Frankfurt Motor Show 2005 - Audi

What's the star of the stand?
The enormous new Q7 4x4. The seven-seater is Audi's first full-blown off-roader, and lands in the UK late next summer with a starting price of about £35,000.

Considering its imposing dimensions (it's even longer and wider than a Land Rover Discovery) it's not altogether surprising that there's bags of room in the cabin. Fold all the five rear passenger seats away and you're left with 2035 litres of luggage room.

From launch, buyers have the choice of a 350bhp 4.2-litre petrol or a 233bhp 3.0-litre diesel. Other engine options are on the cards, however, including more powerful diesels.

The Q7 uses the latest generation of Quattro permanent four-wheel drive from the RS saloon. 40% of engine power is sent to the front wheels helping the car’s agility through corners. The car also features a sensing differential to distribute power to the wheels with the most grip.

They say
'Occupants benefit from the comfort of incomparable spaciousness and a new dimension in versatility: no less than 28 seating and loading configurations are possible in the Q7.'

We say
We haven't counted the number of configurations, but the Q7 certainly has a seriously flexible cabin. The middle row of three seats individually slides fore and aft and reclines. Like the rear pair, they also fold to create a flat load area. While easy to collapse forward they are heavy and cumbersome to fold upright again.

Anything else?
The face-lifted A4 Cabriolet takes the company's more imposing grille design. On order from November, with first deliveries in the spring, the updated car is available with three petrol units, offering 161bhp, 197bhp or 251bhp, or a 229bhp 3.0-litre V6 TDI diesel unit.

Any gossip?
The Q badge isn't just reserved for the Q7. Audi's work on a smaller off-roader, probably called the Q5, is well under way. The car could break cover next year.