DUTCH VanAtlanta

I'm already missing my 2010 Q7 3.0 TDI. Does anyone have any idea when information about the 2015's will be available?

sbrar96

Heres an article on the next gen Q7
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/201...-detailed-news
I've been really interested in the 2015 Q7 and have been searching up articles for a long time and I seem to recall in one of the articles there was a rumoured late 2014 release while a new article says its been delayed till early 2015. Theres a lot of conflicting reports and it doesn't help that Audi hasn't said anything. I'd say expect feature and design information somewhere around July August tho!

audi40

Wow, I remember when you posted a few weeks ago about buying the ML and I posted that my wife and I were impressed after checking out the ML at a local autoshow. We were actually at the MB dealer today to test-drive and negotiate on a 350 BlueTEC for her. What are your thoughts (likes/dislikes) so far comparing the ML BT to your old Q7 TDI?

I commented to my wife that maybe we should wait to see the 2015 Q7, but we both really like the look and size of the ML between the Q5 and Q7. While I'd like to look at the Touareg R-Line, my wife isn't interested.

DUTCH VanAtlanta

Audi40, To respond to your questions. My primary gripe about the MB ML350BTC is that the 7G-Tronic shifts extremely rough before the drive train is fully warmed up. This same transmission did this in my 2007 ML320CDI, so it appears that very little has been done in 7 years to improve things.

The second big gripe is that the ML build quality feels more like a Chevy than a good solid German engineered vehicle, which the Q7 did. The Air-matic suspension on the ML definitely feels inferior to that of the Q7, and has less functionality. The seats, both front and back, had a much more solid and substantial feel on the Q7.

Even though smaller than the Q7, the ML has larger blind spots, probably primarily due to the considerably smaller outside rear view mirrors. The blind spot warning option is a definite MUST on the ML.

The ML does have a bunch more electronic gee-gaws, especially when added as options which are not available on the Q7. Of course the breakdown potential goes up with all that stuff.

I have not yet towed my 4400 lb camper with the ML, but have my concerns there, too. The ML has higher engine torque and listed towing capacity, but the hitch receiver is 3" lower than the Q7 and my MB G500. Not sure how this will affect the towing, but deploying the jockey wheel on the camper might be a problem, as will ground clearance. Also,those smaller outside rear view mirrors are not going to help the towing either.

Bottom line is that I can see first hand why Audi is running circles around MB and BMW in Europe; and why their market share in the US is getting larger, too. I may be selling or trading this ML earlier than planned to get back into a Q7.

These observations are obviously all very subjective; but are what I'm experiencing through the seat of my pants. I hope this helps.

PS - There is one place the ML is superior to the Q7. The Harmon-Kardon in the ML blows away the Bose in the Q7.

gxs

According to a speech Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Hackenberg (member of the board of management of AUDI AG technical development) held at the Annual Press Conference Ingolstadt on March 11 this year, the next generation Q7 will launch this year.

See second sentence of page 5 of the press release (he talks about product launches in 2014):
http://www.audi.com/content/dam/com/...erg_speech.pdf

jperryrocks

There is no more allocation for 2014. April allocation will be for 2015.

My guess is Audi will build a limited amount of 2015 q7s in the same body style and the all new q7 will be a 16 model.

frank gannett

Ordered a 2014 scuba blue black optic Q7. The dealer in Nashville Audi told me there was a dealer incentive of 2500.00 as the 2015 would change body style. The Q7 got in here in March and it's beautiful. My old Q7 was worth1000.00 less than their first quote and no incentive money. They just denied there was one. Wonder how you'd check to see if there was one. The lesser trade money I can see, as it was a prediction three months out. The incentive hurts a bit. I ordered the high end stereo thinking the cost would br reduced by the incentive money.

DUTCH VanAtlanta

Car dealers! Arrggghhhh!!!!!