This latest move highlights the brand’s commitment to offering highly competitive premium products for the Australian market place, says Audi’s managing director, Joerg Hofmann.

“The majority of customers were ordering the Q7 with a third row of seats, and as part of our desire to maintain strong growth in Australia, we were able to negotiate the inclusion of this feature at no charge for all model year 2009 vehicles,” Mr Hofmann said.

Customers are still able to opt for 5 seats in the Q7, also at no charge.

With two fuel efficient and sporty petrol engines including the 3.6-litre FSI and 4.2-litre FSI V8 variant, and two robust TDI engines including a 3.0 TDI and 4.2 V8 TDI, the Audi Q7 remains one of the brand’s top-selling models.

Audi’s clever ‘intelligent key’, first seen in the A5 and new A4, is now also standard for the Q7 SUV and contains all of the vehicle’s servicing data for ease of diagnosis during regular services.

Audi’s innovative Smart Beam high beam assistant is also new for the Q7 in the coming model year. Smart Beam is a new safety feature that automatically dips the Q7’s headlights when it detects an oncoming vehicle, and adjusts them again back to high beam after the oncoming car has passed. Smart Beam works in conjunction with Xenon gas discharge headlights and is priced at $318.

The high-end ‘Technik package’ for the Q7 V6 models now also contains 4-zone air-conditioning, to provide additional comfort for all seven occupants.

The package now includes:

1. DVD-based Navigation System
2. Preparation for Bluetooth mobile phone
3. Leather-bound 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel with shift paddles
4. Electrically-operated tailgate
5. Voice control
6. Audi Music Interface preparation for mp3 devices
7. 4-zone, climate-controlled air-conditioning
8. Optional at $7,203 (RRP)

A new V12 TDI variant has been announced by Audi AG, and is expected to land in Australia in the first half of 2009. With 1,000 Nm of torque, the Q7 V12 TDI will be the brand’s most-powerful TDI production car.