Autoblog

Click to view the Audi Q7 V12 TDI Coastline in hi-res

The Audi Q7 Coastline is not the first attempt at infusing an automobile with a nautical theme, but it very well might be the most exquisite execution we've seen to date. Forget about automotive mishaps like the Mercury Villager Nautica edition and the Plymouth Breeze, this concept rivals even the teak-decked Rolls-Royce Phantom DropHead Coupe for dockside prowess. In fact, a Maserati convertible parked at a Monte Carlo marina would be jealous. This writer, meanwhile, would be hard-pressed to upstage Alex Nunez's poetic waxing for maritime prose in his preview post, but the pearl white sport-ute makes me feel like picking up the clear-coat polish and teak oil just the same.

As you can see in our gallery of high-resolution images, Audi set up an exceptionally photogenic dedicated showroom off the Geneva show floor to showcase the 500hp V12 TDI that would be right at home in a motoryacht's engine room.

The Audi Q7 3.0 TDI has been blessed with seven more horses. Grunt goes from 233 HP to 240 HP, while the oil burner's torque numbers stays the same at 398 ft-lb. However, in a neat sleight-of-hand, fuel economy has also improved, going from 22.4 to an even 24.0 US MPG. More power, more fun, more frugality -- that's a neat trifecta from the house of the four rings. The Q7 3.0 TDI will be available in the US in late 2008. For Europeans, it's on sale now for €51,200. Click Read to get the full press release.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Audi is going to put off the launch of three new SUVs into its arsenal until the end of the decade, primarily for marketing reasons. Really, it's only one new model – the compact Q5 – plus diesel and hybrid versions of its Q7 crossover.

The reason for the delay is primarily to avoid Audi's newest entrants from getting lost in the ether of year-end sales drives, and thus allowing all three vehicles to be marketed as 2010 models, which were originally destined for sale in the third quarter of 2008.

Although we haven't seen the Q5, meant to compete with BMW's X3 and Mercedes' upcoming GLK, it's been well known that the new cute 'ute has been under development for some time, finding a home atop the VW Tiguan platform. The diesel Q7 will be arriving around the same time, and will come to market packing a three-liter turbo-diesel V6, producing 230 HP and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Since the new engine will be 50-state compliant, it's "just a matter of formality," according to Audi's U.S. head Johan de Nysschen, that the oilburner will find its way into the A4, A6 and A8 models of the future.

All three vehicles, including the 280 HP V6 hybrid-equipped Q7, are all likely to be revealed in Detroit in 2009.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Audi's first diesel and hybrid powertrains in the US will be launched in the Q7 next year. The power units will likely trickle down to other vehicles in Audi's range, but they're not yet offering up any details on how prolific this hardware will be. Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche have been working collaboratively to develop the parallel hybrid system, which makes the choice of the Q7 logical, as all three brands share a flavor of the architecture. Hybrid Q7s will be able to power around on the electric motor up to 31 mph, and the system will also shut down the engine during cruise conditions at speeds up to 75 mph. The total weight of the system adds 300 pounds, most of which is in the 288-volt NiMH battery pack.

The modular hybrid system will be easy to integrate with different powertrains once Audi starts propagating the system throughout the rest of their models, and terming it "modular" denotes that the basic pieces will be very adaptable. When Porsche and Volkswagen get their versions of the hybrid gear, we'd expect the engines to differ from the Q7's 3.6 liter 280 horsepower unit. Audi's claiming a 23 percent mileage improvement versus the conventional Q-ship. As for the oil burner, it will be a 3-liter V6 that is 50-state compliant while quietly thumping out 230 horsepower and 400 ft-lb of torque. Diesel torque delivery can be often be described as "electric-motor like," but we wonder if the Hybrid, with its actual electric motors, will laugh at the diesel's effort as it gets the hole shot.

[Source: Auto News - sub req.]

Here's a Google Video of Audi's Touareg Cayenne Q7 being built at VAG's Slovakian plant. The big ute starts as a couple of metal crossmembers, gets the full-on robotic workover with human assistance, and comes out a complete vehicle on the other side. Along the way it picks up a powertrain, chassis, wheels and tires, an interior, electronics and all of the bits and pieces to make it whole. Although the real process takes a little longer than the five-and-a-half-minute clip, it's an interesting peek inside the assembly line of a luxury sport ute. Perhaps not revolutionary, but kind of fun for a Thursday afternoon. Follow the jump to see the clip.

[Source: GermanCarScene]

In case you somehow hadn't noticed(?!), it's not only deer and turkey season, it's also automotive award season. And here's yet another trophy for those keeping track of all of them. CNET.com wants you to help decide their 2006 Tech Car of the Year Award winner. They've done the hard work and weeded out the really big turkeys to give you a list of some real dears.

In early voting, the Lexus LS460 L, with its 19-speaker sound system, live traffic GPS and self-parking system is leading the other nine contenders. So what's it gonna be for you? Acura's RDX with voice commands? Audi's adaptive-suspension-equipped Q7? BMW's 335i with its adaptive cruise control and iDrive? Or are you more a Cadillac guy, voting for the Escalade with OnStar?

See the other five contestants after the jump.

[Source: CNET]

There have been lots of rumblings about a possible Lamborghini SUV. Maybe something along the lines of a neo LM002. Lamborghini spokesmen have said that they are considering entering new segments but pointed out that retro was not an option. With a corporate platform available that has produced everything from a VW to a Porsche, and a rumored Bentley sport-ute dropping soon, it doesn't seem too hard to believe. Ace spy photog Hans Lehmann has just captured what he thinks might be a Lambo SUV mule, disguised as a deep-chinned Cayenne.

By following the links you'll not only see several shots of this muscular Porsche, but also the full-sized version of the pic at right, which looks a bit like a Silly Puttied Gallardo. Although the mind reels at the thought of Porsche developing a Lamborghini, the G and Murci have already had German hands massaging every inch of them, and Porsche has already done a good job with the Audi Q7 and the Volkswagen Touareg.

The Gallardo-derived V-10 from the Audi S6 and S8 is likely to find its way underhood, as well as possibly a smaller 4.5-liter V-8. And it's not too big of a leap to think this might be the first Lambo to offer a diesel option since the old tractor days. While the mule doesn't offer a lot info other than the deep front fascia and the big wheel arches, the concept sketch reminds us of the Murano a bit and makes the thought of a non-military inspired Lamborghini SUV somewhat more palatable.

[Source: Winding Road]

I wasn't home when the media fleet guys dropped off the svelte silver bullet they call the Audi Q7... but my roommate was. Like any car-crazy boy, he just couldn't help himself. He grabbed the key fob and tore out to the driveway -- it was playtime.

"This thing is STUPID with features," his voice screamed into my earpiece when he called to tell me that the Audi had arrived. "I lifted the rear hatch and saw a button -- when I pushed it, the ass dropped three inches. I thought low-riders were supposed to have switches in the cockpit." There are switches in the cockpit, by the way, but we'll get to that later when we discuss the Q7's Adaptive Air Suspension. The ass-dropper in question is the technology's cargo mode, which makes it easier to load and unload the cargo space of the vehicle.

Thankfully, my roomie heeded my warning that the Audi loan agreement specifically states that only the operator (yours truly) and the operator's spouse can drive the vehicle, and he refrained from going on a joyride. He did suggest we get married, however, but then I would have to share.

Welcome to the key audience for the Audi Q7 -- boys (and girls) who love their toys. There are seven -- yes, seven -- owner's manual books for the vehicle's various systems stuffed into the glovebox.

(continued)

Click image to enlarge

Abt Sportsline has prepared a version of the Audi Q7 they call the AS7. Based on the Euro-market 3.0 TDI version of Audi's new ute, the AS7 gets a host of visual refinements that set it apart from its other bretheren on the "streets of tomorrow," as well as the requisite tweaks to coax more power from the engine.

A subtle body kit enhances the SUV's already muscular appearance, incorporating new skirts all around and more pronounced fender extensions. A contrasting coat of orange paint highlights the changes to good effect. An orange trim ring around the Audi's signature grille and orange badging complete the two-tone scheme. You know a tuner ride's going to have a fresh set of rims, and the one-piece 20" or 22" Abt Sportsline AR wheels filling the openings look great. The final visual touches are a new rear wing and a pair of double-barreled exhaust tips peeking through the revised rear skirt.

As for the engine mods, Abt massages the 3.0-liter diesel to produce 272 horsepower -- an increase of 39 over the stock engine's output -- and a very healthy 426 lb ft of torque. No performance numbers are provided on the Abt site, but with that much torque, the driver's highly sophisticated seat-of-the-pants instrumentation is sure to feel the added punch. Hot looks, usable power, and diesel efficiency? That'll work. Sign us up!

(Additional photos, press release after the jump)

[Source: Abt Sportsline]

If you fancy your CUVs on the sporty side, have we got a ride for you! German tuner nothelle can transform your Q7 into a firebreather that should humble a Cayenne Turbo.

While nothelle has performance and appearance upgrades for both the 3-liter turbodiesel and the 4.2-liter V8, its the top of the line twin-turbo kit for the 4.2-liter that will open their eyes at the country club, with its 572 hp and 531 foot-pounds of torque. With an extra 130 hp and 80 foot-pounds over the Porsche, nothelle's Q-ship should be able to kick sand in the face of a Turbo Cayenne any time you feel the urge.

More after the jump...