Audi Australia has announced a trio of updated models for 2021, headlined by the debut of petrol power for the facelifted Q7 seven-seat SUV.
Rounding out the changes are upgraded powertrains for the A4 allroad 40 TDI quattro and the TT 45 TFSI quattro, both benefitting from increased outputs.
Audi Q7 55 TFSI here in Q1 2021
Arguably the biggest news is the return of petrol power for the popular Audi Q7 large SUV.
Where the first Q7 offered V6 and V8 petrol versions over its lifecycle, the current second-generation model has been strictly diesel-only – though Audi Australia promised a petrol would join the facelifted range following the initial launch earlier this year.
When it arrives during the first quarter of 2021, the Q7 55 TFSI S line quattro will serve as the flagship variant of the core range (not including SQ7), priced from $121,300 before on-road costs, making it $1400 more than the equivalently-specified Q7 50 TDI S line quattro.
Like other 55 TFSI models in the Audi line-up, the petrol Q7 features a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 developing 250kW of power and 500Nm of torque, sent to a quattro all-wheel drive system via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Audi claims the Q7 55 TFSI will be the quickest model in the core line-up, quoting a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.9 seconds.
While not explicitly called out in Audi’s local press release, the new V6 petrol Q7 will also feature a 48V mild-hybrid system for enhanced efficiency.
Audi TT 45 TFSI quattro gets performance boost
The entry-level Audi TT was no slouch to begin with, but just like its MQB-based cousin – the VW Golf GTI – the 45 TFSI quattro model has been given a power boost.
For 2021, the base Audi TT gets an uprated 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine, driving all four wheels via a new seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic.
Prior to the announcement, the TT 45 TFSI quattro made 169kW and 350Nm from the same displacement, and featured a six-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox.
Sound familiar? That’s because it’s pretty much the same drivetrain out of the Mk7.5 Golf GTI Performance but with an all-wheel drive system, with the outgoing oily bits shared with the non-Performance hot hatch.
The claimed 0-100km/h time has been improved by 0.1 seconds to 5.2 seconds.
Prices are slightly up by about $1500, now starting at $80,900 before on-road costs for the updated TT 45 TFSI quattro, available in showrooms now.
Audi A4 allroad gets beefier, cleaner and mildly electrified
Finally, the Audi A4 allroad gets a new diesel engine in 40 TDI quattro guise, bringing a 12-volt “mild hybrid” system and a new exhaust treatment system to further reduce emissions.
It’s brought more power, too – 10kW more to be exact. Outputs for the revised 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel are now rated at 150kW and 400Nm.
The added punch has reduced the 0-100km/h claim by 0.5 seconds (7.3 seconds), while the heavily revised exhaust after-treatment reduces NOx emissions by “more than 90 per cent”.
Audi says the new motor is equipped with twin-dosing Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) with double AdBlue injection, designed to meet increasingly strict regulations in Europe.
Fuel consumption has been reduced to 4.9L/100km (down from 5.2L/100km), making the A4 allroad 40 TDI quattro one of the most efficient wagons on sale in Australia.
Like the Q7 55 TFSI, the updated A4 allroad diesel will hit showrooms early next year, priced from $70,700 plus on-road costs – an $800 increase.
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