The Q7's getting on a bit, now. It's been around since 2006, and over the last eight years, it's only seen a few minor updates. Time for it to be replaced, then. Audi's been working on an all-new Q7, and here it is.
The most important thing is that it has lost quite a lot of weight. The new car weighs 325kg less than its predecessor, thanks to the clever use of high-strength steel and aluminium.
Kerb weight is just under two tonnes, and it's also grown smaller in terms of size, but Audi says it's more spacious on the inside. Apart from helping improve handling, the loss in mass has also made the big Q efficient. It will be 26 per cent more economical than the car it replaces.
Powering it will be the updated 3.0-litre diesel and 3.0-litre petrol V6s, with a 2.0-litre petrol also available in Asia and the USA. It'll be interesting to see if the smaller Q7 will still be a hit with its primary client base: B-town folks.
Ford's Endeavour has been long forgotten. Ever since the Toyota Fortuner made its appearance on the Indian scene, the Endeavour hit a dead end. Now though, Ford's bringing the all-new Endy, and it promises to take the fight to the Toyota. It looks exactly like the concept previewed a year ago, and features LED daytime running lights, aluminium skidplates and a great big chrome grille.
Based on Ford's Ranger, the new Endeavour (also known as the Everest) utilises a new ladder-frame chassis, and has coil-spring suspension at the back, both of which should bless it with good road manners.
Inside, there's the new SYNC2 infotainment system, complete with an eightinch touchscreen display and two USB ports. And yes, seats for seven. Engine options for us lot should include the current 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre diesel motors, but we may see sixspeed manual and automatic gearboxes replace the five-speeders of today.
Okay, so this one isn't strictly an SUV. It's a coupe-SUV, like they say. If you've always dreamt about owning a high-riding E-Class Coupe (don't know why you would), you'll be delighted to know that this is just that: Merc classifies the GLE as an "SUV in the E-Class Coupe segment".
The BMW X6's only rival - probably not for long, with Audi yet to join the fray - is available with a 3.0-litre diesel (255bhp, 620Nm), and a 3.0-litre, twin-turbo petrol in two states of tune: The GLE 400 (328bhp, 480Nm), and then, there's the new 'AMG Sport' variant, with 362bhp and 520Nm of torque.
The AMG Sport models will sit between the humdrum everyday Mercs, and the fullblown AMGs. Power's sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic box on every variant. It's just been unveiled globally, but looking at Merc's confidence in our market, we won't be surprised to see the GLE Coupe in India sometime soon.
