First there was the Allroad. Now there's the off-road. The Audi Q7 SUV will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next September. Our photograph of the car was taken at secret road trials. Some of the finer details were covered up, and Audi had the newcomer wear VW alloy wheels and wacky badging.
The Q7, based on the VW Touareg platform, is Audi's first proper SUV. It will go on sale in December next year, and rival the new Range Rover Sport. It will come with a choice of either a 343-bhp 4.2litre V8 petrol or a 232-bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine at launch. These will be followed in 2006 by a 250-bhp 3.4-litre V6 petrol unit, while other planned powerplants include VW's 5.0-litre V10 oil-burner as seen in the Touareg and Phaeton.
Insiders also hint that a performance version could be on the cards, possibly badged S7 with a detuned version of the 5-litre V10 engine fitted to the Lamborghini Gallardo.
The Q7's six seats will be in three rows of two. The rear set will collapse into the floor to give a flat, uncluttered load bay.
The 7 will kick-start a succession of Q-badged Audi off-roaders. A smaller Q5, based on the A4 platform, is expected in 2007 - it will compete directly with the Land Rover Freelander and BMW X3. - Automedia