Audi's Late Entry to the SUV Market: the Q7

Anthony Fontanelle
February 4, 2007

With the increasing prices of petroleum products, consumers are slowly turning their back on the gas guzzling market of the sport utility vehicles. But this wavering interest is not reason enough for car manufacturers to stop producing SUVs which has a significant number of loyal buyer base.

This effort on the part of car manufacturers is manifested in the bid of Audi for a share in the luxury SUV market. Their newest addition to the still packed lineup of sport utility vehicles in the market is the Audi Q7 that promises not only the capabilities of an SUV but the luxurious interior designs that Audi is known for. Further increasing its luxury car value is its stylish exterior design that commands attention and second or third looks even.

Its bid for the top spot in the luxury SUV market will bring the Audi Q7 up against a formidable lineup of tough competitors which includes the BMWs X5 whose steering can be likened to a sedan. The Porsche Cayenne is another serious competition along with the Lexus LX 470 and the Cadillac Escalade.

To give its competition a good fight, the company gave the Audi Q7 a lot of cool features and stylish design. One of the more eye-catching features that are bestowed upon the car is its panoramic, double-sized sunroof. Another thing that is unique to the Audi Q7 is its windshield wiper which, thanks to ingenious thinking on the part of the design team, parks slightly in a different position every time it is turned off. This clever feature prolongs the life of the blade and its performance.

Cool features are abundant in the Audi Q7, and so are safety features. After all, safety has now become one of the marketing points that car manufacturers’ uses as their selling point just like what Volvo has been doing over the years. Audi’s version of Volvo’s BLIPS or Blindspot Information System is what they call the Side Assist. Its main components are sensors mounted at the rear bumper of the car and a vertical row of light emitting diodes or LEDs installed on the side of the outside rearview mirror housing. When the sensors pick up the presence of a vehicle that enters the cars blindspot, the LEDs will light up to warn the driver. Should the warning be ignored and activate the turn lights to change lanes, the LEDs will brighten up and flash to further get the attention of the driver. The system will be activated when the car reaches speed of 35 miles per hour.

Since the Audi Q7 is an SUV, it is imperative that it has a good amount of space for cargoes. This is accomplished by the SUV by increasing the cargo space with backseats that can be folded down flat. This feature adds more cargo space to the already spacious cargo compartment at the back easily accessible thanks to the power rear tailgate. Opening of the liftgate is not the only clever thing about stacking cargo at the back of the Audi Q7, closing it is as easy as pushing a button. Its maximum height is also adjustable to suit the height of the driver who would usually be in charge of stowing cargoes at the luggage compartment at the back.

With all the styling and interior comfort and luxury that the Audi Q7 offers, it needs an engine that will complement all those features and this is what Audi has done. They have given the Audi Q7 a 4.2-liter V8 engine that packs much power that it can propel the 5,500-pound vehicle to astounding speed and acceleration. With all those horses locked up under the hood of the Audi Q7, it needs superior braking power that can give the driver peace of mind when pushing this car to its limit. High performance aftermarket brake system components are now easily within reach of consumers for these parts can easily be found in EBC Active Brakes Direct for example.

Source: Amazines.com