- Audi will mildly revise its Q7 SUV this year
- Changes could include new lighting signatures
- Interior technology tweaks are not out of the question
It is not unusual for an automaker to give its vehicles slight tweaks a few years after introduction, a process usually referred to as a ‘midcycle refresh’. Unlike other midlife activities, this one doesn’t involve buying a motorcycle and finding a new partner; instead, the process generally involves making small but noticeable changes to parts such as lights, which can be easily altered without re-engineering the bones of the vehicle.
This is the direction Audi is taking with its three-row Q7 until a brand-new variant shows up in a couple of years. Our spy photographers caught this lightly camouflaged test vehicle in Germany, undergoing some validation on smooth urban paved streets where machines like the Q7 are usually found. The most off-roading experienced by many vehicles of this ilk is that unpaved section in the far corner of a Costco parking lot, so this should not be a surprise.
Audi is a master of the ‘different lengths of sausage’ design school, meaning this updated Q7 is going to look a great deal like its smaller Q5 brother. And the Q3. And the Q1, if it existed here. This is not a bad thing for customers who like German stoicism, especially with those freshly chiseled headlamps at the front of this new Q7. Adding new LED mascara is a relatively simple way for an automaker to change up the visage of their rigs, so expect to fully see that treatment here when the camo is removed.
Around back we find masking around the taillamps, suggesting modified lighting signatures in this area as well. Since this is a midcycle refresh, wholesale changes will not be made to the hatch shape, a panel which is home to the Q7’s taillights. Bulbs for reverse lamps appear to remain in the rear bumper, a spot which assures they will be nice and expensive to replace even in a minor fender bender. There are no changes to side items like the fuel filler neck, but the camo suggests some lower cladding trim differences might be in the offing. While not seen here, small interior tech changes may be in the cards as well.
The large Audi Q7 isn’t the brand’s best-seller in Canada; that crown belongs to the Q3 and Q5, which comprise just over half of Audi volume in this country. Still, the market demands three-row vehicles for those who want them – and you can be certain Audi enjoys those tasty profits. Look for the refreshed Q7 later this year.
Keyword: Spied! 2024 Audi Q7 gets a nip and tuck