The 2016 Audi Q7 shines with renewed power and sophistication

IT’S A BIT surreal, this sight of an impressive armada of gleaming SUVs plowing through golden sand dunes on a desert floor, casting sun flares on my lens as I track them—traveling swiftly and unhindered, and none the least labored.

The correlation of size over distance and the rate of their forward motion seem unusual, for things this big aren’t usually agile and graceful at the same time. But they are.

The latest iteration of Audi’s flagship full-sized SUV was revealed to us via an exceptional drive experience, all 50 of them to be exact, in the jewel of the Middle East, Dubai. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the all-new Audi Q7.

At a time when German automakers of premium luxury brands have virtually declared they’re done with subtlety with regard to their cars’ designs and overall intentions, Audi still strikes many as the marquee that exercises well-calculated restraint.

To the uninitiated, it’s simply understated. To those who understand the brand with the four rings, it needn’t say more. But the new Q7 now has a stance that speaks of a renewed athletic boldness, with its a gaping hexagonal grille and huge rims housed in bulging, flared-out fenders.

It is, by looks alone, a more capable Q7 than its very successful 6-year-old predecessor. Yes, it took Audi quite a while to release the successor, for the automaker had to make certain it was a more capable Q7, far beyond just looks alone.

The new Q7 is currently available with either a supercharged 3-liter V6 TFSI engine or a twin-turbocharged 3-liter V6 TDI (diesel) engine that are both mated to a silky-smooth shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

Both variants bear the benefit of Audi’s proprietary Quattro all-wheel-drive system. These new engines are more powerful at 333  and 272 horsepower, respectively, with hefty amounts of torque at  599.95 and  440.14 Newton-meters, respectively, delivering a steady rush of assertive acceleration all the way to the upper end of the rev range, and capable of hitting 100 kilometers per hour in just a hair above six seconds.

Astounding, considering those are performance sedan figures, racked up by a full-sized SUV.

Despite that fact, the new Q7 is even more fuel-efficient, due to a smarter engine management system, improved transmission ratios, sleeker aerodynamics, and the generous use of lightweight aluminum, which reduced its total weight by about 700 pounds.

I’d driven the previous Q7, and the differences to this current model in terms of handling and overall driving feel are more than significant.

Gone is the wallowy “land yacht” feel of the older Q7; this   is instead replaced by a plush but more performance-oriented tight feel in the new Q7. It’s fascinating how its more precise and responsive handling did not diminish the luxurious ride quality.

And speaking of ride quality, the Q7 certainly upped the ante on the aspect of comfort and luxury. Its interior is hands down one of the best designed in the category—from the premium perforated leather seats, to the elegant wood trim on brushed aluminum surfaces on the dash and console, to the stunning virtual instrumentation and interface that utilize crisp, high-resolution 12- and 8-inch center displays.

Add to that customizable ambient lighting to complement the exceptional-sounding Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

It’s easy to get lost in the luxury of the ride, whether as a driver or passenger, and momentarily forget that the Q7 is brimming with the latest in automotive technology as well.

Its Matrix LED headlights don’t only enhance one’s nighttime visibility, it also improves safety with an autodimming function that activates for approaching traffic.

Optional four-wheel steering is also available for increased tenacity on turns especially at higher speeds. A full complement of new-generation assistive tech features that activate for parking, braking, turning, lane changing, hill descending, cruising and more all silently and discreetly work to further enhance safety and improve the overall driving experience.

Audi made a fantastic choice of showcasing everything that’s new about the Q7 in Dubai. For amid the luxuriously exotic setting, the sumptuous cuisine, breathtaking sights and great company, our ride was right at home.

For a few days, we felt like royalty, led around by a handsome and very capable knight—Audi’s spectacular Q7.