03/07/2008 00:31. JE Designs, the Heilbronn based Audi, VW and Seat tuner, have powered up and neatened off the brusque Q7.

Despite employing only 11 people, Jochen Eckelts team has been developing go-faster kits for Audi, VW and Seat products since the early 1990s.

Recently theyve focussed much of their design flair on Audi products, and JE Designs quick Q7 conversion carries a subtle appeal; hardly a concept youd associate with a German aftermarket fettled Q7.

Hardly Audis most elegant design, the Q7 benefits from chunky 22-inch mags, a new front bumper, widened wheel arches and double fog-lights. Celebrity buyers have the option of privacy glass tooAll up it looks fabulous, especially the redesigned quad-tailpipes, the overall design is infinitely more appealing than the standard Q7.

Interior upgrades from JE Design include alcantara upholstery, a sports steering wheel and carbon-fibre insets; yet, in true German tuning tradition the colour, texture and trim combinations are practically infinite.

Two engines power upgrades are available, a 3-litre TDI turbodiesel V6 and a 4.2-litre V8 petrol. The diesel engine receives a power hike to 212kW from the standard 171kW, whilst torque gains an extra 50Nm from 500Nm to 550Nm.

On the petrol side the 4.2-litre V8 receives a bolt-on supercharger kit which boosts power from 257kW to 373kW- with rapid performance and consumption consequences. // Wheels24.co.za