Audi Launches Third-Generation Q7 in Romania With Mild-Hybrid V6 Diesel Engines
The third-generation Audi Q7 has officially debuted on the Romanian market, starting at 87,939 euros with VAT included, hotnews.ro reported. More than twenty years after Audi first entered the large SUV segment in 2005, the German automaker’s latest flagship combines a radical exterior redesign and a heavily digitalized cabin with traditional mechanical underpinnings. While the broader automotive industry accelerates its push toward pure electrification, the new Q7 relies on two 3-liter V6 diesel engines equipped with mild-hybrid technology.
Two V6 Diesel Powertrains and Mild-Hybrid Technology
Audi offers the new Q7 in Romania with two output variants of its 3-liter V6 diesel engine. The entry-level 245-horsepower version starts at 87,939 euros, while the 299-horsepower variant begins at 90,313 euros, both including VAT for the basic trim level, according to hotnews.ro. Promotor.ro noted that the 245-horsepower engine generates 500 Nm of torque, whereas the 299-horsepower unit delivers 630 Nm. Both versions integrate an MHEV plus mild-hybrid system that supplies an extra 18 kW (24 horsepower) and 370 Nm of torque, enabling short electric-only maneuvers during parking and urban driving. An electrically driven compressor reaches 90,000 revolutions per minute in 250 milliseconds to minimize turbo lag. An eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission and permanent quattro all-wheel drive come standard across both variants, featuring a self-locking central differential. The 299-horsepower model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, moving a vehicle weighing approximately 2.5 tonnes. Fuel consumption ranges from 7.1 to 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers for the 245-horsepower model and 7.2 to 8.0 liters for the 299-horsepower variant, placing both in CO2 emission class G.
Exterior Redesign and Digital Lighting Innovations
The exterior departs from the brand’s traditionally conservative styling by adopting design cues inspired by Audi’s electric and hybrid models. The front fascia features a larger, more prominent Singleframe grille that can be optionally illuminated, as reported by hotnews.ro and promotor.ro. The front lighting is split into two distinct tiers: slim daytime running lights sit on top, while the main headlights—available with Digital Matrix LED technology—are positioned underneath. At the rear, the vehicle incorporates a continuous light strip and digital OLED taillights. Promotor.ro highlighted that the OLED lights project specific graphics when the turn signals are active, joining up to eight selectable digital light signatures for the front and rear.
Digital Interior Layout and Seating Configurations
Promotor.ro observed that Audi has largely eliminated gloss-black plastic surfaces from the interior, restricting the material primarily to the steering wheel and touch controls. The Q7 is available in five-, six-, and seven-seat layouts. The six-seat configuration is a first for the model, featuring two individual captain’s chairs in the second row. In the standard five-seat setup, the trunk provides 806 liters of storage, expanding to 2,075 liters with the rear seats folded down. When configured with seven seats, the luggage compartment offers up to 722 liters, reaching 1,980 liters with the seats down, according to promotor.ro.
Safety Ratings and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
The new Audi Q7 earned a maximum five-star safety rating in independent Euro NCAP crash tests.
Pricing, Leasing Promotions, and Market Rivals
The new Q7 competes in the large premium SUV segment against established models such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and the Volvo XC90, which recently introduced a plug-in hybrid powertrain, as noted by promotor.ro. In Romania, the vehicle is currently offered in a single “Basic” trim level. To mark the launch, Audi launched a leasing promotion for the first 50 vehicles sold to corporate clients until December 31, 2026. For the 299-horsepower Q7 V6 TDI, the promotion sets a monthly payment of 491 euros plus VAT for the first 18 months, increasing to 749 euros plus VAT thereafter, under a 48-month contract requiring a 25 percent down payment and including CASCO insurance, hotnews.ro reported.
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