After nine years in the market and no fewer than two major facelifts, Audi is finally ready to retire the second-generation Q7. The third generation is in the making and probably a few months to a year away from launching, and it should be better in every aspect.
Although controversial due to those Ford Explorer vibes, the front fascia features a wider and shorter grille and a huge air intake in the new bumper. Audi went for a split-headlamp design on the 2026 Q7, with the main clusters below the DRLs.
The hood is almost clamshell-like, and the front and rear overhangs are similar to those of the outgoing Q7. The roofline remains a tiny bit arched towards the rear, and one important novelty that we get to see in a premiere in the latest set of spy shots is the door handle design.
Zooming in on certain pictures will reveal that the door handles were repositioned below the window line and towards the rear. Fake stickers were placed where the traditional door handles would be, and our spy photographers believe the new ones will be optional. The back end still had the provisional taillamps and a pair of rectangular tailpipes.
Photo: SH Proshots
Although old, the current Audi Q7's cockpit is quite nice. The car manufacturer took the time to incorporate the two main screens into the dashboard. A third one, which is positioned on the center console, controls the HVAC system. Reports indicate it might get the same layout as the Q6 e-tron, perhaps with identical dual screens, an 11.9-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 14.5-inch infotainment. A passenger display could also be on the menu, next to the usual comfort amenities.
Power might be supplied by an assortment of six-cylinder gasoline units with turbocharging. Most or probably all will feature the 48V technology. One or more plug-in hybrids will also be on the menu, and the diesel isn't going anywhere for now, as it remains quite popular in Europe. As usual, the SQ7 will offer superior performance, and the new one should make over 500 hp (507 ps/373 kW) and more than 568 pound-foot (770 Nm) of torque, which is what the current one enjoys.
Audi's next-gen Q7 will keep challenging other ICE-powered premium mid-size crossovers, including its two main rivals from BMW and Mercedes, the X5 and GLE, respectively. The company based in Ingolstadt is said to unveil it sometime next year, and the first copies will likely arrive at dealers on this side of the world for the 2026 model year, replacing the aging second-gen that starts at $60,500 for the base model and $90,800 for the V8-powered SQ7. So, would you get the new Q7 over its rivals?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News