Automotive Trends

For a number of years automakers have offered crossovers to those who dislike the stigma of a minivan and don’t need the bulk of a cumbersome truck based SUV. As more and more so-called crossovers have proliferated the market these 3-row family vehicles continue to morph. The latest Q7 from Audi seems to take a full stride from SUV towards car-based station wagon. Indeed, the roofline and beltline both appear to have lowered significantly compared to the original Q7, as has the front fascia.  Audi claims that the overall height of the vehicle has been reduced while the length has been increased. In stark contrast to its old-school family truckster proportions, the Q7 is motivated by a thoroughly modern body and powertrain.  The Q7 sheds the equivalent mass of three to four teenagers; a whopping 716 pounds has been removed from the curb weight.  The Audi offers a pair of 3.0-liter gas and diesel engines. The supercharged gas engine produces 333 horsepower while the diesel achieves a respectable 272 horsepower rating. Audi continues to stuff plenty of technology into its vehicles, and the Q7 appears to be no exception. Audi’s MMI infotainment system returns with haptic feed back and updated functions to make searching and inputting simpler and more intuitive. The rear seat passengers have access to the Audi tablet, which is connected to the MMI navigation, radio, media and car functions. It appears that Audi’s updated Q7 may give rear seat passengers even less reason to plead for the answer to ‘are we there yet?’

      Now this is what we are talking about! A fully loaded Audi Q7 outfitted with none other than the V12 TDI motor from the R10 TDI LeMans racer. A detuned version of it that is, though 500-hp and 738 lb-ft of torque can hardly be considered detuned. This titan of the SUV race was on display at the 2007 NAIAS.

      There’s nothing like spending a summer day down by the lake. So we booked a First Class flight on a 2007 Audi Q7 and pointed the nose east to Lake Huron.

Slow and Stylish Wins The Race

    Can’t you just imagine a Thanksgiving dinner, perhaps three or four years ago, where all the car companies gathered together for the annual tradition to give thanks for their blessings.
     “I’m most thankful for my luxury SUV,” Cadillac said. “It’s keeping the lights on in Detroit.”
     “I second that,” Porsche said. “Who knew there were so many people willing to pay crazy money for a 5,000-pound brick—and an ugly one at that!”
     Of course, it would be about this time that Audi realized it had seriously missed the boat on the whole giant-SUV craze.
     “I’m thankful for Grandma’s health,” Audi blurted, trying to change the subject. Read more…