New shots of the Audi Q7-Part 1

... Once again, please note that there still is plenty of camouflage.

The headlights are masked to look smaller and more round. The tail-lights are heavily masked to look large and vertical (they are actually sleek, thin, and horizontal), and single frame grill is masked to look like the old (and boring) split grill.

These pictures are taken from Audi's three year international testing program that put the Q7 through the most extensive, comprehensive, and punishing test program in the history of automotive production.

Audi will launch an unprecedented marketing campaign (especially in the US) to ensure that the Q7 become the premier luxury SUV with three years of market launch.

With Audi again hitting record worldwide sales this year, I have no doubt that the Q7 will be a blockbuster.

Boring. Unworthy. And at least two years too late. SUVs are toast ... the minivans or the early years of the new century.

These spy shots are nice, but are actually officially sanctioned by Audi. Below is something Audi would not like you to see just yet....

The Q7 interior.

Please note that this test mule interior does not have the standard wood trim. In real life, it oozes refinement.

Looks hot.

Even better than the Infiniti FX45, which I think is a great design. Reminds me of an A6 avant on steroids.

Should do killer business.

yeah the q7 does look great. I am looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.

btw, to whoever this sad douglass guy is, audi residuals have dramtically risen over the last 3 years. audi vehicles now hold their value better than benz and about the same as BMW.

you're living in the past my sad man.

audi is quickly becoming the best luxury car maker in the world. those who don't see that are just ignorant.

... a couple of people have asked if I work for Audi.

Nope, I don't. I'm perfectly happy directing animated films thank you very much.

And yes, I do own a couple of Audis. But I have owned other brands in the past, and have no problem switching to BMW and Benz if the right car comes along. But I have to say, Audi is making the best high-volume cars in the world as far as I'm concerned.

What I do have are some great inside lines though.

I actually really admire both BMW and Mercedes (despite Benz' recent slump in quality thanks to Chrysler's mis-management).

On a related note, I find it enjoyable to read the desperate and aggressive insults about Audi by mostly American car fans have an outdated view of the company. They falsely believe that Audi is poor in reliability and sales, and furthermore naively think that Audi's are just candy-coated VW's. A bizarre conclusion considering the A4 and A6 are their own platforms, not shared by VW, not to mention that quattro is completely different than 4motion.

The reality of course is that Audi is now the top German luxury brand when it comes to safety, reliability, and sales growth. In fact, Audi is the fastest growing luxury car maker in the world (just look at Business Week's 'Top 100 Global Brands' chart).

With a projected 1 million cars set to sell annually by 2008, I have no doubt that Audi will succeed in toppling BMW and Merc to become the #1 German lux brand by 2010.

Only 5 years left to see if they succeed!

And if they don't, who cares; they'll still be making fantastic cars. And hopefully I'll still be lucky enough to be driving one of them.

Good times.

Below is the action production version iterior of the Q7 in the ebony (all black) color scheme:

Yeah, the 'Q' lawsuit is still pending, but only in the USA.

It's a laughable that Infiniti, a company that decided to have an 'M' line decades after BMW had its M line, is suing Audi for the letter 'Q'. I suspect it will be thrown out of court.

In any case, Audi is a massive company with deep, deep pockets. The lauwsuit is not a big issue for Audi. It has however given more press to the Q7.

Rest assured, the Q7 will be released without a hitch. And yes, its projected to be a blockbuster.

- 2003 A4 Cabriolet 3.0
- 2000 A4 1.8T quattro.

My next car will probably be another Audi convertible, but with quattro.

B7 Cabriolet.

The B7 A4 Cabriolet, which will debut this fall, will have a new face very similar to the B7 A4.

The rear however will stay the same, but will get LED tail-lights. There will also be no pronounced beltline like the sedan.

Engines will be the 200HP 2.0T and a slightly uprated 3.1 liter FSI yielding 260 bhp.

I personally LOVE the new look of the A4, especially the S-Line. Audi despirately needed a bold new look, especially now that so many lesser car makers are coming out with B6 A4 clones.