{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”Article”,”image”:”https://car-images.bauersecure.com/wp-images/265504/audi-q7-2026-15.jpg”,”mainEntityOfPage”:{“@type”:”WebPage”,”@id”:”https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/audi/2026-q7/”},”url”:”https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/first-official-pictures/audi/2026-q7/”,”author”:{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Jake Groves”,”description”:”Jake Groves is CARu2019s News Editor, and has been part of the CAR team since April 2017. As well as managing the news content thatu2019s published on CARu2019s website, Jake also helps to build the news-based content in the Agenda section of CARu2019s monthly print magazine u2013 planning how new cars, big industry stories and exclusive scoops can be crafted into the pages of CAR.nnnnJake has been a car enthusiast even before he could walk, pointing out car models on the street while still in a pushchair. Growing up, Jake has always been around cars, attending motor shows with family, amassing a vast collection of toy cars u2013 even managing to steer some his parentsu2019 cars and drive a Ferrari 355 (on private land!) before he was legally allowed to have a licence.nnnnHe knew from being a teenager that he wanted to write about cars and the automotive industry, so he went to Sunderland University (the same university CAR contributor Chris Chilton went to, among other members of the automotive media) to study journalism through an NCTJ-accredited course from 2011. During his final year in 2014, he even created his own car magazine from scratch u2013 which you can still read right here u2013 and achieved a 2:1 Batcheloru2019s Degree.nnnnJake then cut his teeth working for Dennis Publishingu2019s automotive titles Carbuyer and Auto Express for two years; time at the former taught him how to drive a website content system like he stole it, and the latter refined his news writing skills.nnnnAt CAR, itu2019s his job to know whatu2019s happening at all times in the automotive industry, react to breaking news stories and direct CARu2019s team as to how to approach news content both in print and online. He interviews industry executives to either get the scoop or help flesh out a story happening in the automotive world around us, attends press conferences and events to get the story from on the ground and investigates the latest technologies being developed for and by the car industry.nnnnJake writes mostly about new car reveals, wider industry stories and articles surrounding electric cars. On top of that, heu2019s written countless drive reviews for CAR u2013 both in print and online u2013 as well as on our companion site, Parkers. Heu2019s also the custodian of the CAR newsletter, keeping you up to date with everything thatu2019s happened in the world of CAR.nnnnWhen heu2019s not driving, Jake is a big gamer. As well as hammering racing games, Jake spends a lot of his time on role-playing games and gets his real geek on with simulation games like city builders on the PC. When heu2019s not in the digital universe, heu2019s usually seen building the latest Lego kit or buying a new pair of trainers u2013 even if his house is rapidly running out of space to fit any more of either.nnnnOn social media, Jakeu2019s Instagram profile is filled with all of the cars heu2019s been lucky enough to drive over the years, and you can follow him on X (nu00E9e Twitter). Read Jakeu2019s latest articles below.”,”image”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://car-assets.bauersecure.com/wp-images/14234/jg5.jpg”,”caption”:”Jake Groves”},”sameAs”:[“https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-groves-06181b40/”,”https://x.com/_jakegroves”,”https://www.instagram.com/_jakegroves/”],”url”:”https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/author/jake-groves/”,”alumniOf”:{“@type”:”EducationalOrganization”,”name”:”University of Sunderland”},”email”:”jake.groves@carmagazine.co.uk”,”jobTitle”:”News Editor”,”knowsAbout”:”Automotive,Car news,Car reviews,Car features,Car technology”},”dateModified”:”2026-06-09T15:05:57+01:00″,”datePublished”:”2026-06-09T13:53:29+01:00″,”headline”:”Monolithic new Audi Q7 banishes gloss black trim, keeps diesel”,”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Bauer Media”,”brand”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”Car Magazine”},”logo”:{“@type”:”ImageObject”,”url”:”https://car-assets.bauersecure.com/images/logos/car.200×88.png”}}}

Monolithic new Audi Q7 banishes gloss black trim, keeps diesel

By Jake Groves

Updated: Today 14:05

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

View all Audi Q7 Reviews

► New seven-seat Audi Q7 SUV revealed
► Fresh interior reduces reliance on gloss black trim
► Launches with diesel power only, for now

Audi has pulled the covers off its new Q7 SUV, making this only the third generation in just over 20 years. The new and rather large seven-seat SUV naturally launches with a fresh design, new tech and – crucially given Audi’s recent efforts – an interior design that relies much less on gloss black trim. Hurrah.

It’s quite a monolithic thing to look at, carrying across a very similar design theme to that of cars like the current A6… only much taller. Indeed, that new rear end is very upright – even compared to previous generation Q7 models – and the front end is what we’ve come to expect from Audi’s outgoing design trajectory. Sadly, this Q7 was too far down the product development line for new design boss Massimo Frascella to sprinkle much Concept C-ness onto the final design.

What has taken a step forward compared to recent Audis, though, is the interior. The general structure of the dashboard is largely predictable, following a similar pattern in screen and steering wheel designs as almost everything else the brand has launched in recent years. That extends to things like the thin steering with some haptic buttons (not all are; Audi has recently added some clicky roller wheels for volume and so on) as well as a huge, curved panel that incorporates the digital instruments and a big central infotainment display. Upper models can be had with a typically useless passenger screen.

The biggest changes are to do with material use, though. Recent Audi interiors have been awash with gloss black trim almost everywhere possible; a material that scratches easily, becomes beset with fingerprints the moment it’s touched and generally feels cheap. Audi promises a bounty of customisation options like colour and material trims including ones like this fine-grain ash wood, as well as others described as ‘silk beige’, ‘lime structure natural’ and ‘basalt grey.’ Very curious.

Naturally, the Q7 remains a seven seater, with Audi pointing out comfort features like fast charger ports and easily foldable seating. A new panoramic glass roof has an in-built switchable transparency.

At launch, your only engine choice is a mild hybrid diesel. It’s a 3.0-litre V6 unit that includes Audi’s MHEV Plus technology that allows for coasting and low-speed driving with the engine off. The engine develops 295bhp and 369lb ft all in. That’s naturally mated to a quattro all-wheel drive system. Your choices will likely expand to include a plug-in hybrid, as well as an SQ7 version.

Depending on spec (and country), the Q7 can be had with standard steel springs and two configurations of air suspension, with the latter of the two having a sportier setup. Rear-wheel steering is also on the options list. And, because Audi is particularly nerdy when it comes to lighting technology, its matrix OLED headlights beam your indicators onto the road at night so fewer pedestrians are potentially caught out by you turning around corners.

UK specs and prices will be announced soon, but Audi says you’ll be able to order one imminently with the first ones landing in September 2026.