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-Have your vehicle maintained properly and
in accordance with the service recommenda
tions in your Warranty
& Maintenance book
let. lack of proper maintenance as well as
improper use of the vehicle will impair the
function of the emission control system and
could lead to damage .
- Do not alter or
remove any component of
the Emission Control System unless ap proved by the manufacturer.
- Do not alter or
remove any device, such as
heat shields, switches, ignition wires,
valves, which are designed to protect your
vehicle's Emission Control System and other important vehicle components.
{t) Tips
The consumption estimates as published by
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(EPA) and Transport Canada may not corre
spond to your actual consumption on the
road, which will vary depending upon veh icle
load and speed, road and weather conditions,
trip length, etc.
Steering
Manual steering wheel position adjustment
Applies to: vehicles with manual steering wheel adjustment
The steering wheel position is adjustable up and
down and forward and back .
Fig. 84 Steerin g col umn : le ve r to adjus t the stee rin g w heel
pos it ion
.,. Pull the lever in the direction of the arrow
¢,& .
Driving
.,. Bring the steering wheel into the desired posi
tion.
.,. Push the lever against the steering column un
til it i s secu re.
A WARNING
= Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjust-
ment and an incorrect seating position can
cause serious injuries .
- Only adjust the steering column when the
vehicle is stationary so that you do not lose
control of the vehicle.
-
-Adjust the driver's seat or steering wheel so that there is at least a 10 in (25 cm) dis
tance between your chest and the steering
wheel. If you do not maintain this distance
I
the airbag system will not be able to provide
its full protection.
- If your physical characteristics prevent you
from sitting at least 10 in (25 cm) or more
away from the steering wheel, see if an au
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility can provide adapters that
will help.
- If your face is level with the steering wheel,
the airbag does not provide as much protec
tion during a collision. Always make sure
that the steering wheel is level with your
chest.
- Always hold the steering wheel with your
hands in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi
tions to reduce the risk of injury if the airbag
deploys .
- Never hold the steering wheel in the 12
o'clock position or with both hands on the
rim or the center of the steering wheel.
Holding the steering wheel incorrectly sig
nificantly increases the risk of injury to the
hands, arms and head if the driver airbag
deploys.
81
Driving
"'Turn the engine off¢.&, .
"'Turn the steering wheel when parking on in
clines so that the wheels will roll into the curb
if the vehicle starts moving .
A WARNING
-Do not press the accelerator pedal inadver
tently if a gear is selected when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running . Oth
erwise, the vehicle will start to move imme
diately and this could result in an accident.
- Emergency braking should only be used in
an emergency, when the normal brake pedal
has failed or the brake pedal is obstructed .
During emergency braking, your vehicle will
brake similar to heavy braking. ESC and the
associated components (ABS, ASR, EDL)
cannot overcome the laws of physics.
Around curves and when road or weather conditions are bad, a full brake application
can cause the vehicle to skid or the rear end
to swerve, which increases the risk of an ac
cident.
- If the power supply fails, you cannot set the
parking brake if it is released. In this case ,
park the vehicle on level ground and secure
it by placing the selector lever in the P posi
tion. See an authorized Audi dealer or au
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
- Always take the vehicle key with you when
leaving your vehicle, even if for a short peri
od of time. This applies particularly when
children remain in the vehicle. Otherwise,
children could start the engine, release the
parking brake or operate electrical equip
ment such as power windows, which in
creases the risk of an accident .
- No one, especially children, should remain
in the vehicle when it is locked . Locked
doors make it more difficult for emergency
workers to get into the vehicle, which puts lives at risk .
{D) Tips
When stopping at a traffic signal or stopping
in city traffic, you can set the parking brake
manually. The vehicle does not have to be
held with the brake pedal. The parking brake
88
eliminates the tendency to creep when a se
lector lever position is engaged. As soon as
you press the accelerator pedal, the parking
brake releases automatically and your vehicle
starts to move¢
page 88.
(D Tips
-Occasional noises when the parking brake is
set and released are normal and are not a
cause for concern.
- The parking brake goes through a self-test cycle at regular intervals when the vehicle is
stopped . Any noises associated with this are
normal.
- If there is a power failure, the parking brake
will not set if it is released, and it will not release if it is set ¢& . See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Fa
cility for assistance.
Starting to drive
Various convenience and safety functions may be
available when the vehicle begins driving, de
pending on vehicle equipment.
Starting on hills with the parking brake set
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed .
"'To start driving comfortably when on a hill, set
the parking brake and begin driving as usual.
The braking force of the parking brake does not release automatically until the wheels build up
enough driving force .
Starting on hills with hill hold assist
Hill hold assist makes it easier to start on hills.
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed
and the engine must be running.
"'To activate hill hold assist , press and hold the
brake pedal for several seconds. The vehicle
must be in an uphill direction of travel.
After releasing the brake pedal , the braking pow
er is maintained for a brief moment¢
A to pre
vent the vehicle from rolling back when starting.
During this time, you can easily begin to move
your vehicle.
111>
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-If you do not begin driving immediately or
the engine stalls after releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle may begin to roll back
ward . Press the brake pedal or set the park
ing brake immed iately.
- The intelligent technology of hill hold assist
cannot overcome the lim itations imposed by
natural physical laws. The increased comfort
offered by hill hold ass ist should not cause
you to take safety risks .
- Hi ll hold assist cannot hold the veh icle in
place on all hills (for example, if the ground
is slippery or icy).
- To reduce the risk of an accident, always
make sure the vehicle is situated safely
wh ile stat ionary.
Off road driving
General information
The electronic stabilization contro l (ESC) func
tions were enhanced for driving offroad. Offroad
mode can be activated when driving in situat ions
where slippage or a differential lock function is
necessary
Q page 149. The hill descent ass ist is
a lso available, which automatically brakes the ve
hicle and maintains a constant speed as a result
~page 150. In addition, your Audi prov ides con
tinuous all wheel drive.
H owever , your Aud i is not a purely offroad vehi
cle . Your vehicle was not designed to d rive unde r
extreme ope rating conditions such as driving in
an expedition style.
Only drive in terrain that is suitable for the vehi
cle and your driving ability . Never take any un
necessary risks!
Before driving offroad
- Check the eng ine oil level, the tire pressure, the
coolant level and the fluid level in the washer
fluid reservoir .
- Store pieces of luggage and other objects in the
luggage compartment and secure them from
s li ding out of place.
Driving
After driving offroad
-After driving offroad, remove branches and
other debris from the radiator grille, under
body, and wheels . Look especially for foreign
objects (such as stones) that may be stuck in
the tire tread.
- Clean the vehicle body and underbody and in
spect the vehicle for possible damage.
- Clean the windows, headlights, tail lights and
the license plate if they are dirty.
- Per form a brake test (especially after driving
through water).
_& WARNING
- Be especially cautious and aware when driv
ing under difficu lt cond it ions and when off
road. Veh icle damage and injuries may occur
when dr iv ing at excessively high speeds or
with incorrect driving maneuvers.
- Always adjust your speed and driving style
to the roads, terrain, traffic and weather
conditions . Drive especially slowly if there is
low visibility when offroad.
- Please note that the wheels can sp in more
and the vehicle can swerve when in offroad
mode, espec ially when the road is slippery
or has loose surface material.
- Driving stability is reduced when in offroad
mode.
@ For the sake of the environment
Avoid harming the environment and show
consideration for nature .
(D Tips
Only drive where it is permitted and always
stay on the prov ided roads and paths .
Explanation of technical terms
The following data is based on idea l conditions .
T he values may vary depending on the load,
ground composition and the environment. The
driver is therefore responsible for deciding
whether a vehicle can hand le a specific situation
¢ £ . ~
89
Driving
Sel ector l ev e r lo ck
The se lector lever lock prevents you from se lect
ing a position unintentionally, causing the vehicle
to ro ll. When engaging some selector lever posi
tions, you must press th e locking button
CD on
the selecto r lever and/or press the brake pedal
¢fig. 92.
You must press the brake pedal to engage a se
lector lever position when the engine is running
and the vehicle is stationary.
You do not have to press the brake peda l if you
shift from a drive gear (D/S) to reverse gear
(R)
w ithin one second. This allows you to "rock" the
veh icle to free it when it is stuck .
P - Park
This se lector lever posi tion p revents the vehi cle
from rolling . Only shift into park when the vehi
cle is stationary ¢.&. . To select the P se lector lev
er position, press th e P button @on the selector
lever ¢
fig. 92. P appears next to the selector lev
er.
You can on ly shift out of park when the engine is
r u nning and you are pr ess ing the brake p edal. To
release the parking lock, press the brake peda l,
press the locking button
CD on the selector lever
and select the desired pos it ion ¢
fig. 92 .
P engag es automatically if you switch the engine
off while the selector lever is in D, E, S, R or man
ual mode.
If you switch the engine off when the N se lector
lever position is select ed, the transmission re
mains in N for approximately
30 minutes and
then Pis engaged. The vehicle is not secured
from rolling in the N selector lever position, so
you need to set the parking brake<®>¢
page 87.
You must use the parking lock emergency release
before towing the vehicle¢
page 96.
R- Reve rse
The reverse gear is engaged in this pos ition . On ly
select reverse gear when the vehicle is stationary
and the engine is running at idle speed¢.&. . To
engage the R selector lever pos ition, press the
92
brake peda l, press the locking button CD on the
se lector lever and select the R position ¢
fig. 92.
A confirm ation tone will sound when the reverse
gear is engaged.
N -Neutral (idle )
The transmission is in idle in th is position. To en
gage the
N selector lever position, press the lock
i ng button
CD on the selector lever and sh ift into
the
N pos ition ¢ fig. 92 .
If you switch the eng ine off when the N selector
l ever posit io n is selected, the transm iss ion re
mai ns in
N for approx imately 30 minutes and
then Pis engaged.
You cannot se lect the
N pos ition when the igni
tion is switched off . When dr iv ing through an au
tomat ic car wash, fi rst select the
N position and
then turn the eng ine off.
For safety reasons , the veh icle cannot be locked
when the t ransmiss ion is in the
N pos it ion .
D/S - Driving forward
When the transm ission is in the D/S posit ion, it
can be operated either in the normal D mode or
i n the S sport mode . Move the selector lever back
to engage the S sport mode. You ca n only select
the S selector lever position when the Dor E pos i
tion is se lected. To select the Dor E position
again w hen S is engaged, move the selector lever
ba ck ¢ .&. . To sh ift from N to D when traveling at
speeds below 1 mph (2 km/h), press the brake pedal and shift into the D position¢.&. .
In the
n o rmal mode D, the transmission auto
matically selects the suitable gear ratio. It de
pends on engine load, vehicle speed and driving
style.
Se lec t the
sport mode S for spo rty d riving. The
vehicle makes f ull use of the engine 's power.
Shifting may become noticeable when accelerat
ing .
The S se lec to r lever posit io n engages automat i
ca lly when you select
Dynamic mode in d rive se -
l ect* . .,.
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sible. Please apply parking brake
also appears.
A WARNING
- Only activate the emergency release while
on a level surface or a slight slope.
- The parking tock may only be released using
the emergency release if the parking brake
is set. If it is not functioning, secure the ve
hicle from rolling using the brake pedal or
other suitable means, such as blocking a
front and a rear wheel. An unsecured vehicle
may roll away, which increases the risk of an
accident.
- To reduce the risk of an accident, you must
not drive when the emergency release is ac
tivated.
(D Note
- Read and follow the important instructions
about towing
c::;, page 3 74.
- The risk of damage increases if you do not
remove the socket wrench carefully when
resetting the parking lock.
Driving
97
Trailer towing
Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
General information
Your Audi was designed primarily for passenger
transportation.
If you plan to tow a trailer, please remember that
the additional load will affect durability, economy and performance.
Trailer towing not on ly places more stress on the
ve hicle, it also ca lls for more concentration from
the dr iver.
F or this reason, always follow the operating and
driving instructions provided and use common
sense.
@ Note
If you are going to tow a trailer, you must ac
tivate the tra ile r operation mode
¢page 100.
Technical requirements
Traile r hitch
Use a weight-carrying hitch conforming to the
gross trai ler weight. The hitch must be suitab le
for your ve hicle and tra iler and must be mounted
securely on the vehicle 's chassis at a
technically
sound
locat ion . Use on ly a trailer hitch with a re
movable ba ll mount . Always chec k w it h t he t rail
er hitch man ufactur er to make s ure t hat you a re
using the co rrect hi tc h.
Do not use a bumper hitch.
The hitch m ust be installed i n such a way that it
does not interfere with the impact -absorbing
bumper sys tem . N o mod ificat ions should be
made to the vehicle exhaust and b rake systems .
Fr om t ime to t ime, che ck t hat all hitch mo unti ng
bol ts rem ain securely faste ned.
W hen you are not tow ing a tra iler, remove the
tra ile r hitc h ba ll mount . This prevents the hitch
from ca using damage shou ld your veh icle be
s truck from behind¢ &..
98
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped wi th a bra king sys tem,
c h ec k t o be sure that it con forms to all regu la
tions.
The trailer hydrau lic br ake system mus t not be
directly connecte d to the vehicle's hydr auli c
brake system ¢&. .
Safety chains
Always use safety chains between your vehicle
and t he tra ile r.
Trailer lights
Trailer lights must meet all regulations. Be sure
to check w ith your author ized Audi dealer for cor
r ect wir ing , sw itches and relays .
Mirrors
If you are unab le to see the traffic behind you us
i ng the regular outs ide mirrors, then you
must in
stall extended mirro rs. It is important that you
always have clear vision to the rear.
A WARNING
-
- After remov ing the tra iler hitch, do not
sto re it in your vehicle . In case of sud den
braking , th e hitch co uld fl y forwar d and i n
jure you o r yo ur passenge rs.
- I f a tra ile r has e lectr ica l brakes p lease no te
t h at the se brakes are not ac tivated by the
fact ory-fi tted contro l uni t - r isk of accident!
- N ever i nst all a "we igh t distribut ing" or
"lo ad equ alizing" trailer hi tch o n yo ur veh i
cle. The vehicle was not desig ned fo r these
kinds of trailer hitches. The hitch attach
ment can fai l, ca us ing the tra iler to tear
loose from the vehicle .
- The Gross Veh icle Weight Rating for your
veh icle, found on the safety compliance la
be l on the driver's s ide B -pillar, m ust never
be exceeded under any circumstances. Ex
ceed ing the Gross Vehicle Weight Rati ng of
your veh icle is likely to damage yo ur vehicle,
and such damage will not be covered by
your Limi te d N ew Vehicle War ranty. Exceed
ing the G ros s Ve hicl e W eight Ratin g will al-
so ch ange the pe rform ance and ha ndling .,._
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cause a crash resulting in serious injury or
death.
Operating instructions
Trailer towing weights
The maximum permissible unbraked trailer
weight is 1,650 lbs (750 kg) .
The maximum permissible braked trailer weight
is:
- Q7 2.0: 5,500 lbs (2,500 kg)
- Q7 3 .0: 7,700 lbs (3,500 kg)
These specifications apply when driving on roads having an incline of less than 12% .
Permissible tongue load
For best vehicle handling under these changed
conditions, adjust the trailer load so that the
tongue load is at the maximum allowable or
slightly lower . You can get an approximation of
the tongue load with a bathroom scale or you can
measure the load at a trucking company or
weighing station.
The maximum permissible load on the ball hitch may not exceed:
- Q7 2.0: 550 lbs (250 kg)
- Q7 3 .0: 770 lbs (350 kg)
It is recommended to use the maximum permis
sible load. Please also observe the information
¢page 343, ¢page 347.
Trailer load distribution
Be sure the load in the trailer is held securely in
place to prevent it from shifting forward, back
ward or sideways.
Never allow a passenger to ride in a trailer¢.&.
in Messages on page 100.
Ball mount
The trailer hitch may only be used with suitable ball mount and ball. Installation of the hitch ball
must be carried out in accordance with the manu
facturer's instructions .
Trailer towing
Engine cooling system
Towing a trailer makes the engine work harder. It
is important that the cooling system's perform
ance is up to the additional load. Make sure that
the cooling system has enough fluid.
Tire pressure
When towing a trailer, inflate the tires of your
vehicle to the tire pressure listed under "Full
load" on the label <:!;>
page 343. Inflate trailer
tires to trailer and tire manufacturers' specifica
tions.
Lights
The headlight settings should be checked with
the trailer attached before driving off. Check to
make sure both vehicle and trailer lights are
working properly.
Safety chains
Be sure trailer safety chains are properly connect
ed from the trailer to the hitch on the vehicle .
Leave enough slack in the chains to permit turn
ing corners. When you install safety chains, make
sure they will not drag on the road when you are
driving.
The chains should cross under the trailer tongue
to prevent it from dropping in case of separation
from the hitch.
Setting drive select(air suspension)*
Make sure the vehicle is on a level surface before
hitching the trailer and before adjusting the
tongue weight. The driving mode must be in
Au
to or Comfort ¢page 134, ¢ (D
If you would like to drive in the Dynamic driving
mode, then you must select this mode before
hitching the trailer and before adjusting the
tongue weight. Please note that your vehicle will
lower and the ground clearance is reduced.
If you have to drive through difficult road condi
tions, you can raise the vehicle again after hitch
ing the trailer or after adjusting the tongue
weight
¢ page 136.
(D Note
Vehicles with air suspension*:
99
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The air suspension* is an electronically-control
l ed air suspens ion and damping sys tem . The ad
justment depends on the driving mode selected, steer ing movements, the driver's braking and ac
celeration, and as the road surface, vehicle speed
and load. The vehicle ground clearance depends
on the mode selected and the speed .
The ground clearance increases s ignificantly
when the vehicle is in the
Allroad mode . At
speeds from approximately 50 mph (80 km/h) to
75 mph (120 km/h), the ground clearance re
duces in stages. When the speed decreases, the
ground clearance increases again automat ically .
The ground clearance is the lowest in
Dynamic
mode.
Steering
The power steering adapts. Ind irect steer ing that
moves easily as in
Comfort mode is especially
suited to long drives on highways. The
Dynamic
mode provides sporty, direct steering.
All-wheel steering*
All-wheel steer ing increases driving comfort by
providing addit ional steering ability at the rear
axle . Steer ing in the opposite d irection at low
speeds decreases the turning rad ius. Steering in
the same d irect io n at high speeds improves the
response time while increasing driving stability at
the same time .
Sport differential*
As a component of the all wheel drive system
(quattro)
~ page 152, the sport diffe rential dis
tributes the dr iv ing power to the rear axle de
pending on the situation. The distribution of
power varies depending on the selected mode
from moderate
( Comfort ) to sporty (Dynamic ).
The goal is a high level of agility and ability to ac
celerate on curves . The vehicle is very responsive
to steering.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC)*
The behavior when accelerating can be adjusted
from comfortab le to sporty, depending on the
drive select mode. Adaptive cruise control also
Assistance systems
responds to the driving behavior of the vehicle
ahead in a more conservative or sporty manner.
Engine sound*
T he eng ine sound adapts to the current mode
and can be subtle to sporty .
(D Note
Applies to: vehicles wi th air suspensio n
-Make sure there is enough clearance above
and below the vehicle when parking. The
height of the ve hicle (gro und clearance) can
change once it is parked due to temperature
fluctuations, changes to the load conditions
and changes to the dr iving modes.
- When transporting the vehicle on a car car
rier, train, ship or by other means, only tie
the vehicle down at the running surface of
the tires, which is the outer c ircumference.
Sec uring the vehicle at the axle compo
nents, suspension struts o r towing eyes is
not permitted because the pressure in the
air suspens ion struts can change during
transport. The vehicle may not be secured
sufficiently if this happens.
@ Tips
The S selecto r lever position automatically en
gages when the
Dynamic mode is selected .
Selecting the driving mode
Applies to: vehicles w ith Aud i dr ive select
~- ------ -
~
Fig. 133 Center console: co ntro ls for d rive select
.,. Press the left or right arrow key~ fig. 133 until
the desired mode appears in the instrument
cluste r/Infotainment system disp lay. Or
II>-
135