Audi has released more details of its Q7 "performance SUV", which will be formally unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Q7 - a rival for the Porsche Cayenne and Range Rover Sport - will come with either the 4.2 V8 FSI direct-injection petrol engine (350bhp) or the six-cylinder 3.0 TDI diesel (233bhp), though further variants are likely to follow. Six-speed tiptronic transmission is standard, with quattro permanent four-wheel drive and a Torsen differential, giving a 40:60 split of torque between the front and rear axles under normal driving conditions. The Q7 has steel-spring suspension and twin-tube shock absorbers; adaptive air suspension with electronically-controlled damping is optional. Ground clearance varies between 180mm and 240mm, with an off-road mode and a loading mode to set suspension height.
The Q7's cabin can seat up to seven people in three rows of seats; each of the middle-row seats are individually adjustable, and both rear rows of seats can be folded flat to give a load-carrying capacity of up to 2035litres. With the rearmost row of seats folded, luggage space us up to 775litres - Audi claims this as a class best, though good load space is expected from a vehicle 5086mm long, 1983mm wide and 1737mm tall. Equipment on offer includes Audi's MMI operating system (standard-fit), parking sensors with rear-view cameras, side radar cameras to help with lane-changing, hill descent assist and trailer stability assist. 18-inch alloy wheels with 235/60 tyres (3.0 TDI) or 255/55 tyres (4.2 V8 FSI) are standard, with 19- and 20-inch alloys optional; eleven paint colours are offered, with the option of two-tone finish. The order books open from 12th September, with the first deliveries to start early 2006; prices for the UK have not yet been confirmed, but in Germany, the range will start from 48,900euros.
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