Two to go

THE Audi Q7 2.0 may not be the most expensive two-litre model in Singapore (that distinction belongs to the Jaguar XJ) but it is certainly the biggest. For the first time, Audi's full-sized seven-seater sport-utility-vehicle has an engine that is no larger than one found in a mid-sized sedan and it is brilliant.

One reason is that this second-generation luxury SUV has adhered to the company's lightweight construction philosophy with a vengeance. The carmaker, best known for its aluminium space frame technology, has not only blended the alloy with high-strength steel for the Q7 body but also polymer.

As a result, the Q7 2.0 TFSI quattro tiptronic weighs in at 1,975 kg - the first time the Q7 has gone below the two-tonne mark. This is 55 kg less than the Q7 3.0-litre V6, which has until now, been the standard engine variant for this capacious crossover. With its lower kerb weight, the 2.0's turbocharged engine with a generous 252 hp and 370 Nm allows for brisk progress. Zero to 100 kmh takes 7.1 seconds, or close to hot hatch territory.