Rev up, folks—the Audi Q7 is making waves in Malaysia, and this time, it’s rolling off the assembly line right here on home turf! That’s right, Audi Malaysia has just kicked off registrations of interest (ROI) for the latest Q7, and it’s a pretty big deal. Why? Because this seven-seater luxury SUV is set to be Audi’s first-ever locally assembled (CKD) model in Southeast Asia. Historic moment? Absolutely.
If you’ve been paying attention to the premium SUV scene, you might’ve seen this coming. The Volkswagen Touareg—essentially the Q7’s corporate cousin—has already settled in nicely at the Pekan, Pahang production plant. So, it only makes sense for the Q7 to follow suit.
Aiming for the Big Leagues
Audi isn’t just here for a casual dip in the market—they’re diving in headfirst with some serious ambition. Their target? A solid 10% slice of Malaysia’s fiercely competitive premium executive SUV segment. But it won’t be a walk in the park.
The Q7 is stepping into an arena dominated by some serious heavyweights like the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE. And let’s not forget about the soon-to-be-launched facelifted Volvo XC90—another locally assembled rival that’s bound to make things interesting.
Here’s a quick power showdown of what the Q7 will be up against:
- Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC – 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with mild hybrid EQ Boost, churning out 367 hp & 500 Nm, paired with a nine-speed 9G-Tronic auto.
- BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV – 3.0-litre inline-six plug-in hybrid, pumping 394 hp & 600 Nm, mated to an eight-speed Steptronic auto and xDrive AWD.
- Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 PHEV – 2.0-litre turbo & supercharged petrol + electric motor, delivering a beefy 407 hp & 640 Nm, featuring an eight-speed auto & AWD. Bonus: it can run on pure electric mode, perfect for city drives.
What Can We Expect from the Malaysian Q7?
Official specs are still hush-hush, but expect the latest second-gen facelift that made its global debut in 2024. Design-wise, it’s packing a revamped Singleframe grille, fresh LED headlights, and slick OLED taillights for that futuristic edge.
Inside, the cabin is getting a luxury boost with upgraded trim materials and enhanced tech—including built-in Amazon Music and Spotify integration for seamless entertainment on the go.
Under the hood, the global Q7 lineup boasts some mighty powertrains, including a pair of 3.0-litre turbodiesels. But for Malaysia? The smart money is on the 3.0-litre turbo V6 petrol, pushing out 340 PS & 500 Nm—plenty of grunt to get you moving in style.
A Blast from the Past
The last time we saw the Audi Q7 in Malaysia was back in 2015, when it carried a hefty RM590,000 price tag. Back then, it rocked a 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6, delivering 333 hp & 440 Nm, and could sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds. Fast forward to today, and with local assembly, we’re expecting a much friendlier price tag—which could make the Q7 a serious contender in the premium SUV game.
Final Thoughts: Is the CKD Q7 a Game Changer?
With local assembly in play, a likely lower price point, and cutting-edge tech upgrades, the Audi Q7 is gearing up to shake things up in Malaysia’s luxury SUV segment. Whether it can steal the spotlight from the X5, GLE, and XC90 remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—Audi is here to make a statement.
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