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Sources have admitted...
Sources have admitted the car will be a "crossover" SUV, rather than a hardcore mud-plugger. In keeping with Audi"s image, it will be a luxury 4x4 aimed at the forthcoming Range Rover Sport and BMW"s X5. Due to be introduced in 12 months" time, the Q7 will be the first in a range of off-roaders from the firm to wear the Q badge beyond 2006.
As the mag"s pictures show, the car"s styling mirrors that of the Pikes Peak concept, which debuted at 2003"s Detroit Motor Show. The Q7 manages to successfully apply the new Audi look to a large SUV, and despite its size, it maintains a clean, unfussy appearance compared to some of its competitors.
The newcomer will share mechanical components with the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne - that means it will get a sophisticated chassis and four-wheel drive to cope with reasonably demanding terrain, as well as provide excellent on-road handling. As the Q7 is aimed at the prestige end of the market, comfort is crucial, so the chassis will be biased towards on-road performance.
Inside, the cabin has been designed to carry passengers rather than grubby cargo. Three rows of two seats accommodate six adults with ease, while there is enough boot space for their luggage.
A wide engine range will be offered. The base petrol unit will be the 3.6-litre V6, with a 4.2-litre V8 FSI and an Audi-tuned version of the Lamborghini Gallardo"s 5.0-litre V10 completing the line-up. For the Q7, the latter will be bored out to 5.2 litres and tweaked to deliver 420bhp - enough to take motorways and muddy tracks in its stride. There will also be V6, V8 and V10 diesels. Offering an alternative to the A8, the Q7 is tipped to cost from around í‚á£40,000.
Meanwhile, Audi has revealed prices for the revised A4 range - and they"re up slightly on the outgoing model. The base 1.6-litre four-door costs í‚á£18,765, while the flagship 3.2 FSI multitronic is í‚á£27,575. Four diesels are available, with the smallest - the 1.9-litre TDI - weighing in at í‚á£20,090. Avant prices start at í‚á£19,915. Deliveries begin in January.