Autoblog

Click to cruise through a hi-res gallery of the Q7 coastline concept

In addition to introducing the production Q7 V12 TDI ultra-ute, Audi will use this week's Geneva Motor Show to christen a concept based on its new flagship. "Flagship" is actually an appropriate term, as the Q7 coastline takes a distinctly nautical tack. Its bodywork and 500-horsepower engine jibe with those of the Q7 V12 TDI, but it gets a new wheel design and is finished in Inuit -- a pearlescent white paint -- from bow to stern. Inside, the yachting theme continues with alabaster-colored surfaces contrasted by dark wood cabin accents. The theme is pushed to full throttle in the cargo area, where the waxed wood trim is laid out in a pattern that recalls deck planking, but disappointingly does not include a shuffleboard court. The "V12 TDI" badging on the front fenders badging even incorporates a little yacht club burgee. Ultimately, a big diesel-powered land yacht sporting a nautical theme seems rather appropriate, but come on, Audi -- no tender? Slackers.


[Source: Audi]

Click on the photo for a gallery of high-res images of the Q7 V12 TDi

It looks like the Audi Q7 V12 TDi Concept that appeared at the Detroit Auto Show in January may lose the last word in it's name before long and actually move into showrooms. During the Audi snnual press conference in Ingolstadt, new boss Rupert Stadler seemed to imply that the monster V12 diesel would be going into production versions of the Q7, before long. If Audi decides to capitalize on the success of the diesel-powered R10 in the ALMS and at LeMans by putting the V12 TDi into the R8 sports car, a better business case could certainly be made for producing the engine if they could also install it in other vehicles like the Q7 and A8.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, he didn't use the word "concept" in his discussion of the Q7 and called the launch a huge success. Stadler also stated that the V12 TDi is part of Audi's broad-based diesel initiative in the US market. Make of that what you will. The transcript of the presentation is after the jump.

[Source: Audi via Fourtitude]