A new LoCo Audi Q7 SUV debuts in the UK: Could it be a bright prospect for India?

Many months ago, Audi India knocked the socks of the BMW X3 Crossover with a LoCo Audi Q5, even before the Beemer was launched in the Indian market. How did they do that? Audi plonked in the 2 Liter, 170 Bhp, TDI turbo diesel engine, that also does duty in the likes of the Volkswagen Passat and the Audi A4, into the Q5 crossover’s engine bay and along with that priced the Q5 extremely competitively at under 40 big ones. Predictably so, the Audi Q5 crossover is a best seller, running rings aorund the BMW X3 at the hustings.

Audi Q7 SUV

Now, we have news emerging about the Audi Q7 getting a detuned engine and along with that a new entry level variant, cut price to suit the economics of the times we’re living in. The Audi Q7 SUV’s LoCo variant now comes with the same V6 TDI turbo diesel engine, but with a revised power output of 204 Bhp instead of the previous 245 Bhp. Torque too sees a lower figure of 450 Nm instead of previous 550 Nm. What however, sees a big upward move is fuel economy, which Audi claims to be a whopping 17 Kmpl, a full 4.4 Kmpl more than that of the engine in the more powerful state of tune.

Audi Q7 SUV

Transmission duties are handled by the same 8 speed tiptronic automatic gearbox while all wheel drive is standard piece of equipment. What has us immediately interested is whether such a variant actually makes sense for a market like India, given that the Audi Q7 still has plenty of power and torque to be taken seriously by most it not all luxury SUV buyers. If Audi India could begin assembling the Q7 in India and probably start selling the Q7 with the detuned, more fuel efficient engine, the German brand can only strengthen its leadership position in the luxury SUV market. What say, Audi?

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