New pics: Audi Q7 countdown gets serious

AUDI’S first dedicated SUV may still be a little over 12 months away from Australian roads, but an orchestrated release of information on the all-new Q7 is well underway as it nears its world debut at next month's Frankfurt motor show.

Audi AG has devoted a new website to the Q7 and yesterday released new developmental testing details - and now local Audi officials have confirmed significant new specifications for the crucial new model.

Audi Australia general manager marketing Javier Degen says Q7, which is expected to play an integral role in Audi Australia’s drive to 10,000 annual vehicle sales within five years, will be launched here at the Sydney motor show in September 2006.

Q7 will be available with seven seats, the choice of 4.2-litre V8 FSI and 3.0-litre V6 TDI engines and pricing that’s competitive with BMW’s X5 and the new Mercedes-Benz M-class – despite the fact both those luxury SUVs are built in the US.

"We are working on pricing with the factory now," said Mr Degen, who added that Q7’s third row of seats – which will be either standard or an optional extra – will be closer in concept to Volvo’s seven-seat XC90.

"I believe Q7 is going to be a great car – the car that’s everything you need. Space, performance, functionality, sportiness, style and value," he said.

"It’s going to be a concept all of its own – maybe closest to XC90 because it will offer seven seats, which sets it apart.

"The Cayenne is just petrol (powered) and not so smart or functional, and the Q7 will surpass even our new A6 Avant for practicality.

"In terms of space it will also be better than both Touareg and X5."

Mr Degen quashed suggestions Q7 is merely a rebodied Cayenne, which shares its platform in a joint-venture manufacturing deal with Volkswagen’s Touareg.

"Q7 is to be built as a completely different, separate product to Cayenne and Touareg," he said. "It has nothing to do with those models."Mr Degen said that Q7 pricing will be in line with X5 and ML in Australia, but that it will represent far more attractive value due to more extensive standard equipment.

"Pricing will be in the X5 and ML region but, as we do across our range, we’ll offer a hook like extra equipment."Along with a formidable towing capacity of up to 3500kg, Q7 will be available with a host of the latest Audi technologies, including a rear-biased torque-sensing quattro all-wheel drive system, adaptive air suspension, adaptive cruise control with Audi Side Assistance, servotronic speed sensitive steering, parking assistance and ESP stability control.

Both the 4.2 V8 FSI petrol and 3.0 TDI turbo-diesel engines are Euro4 emissions-compliant and will mate to a standard six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.

First previewed as the Pikes Peak concept at the 2003 Detroit motor show, Q7 made a surprise appearance in production trim at the piazza of the Audi Forum in Ingolstadt in late February, before a self-generated ‘scoop’ picture of a disguised Q7 in developmental testing was released in March.

Launched on June 28, Audi’s Q7 microsite can be found at: http://microsites.audi.com/q7-globe/