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Hello and welcome to the first of a new
style of video here on the What Car? channel. It is what it says on the tin
really, the idea is: we tell you five hopefully interesting things about a
brand new car that we've got our hands on for the very first time. Sometimes
we'll be on the cars launch abroad, sometimes we'll be back at What Car?
towers in London, and others will be here at our Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.
It's where we do all of our high-speed, performance, and handling tests. The
sort of stuff that it really wouldn't be safe to do on the road. Now, this isn't
intended to be an in-depth review so if you want that for any car you see a five
things video on, you'll need to head over to our website whatcar.com, and remember we
don't just review cars here at What Car?. We can also help you buy, and potentially
save you quite a lot of money in the process. To find out the latest discounts
available on any new car, just click the link up there in the top right hand corner.
So, onto the car in the spotlight today, and it's the new Audi Q7 Vorsprung.
Now if you aren't familiar with the Q7, it's Audi’s biggest 4x4 and it's
been our favourite luxury SUV since its launch in 2015, thanks to its supremely
comfortable ride, whisper quiet cruising manners, a classy interior, and seven seat
practicality. Number one, What exactly is the Vorsprung? Well Audi’s been using
the strap line ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ which roughly translates to: Progress
through technology, in its advertising campaigns for decades. But this is the
first time it's actually used the tag, or part of it at least, on one of its cars.
Now you can buy a Vorsprung edition of the 3-litre TDI 272 diesel, or the
range-topping 4-litre V8 called the SQ7. There's no Vorsprung version of the Q7
e-tron, that's the plug-in hybrid version, or the entry-level 3-litre TDI 218.
Whichever engine you choose, things like the engine & gearbox are unchanged,
although if you go for the 3-litre TDI you'll get adaptive air sport suspension.
It's slightly lower than the optional air suspension that you can have on the
S line model, so it doesn't waft you over bumps quite as brilliantly, although
it's still a really comfortable car.
You also get (deep breath)
huge 22 inch alloys, a black styling pack, Matrix LED headlights,
Audi's Virtual Cockpit, Valcona leather seats – that are heated in the front and in
the back, a full leather package – which includes, well, leather
just about everywhere really, an electrically adjustable steering wheel,
a panoramic roof, an electric tonneau cover, a head-up display, wireless phone
charging, a BOSE 3D sound system, keyless entry, a self parking system, a 360-degree
camera, adaptive cruise control, and just about every modern safety aid you can
think of. That's on top of everything you get a standard with the regular S line trim.
So how much does it cost? Yep, you've probably guessed it, all
those standard luxuries, and that cutting edge safety gear, doesn't come cheap.
You'll pay - wait for it - more than 21 thousand pounds (£21,000) more for a Vorsprung,
than you will a 3-litre TDI 272 in S line trim, the total bill just over
seventy nine thousand pounds (£79,000). If you go for the SQ7 Vorsprung, the premium
is fifteen thousand pounds (£15,000) over the regular SQ7, pushing the price up to just
under ninety thousand pounds (£90,000). It is worth remembering though that although
that's an enormous amount of money, it's still less than you'd pay for an equivalent
Range Rover, let alone a Bentley Bentayga.
You can already get around
eight percent off the price without any haggling by using our New Car Buying
service. That's a load of cash if you're paying upfront, or much lower monthly
repayments if you aren’t. Number three, how fast is it? now if you're thinking, what
is he on about? Who really cares how fast a big seven seat SUV is? Well that's a
fair point, if you're thinking about the 3-litre TDI model, I mean performance
is brisk enough, 0-60 takes about six and a half seconds, but it's nothing
to make a big song and dance about. But, this isn't the 3-litre TDI, it's the
4-litre V8 SQ7, and it has nearly 430 brake horsepower. Now we've got a mile
long straight here at our proving ground, so, rather than talking too much about it,
it's probably best if I just demonstrate what this car can do… So, all you do, just
put the car in Drive, put your left foot hard on the brake, right foot hard on the
accelerator pedal and then release the brake.
[engine noise]
And, we're doing 60 miles an hour in 4.6 seconds.
Look, there's the proof. That's as quick as a Porsche Cayman, in a seven-seater
five metre long SUV, that weighs more than two tons. That's ridiculous.
Number four, will it cost me more to run? Actually yes, but not
by much. You see going for a Vorsprung edition might not get you any more power,
but those huge 22 inch alloys don't do fuel economy or CO2 emissions any favours.
Expect to get around two miles less to the gallon if you go for the SQ7, and
three miles less if you go for the less powerful 3-litre TDI 272. CO2 emissions
jump by enough to put you into a higher company car tax band, if you go
for the 3-litre TDI, but not if you choose the SQ7.
Finally, number five, should you buy
one? Should you buy a Q7? Absolutely, the looks might not be to everyone's tastes,
but objectively it's one of the very best cars you can buy, no matter how much
money you've got to spend. But should you buy a Vorsprung? Well, unless you're the
kind of person who just can't resist ticking every single option box when you
buy a new car, you'll get better value by choosing the 3-litre TDI 272 in S line
trim, or if you want bonkers performance the regular SQ7. If you are buying a
3-litre TDI S line though, just make sure you cough up extra for optional air
suspension, because it makes the Q7 one of the most comfortable cars on the
planet. So that's it, thanks for watching, and if you've enjoyed this video then
please do give us a like, and if there are any brand new models that you'd like
to see a ‘5 things’ video on then please do let us know in the comment section
below. Before you go, don't forget to subscribe
so you're notified about all of our latest videos.
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