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26 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 4, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com EVERYTHING Auto your guide to everything auto in Oakville 29 1A SP E ER S RD ., O AK VI COME EXPERIENCE TRUE CLEAN QUALITY LL E, 90 5. 33 15 9. 37 77 % OFF And then there was one... Audi jumps on the SUV bandwagon By Jeremy Sinek SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The new '07 Audi Q7 coming to Canada this summer isn't exactly a truck, but it more ably fits the SUV mould than did the A6 wagon-based Allroad, which was as close as Audi previously came to building an SUV (said Allroad disappeared in North America, though it continues in its next generation for other markets). To begin, the Q7 is big -- 260 mm (10.2 in.) taller than an A6 Avant and 150 mm (5.9 in.) longer (enough to contain three rows of seating). Heck, it's barely shorter than a Cadillac Escalade. And despite extensive lightweight materials, curb weight is a decidedly porkulent two-and-a-half tons. If the Allroad was a mild crossover (à la Subaru Outback), the Q7 is an intense one. In Audi's own words, it's a "thirdgeneration performance SUV." Translation: it's more refined and athletic than rough-and-ready, strictly off-road, firstgeneration SUVs, but more off-road capable than the second generation of more pavement-oriented premium SUVs. The pavement manners should be assured by the Q7's carlike construction, with a unibody structure and doublewishbone independent suspension on all four corners. The boonie-bashing credentials begin, of course, with the quattro all-wheel-drive system that is standard on almost all Audis. In this application it has the latest-generation selflocking centre differential. The default torque split is 42:58 percent front/rear, but depending on conditions the system can dispatch up to 65 per cent to the front, or 85 per cent to the rear. Slip of any individual wheel is curbed by brake intervention. There is no Low Range, but there is high ground clearance -- 8.1 inches with the standard suspension. With the optional multi-mode air suspension, ground clearance can be raised to as much as 9.5 inches (or, at autobahn velocities, it can go as low as 5.9 inches). Speaking of the autobahn, two engines are available in the Q7, both with FSI, Audi's gasoline direct-injection technology. The base unit is a 280 hp, 3.6-litre V6 that will arrive in September. Already here, and resident in our test vehicle, is Audi's familiar 4.2-litre V8, now worth 350 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. Either way, the transmission is a 6speed automatic. Pricing for the V8 begins at $68,900. A Premium model asks $79,900 and includes as standard numerous items and packages that are optional on the base -- 19-inch wheels, a huge panorama sunroof, navigation, XM satellite radio, rearview camera, voice recognition, keyless start, premium leather and side assist. The latter, an industry first, is a system that warns you not to change lanes if it detects another EVERYTHIN vehicle in your blind spot. The base Q7 3.6 comes as a 5-seater, with the option of having the split-folding second-row bench located four inches further back than normal. The 4.2 comes with a pair of third-row seats, plus a choice of a three-person middle bench or twin captain's chairs (the latter are standard on the Premium). The buckets are very comfortable, with particularly generous thigh support. They also can be slid way back for knee room to spare -- which is just as well, since middle-row riders will have to sacrifice some of that spare room if anyone bigger than a small child is going to fit in the third row (Audi says the back seats are suitable for occupants up to 5'4" ). It would also help to have the agility of a small child just to get into the third row. On the other hand, the cargo deck behind said third row is a lot more sizable than the narrow shelf you get in many other 6-/7-seater SUVs. It's also easy to extend: flip the thirdrow seat backs forward, and the headrests automatically tuck out of the way, creating a deck that's pretty close to flat. The second-row seats fold with equal ease, but don't go quite so level. Up front, it's a fairly easy step up into a cockpit that's more car- than truck-like -- you don't sit especially high within the vehicle. Typically of German cars, there are yards of leg room, but it's a moot point since there isn't an abundance of head room beneath the Panorama sunroof. The dashboard is similar to the A6's and that's mostly a good thing, though I still think the instrument surrounds look like a pair of sad eyes. Many functions are regulated by Audi's Man-Machine Interface (MMI); it's easier to use than some competitive devices, but its location aft of the shift lever entails a long glance away from the road if you haven't learned to operate it by touch. Continued on Page 28 Oak-land Ford Lincoln F-Series Trucks Econoline Vans Attention Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners... Doing Business Your Way VISIT OAK LAND FOR ALL YOUR BUSINESS VEHICLE NEEDS Aerocell Vans 570 TRAFALGAR ROAD, OAKVILLE · AT THE QEW · WWW.OAKLANDFORDLINCOLN.CA 1-866-398-4270