Driving in seventh heaven Audi Q7’s top technology is easy to use
THE new Audi Q7 is the kind of car many aspire to. Owning one is the epitome of luxury in this segment and it is loaded with user-friendly technology that does not require a degree in mechatronics to use and understand.
The standard MMI navigation plus MMI touch brings along a rich array of equipment including a DVD drive, two card readers, a flash memory, Audi sound system, Audi music interface with two USB ports, a Bluetooth interface and the 8.3-inch high-resolution monitor.
The MMI navigation provides easy access to the smartphone voice control, displays e-mails from the cellphone and reads them aloud. It cooperates closely with assistance and safety systems in the new Audi Q7.
The Audi Q7 also, optionally, has the Audi virtual cockpit on board – a 12.3-inch TFT screen with a resolution of 1.440 x 540 pixels, displaying razor-sharp images.
The needle of the rev counter is recalculated 60 times per second so as to be absolutely fluid in operation.
For sophisticated sound system fans, the new Q7 optionally offers a choice between two systems from Bose and Bang & Olufsen. Both offer the new 3D sound. Two (Bose) or four (Bang & Olufsen) additional speakers in the A-pillars provide the spatial dimension of height, lending the music an airy quality, as if it is being played in an open space from a large virtual stage.
The Audi tablet for rear seat entertainment with its high-resolution 10.1-inch screen (1.920 x 1.200 pixels) is a newly tailored and flexible infotainment system. Connected to MMI navigation plus via Wi-Fi, it affords access to the radio, media, navigation and car function menus.
The data transfer runs in both directions. The rear passengers can send a planned route to the driver and, con- versely, the driver can start a radio or media program for them from MMI navigation plus. The sound output occurs through the on-board sound system or headphones.
The Audi tablet, which uses the Android operating system, supports Near Field Communication technology for transmitting data from the smartphone by proximity.
It has 32 gigabytes of internal memory and can be expanded by a microSD card for additional memory. The technical core is the new, super-fast Tegra processor 40 from NVIDIA.
The Audi tablet also provides access to the internet – to approximately one million apps and games, movies and music, audiobooks and e-books.
The integrated full HD camera can be used to make a video call via Skype.
After the trip, the user can take along the Audi tablet from the car for operation offline or in an external wi-fi network. How’s all that for futuristic tech! Forgetting the techno freaks for a minute and considering the petrol heads, under the bonnet is a 3.0 TDI engine which delivers 183kW of power and 600Nm of torque from 1 500 to 3 000rpm.
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.3 seconds, with a top speed of 234km/h. On average, the 3.0 TDI consumes only 5.7 litres of fuel per 100km, emitting only 149 grams of CO2 per kilometre. So what does the Audi Q7 cost? About R1-million. Is it worth it? Oh yes – while the rand is nearing junk status, grab a Q7 while you can still afford it!
The Q7 comes standard with the five-year/ 100 000km Audi Freeway Plan, available to extend to six years/ 200 000km.