Q starts here for the new Audi

By ALASTAIR SLOANE


The production version of the all-wheel-drive "Pikes Peak" design study German carmaker Audi unveiled at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show will be called the Q7.

The new sports utility vehicle, an in-house rival for parent group Volkswagen's Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne, will go on sale in Europe in 2006.

Audi board chairman Dr Martin Winterkorn confirmed production plans for the Q7 at the Paris Motor Show.

But why the Q handle?

"The letter Q denotes a new type of family within our company, alongside A, S and RS," he said.

"The 7 indicates that it is positioned between the A6 and A8."

The five-door, seven-seater Q7 will be a luxury SUV aimed at BMW's X5, the upcoming Range Rover Sport and all-new Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

It will be the first in a range of Audi off-roaders to wear the Q badge.

A smaller model which will rival BMW's all-wheel-drive X3 is expected in 2007-08.

The Q7 will share mechanical components with the Touareg and Cayenne, meaning its chassis and all-wheel-drive system will cope with reasonably demanding off-road conditions while providing good on-road handling.

Inside, the Q7 will come with every top-end convenience.

The line-up of petrol powerplants will start with a entry-level 3.6-litre V6, through to a 4.2-litre V8 and an Audi-tuned version of the Lamborghini Gallardo's 5.0-litre V10.

For the Q7, the Lamborghini engine will be bored out to 5.2 litres and tweaked to deliver 313kW (420bhp).

There will also be V6, V8 and V10 diesels.

Right-hand-drive versions of the Q7 will go on sale in Britain early in 2006, priced from around £40,000 ($106,000).