Upgraded interior
There have been some upgrades to the digital driver's instrument panel, too, which now has a more HD appearance and includes a lane change warning, a display which shows where other road users are, a distance warning, a junction assist function, and traffic light info.
While Irish prices and specifications have yet to be issued, it looks likely that standard equipment will include quattro all-wheel drive, adaptive air suspension, Matrix LED headlamps, a rearview camera, Valcona leather upholstery, electrically adjustable heated front sports seats with 'S' embossed logo, Audi Virtual Cockpit, climate control, and privacy glass.
That air suspension can adjust the Q7's ride height through 90mm and automatically drops by 30mm on motorways to improve the car's aerodynamics. There's a 'Lift' function for off-roading as well (has any Q7 ever been actually taken off-road by an owner?), which increases the ride height by 60mm for tricky terrain. The high-spec SQ7 also now gets rear-wheel steering which can steer the rears through up to five degrees and cuts a full metre off the low-speed turning circle.
Diesel and petrol versions
So far, Audi has only released details for two petrol and two diesel engines, with no word yet of any hybrid or plug-in hybrid variants. The base engine is a 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesel with 231hp badged as the 45 TDI, or you can upgrade that to a 50 TDI version of the same engine with 286hp and 600Nm of torque.
The petrol-engined lineup kicks off with the 55 TFSI, which uses a 3.0-litre V6 with 340hp, while at the top of the range is the SQ7 TFSI, which gets a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, developing 507hp and 770Nm of torque. That's good enough for a 4.1 second 0-100km/h sprint. You'll spot the SQ7 from its beefier front bumper and blacked-out chrome. As well as the four-wheel steering, the SQ7 gets torque vectoring for the rear axle, and an active anti-roll system too. 22-inch alloys are standard for the SQ7.