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 Audi
likes to tell us that it is on the cutting edge of technology.
I’m not about to argue with that, but unfortunately its
marketing people have been asleep at the switch.
Years after Volvo gave us the XC-90, BMW the X-5, Mercedes the
M-class, Lexus the RX300, and not to mention assorted Range
Rovers and Land Rovers, Audi has finally come up with its own
SUV – take a belated bow the Q7.
You would expect that coming late to the party carries some
advantages – avoiding some of the mistakes of others - and there
is no doubting that the Q7 is a terrific vehicle which it is
hard to fault.
All Q7s come with up to 7 seats and variable height adaptive air
suspension. It is as much of an MPV as an SUV, albeit a mighty
pricey one. Prices start at £37,330 (¤54,100). Even though it is
new for Audi, many of the bits and pieces under the skin have
been well proven because the Q7 is part of the joint venture
between VW and Porsche which gave us the VW Touareg and Porsche
Cayenne. It is longer than its two siblings, with the tape
measure showing 5.09 metres (16.7 feet) compared with 4.78
metres (15.68 feet) for the Cayenne. It’s also wider than
everything in its class, and it has the longest wheelbase.
This is a big thing.
Proven components
 As its biggest market will be the U.S., you can see what was
going through Audi’s mind while the Q7 was on the drawing board.
Inside there are many proven components from other Audis like
the A6 and A8, and the cabin has the same ambience combining
high quality with beautiful, minimalist design and an eye to
detail. The dashboard has matching dials which extend as though
someone has gently pulled a circular dial outwards and
downwards. Perfectly concentrically, of course. The centre of
the steering wheel carries the now familiar copy of the rather
thrustful to say the least gaping mouth on the front grille.
Like the A6, the front seats feel so roomy you have to reach out
with your elbow to find the armrest in the door.
Multi-function wheel
 To activate some of the less everyday controls, there is a
little multi-function control wheel set behind the auto shift
controller which changes settings for the stereo and air
suspension, among other things.
The seats in the 3rd row fold away neatly, and you can opt to
foreswear these extra two places. They will only be good for
children anyway. Buyers can also opt to remove the middle seat
in the second row for maximum comfort for two. The rear gate can
be closed automatically by pressing a button at the top of the
door
At the launch, which has been ratcheting up across Europe since
February and starts in the U.S. in the late spring, there will
be two engines available – a 3.0 litre V6 diesel and a 4.2 litre
V8 direct injection petrol. Don’t expect the usual amazing,
theoretical fuel economy from the diesel because this machine is
enormous, weighing in at 2,325 kgs (5,125 lbs). (Although it
isn’t as heavy as the Land Rover Discovery at 2,494 kgs). Audi
claims a combined fuel economy figure of 26.7 mpg (10.6 l/km).
Paddles won’t wear out
 Both engines send power to all 4 wheels using a 6-speed
automatic gearbox. There is a manual override in the form of
paddles behind the steering wheel, which of course will never be
used. The 4-wheel drive system sends 60% of the power to the
rear wheels and the rest to the front. There will be a 3.6 litre
V6 petrol, and 4.2 litre V8 diesel next year. Audi has also
promised a petrol-electric hybrid by 2008.
On the road, the diesel was terrific – quiet and powerful. The
V8 was more powerful on paper, but didn’t seem to be a notably
better performer than the diesel, with its instant
dig-in-the-back torque. The ride is very impressive. Wind noise
is minimal. The steering was on the stodgy side of woolly. Rear
parking sensors are standard.
One neat new piece of technology was the warning system which
bleeps when an overtaking vehicle creeps hidden into your blind
spot. The system also flashes an amber warning on the inside of
the wing mirror. Other options include radar assisted cruise
control, rear-view camera parking, and a huge, three section
panoramic sun-roof.
Moody
 There are three specifications for the diesel model. The base
model includes the 7 seats and adaptive air suspension, with
many goodies like driver information system, rear acoustic
parking and automatic transmission. SE adds among other things
like leather, electric seats and bigger wheels, while the S spec
has even bigger wheels, brushed aluminium fascia and door trims,
and many bits to make it look more moody. The petrol comes only
in SE and S.
Since going on sale in Europe, Audi has felt able to raise its
sales projections, and now reckons it can sell 76,000 in a year,
up from its previous target of 70,000. At least 35,000 sales a
year are expected in the U.S.
For a company as switched on as Audi, it is hard to believe that
it is so late coming to the party with an SUV. If I was a
shareholder I would be keen to find out why. Just think of the
fat profits that haven’t been earned in the meantime. But I
suppose that if the Japanese took about 5 years to notice that
Europeans loved diesel engines, perhaps we shouldn’t be too hard
on Audi.
Audi Q7 3.0 TDI
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Engine:
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3.0 litre V6 common rail
direct injection diesel
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Power:
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233 bhp
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Gearbox:
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6-speed automatic
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Drive:
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all-wheels
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Acceleration: 0-62/100 km/h
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0-62-100 km/h 9.1
seconds
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Top Speed:
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135 mph-217 km/h
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Fuel Consumption:
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claimed combined 26.7
mpg-10.6 l/km
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CO2 Emissions:
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282 g/km
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Length:
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5,090 mm
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Width:
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1,983
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Height:
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1,772
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Weight:
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2,325 kgs
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Suspension front:
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adaptive air
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Suspension rear:
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wishbone
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Price:
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from £37,330 (¤54,100)
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Competition:
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BMW X5, Mercedes ML,
Volvo XC-90, Porsche Cayenne, Lexus RX, Range Rover
Sport, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota Land Cruiser, VW
Touareg
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Would I buy one?
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It’s the Hyundai for me
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Rating:
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**** out of 5
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For:
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big, impressive, capable
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Against:
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pricey
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