With gas prices reaching near record highs in North America, many might ask why Audi would introduce a new V8-powered SUV called the Q7 into today’s marketplace. The fact is that Audi couldn’t see the impending gas crunch coming any better than you or I could, and since it takes several years to get a vehicle from paper to production, the
is more a reaction to consumer preferences of yesterday rather than a plan for consumer preferences of tomorrow.
When the idea for the Q7 was hatched, SUVs were all the rage and gas was half the cost it is today. The Q7’s debut at the 2005 Frankfurt Auto Show is unfortunate timing for Audi. However, on the flip side, Audi is a luxury make and its buyers are likely wealthy enough that higher prices at the pump won’t make one bit of difference. Audi thinks that the Q7’s base price will be close to $50,000, and the Q7’s success rests more on how well it performs against the competition. Only time will tell.
What it is The 2007 Audi Q7 is Ingolstadt’s first attempt at a full-size SUV. Although based on the same platform as the
Porsche Cayenne and the
Volkswagen Touareg, the Audi Q7 is a larger vehicle designed to seat seven in three rows of seats. Offering no less than 28 seating and loading configurations, the 2007 Audi Q7’s interior has been designed for versatility. With five occupants aboard, the Q7 boasts twenty-seven cubic feet of cargo space.
Why it mattersUntil now, Audi has been trying to pass off a jacked-up A6 Avant wagon called the Allroad as a sport-utility vehicle, but luxo-ute buyers in North America aren’t having any of it. Not only does the new 2007 Q7 supply Audi with a true SUV, but it’s got space for seven passengers and that command-of-the-road seating position adored by so many.
How quick it is Choose from one of two V8 engines that power the 2007 Audi Q7. Most suited for the Q7’s size is a 4.2-liter V8 developing 350 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque. A more economical six-cylinder engine produces 233 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. A six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission transfers power to all four wheels through Audi’s Quattro four-wheel-drive system, and an independent suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers at each corner aid in delivering a comfortable ride both on and off the road. Eighteen-inch wheels are standard with nineteen- and twenty-inch rims available as optional equipment. The stability control system features new functions as well, with an off-road mode that optimizes brake performance and traction on loose surfaces, and a towing mode reduces the risk of fish tailing when tugging a trailer by means of targeted brake intervention.
What it looks like On the outside, the new 2007 Audi Q7 is more tasteful and elegant than either of its platform mates, the Porsche Cayenne or VW Touareg. In fact, the horse-collar grille works quite well on this high-riding SUV, and we like the tapered greenhouse which maintains the familial resemblance with the Avant wagons. Inside, high-tech offerings litter the 2007 Audi Q7. Audi’s MMI operating concept, the same as used in both the A6 and A8, comes as standard equipment on the Q7. Audi’s new “side assist with radar” technology, which helps erase blind spots for lane changing maneuvers, and an advanced parking system with optical and acoustic guidance as well as a rear-view camera, are optional on the 2007 Audi Q7.
When you can buy it With the first deliveries of the 2007 Audi Q7 slated for early 2006, there’s plenty of room for an SUV in the Audi lineup. The real question to be answered is, is there room for another SUV among luxury class manufacturers or is Audi too late to the game? We’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds for Audi and the 2007 Q7.
What we think Designed more for comfortable cruising than off-roading or performance driving, the 2007 Audi Q7 is the closest thing to a “sports tourer” that this German automaker has in its arsenal. Based on our initial impressions, it should prove as popular within its class as other Audi products, and it’s significantly more attractive than the
Mercedes-Benz R-Class or anything out of a BMW design studio. That alone should boost sales. But in North America, rising fuel prices could have an effect. Give us a turbodiesel, please.
Photos courtesy of Audi AG
