The Audi Q7 E-tron quattro is put to the test with racing driver Marcel Fässler and the Predictive Efficiency Assistant

The new Audi Q7 E-tron quattro is equipped with the Predictive Efficiency Assistant, a system that helps drive by suggesting the best driving mode suited to the road we are travelling on. This feature has all the information about the route ahead and therefore has route planning that goes beyond indicating the maximum speed of each section, the presence of bends and real-time traffic.

It was racing driver Marcel Fässler who took the wheel of a unit of this model and experienced first-hand how this assistant works. Fässler holds three victories with Audi at the most famous endurance race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but he is also an expert in driving hybrid vehicles, as he drives the Audi R18 in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The driver was accompanied by Philipp Seyberth, an engineer specialised in managing hybrid propulsion, so both could check how the assistant works in real traffic conditions. The driver followed the system’s instructions to the letter, even though at first they seemed illogical to him. For example, on an uphill stretch he pressed the accelerator to get the power needed to climb safely, but a slight buzz in the pedal told him he should ease off the pressure.

The system suggests to the driver the best way to drive at each moment, based on the information the car receives The driver did so, without fully agreeing with the decision. The response to that decision to reduce speed was confirmed as correct when, at the end of the climb, there was a small descent leading to a roundabout. Had he maintained his speed, he would have had to brake on arrival, which was unnecessary by maintaining an appropriate speed.

The assistant knows the route, so it makes its suggestions to get the maximum performance at every moment. If no route is preset in the navigation system, the system relies on the next 2-3 kilometres to carry out its calculations and offer the most precise indications possible based on GPS.

With this assistant, the efficiency of the Q7 E-Tron quattro is increased, as it offers driving suggestions and achieves the best results on the journey, always in terms of efficiency. Besides this model, the Predictive Efficiency Assistant is also found on the A3 and A4, so many drivers will be able to enjoy its suggestions.

Source | Audi

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverAudi Q713 versions · from 86,940 €