The Audi Q7: Exterior Design
Power and presence The Audi Q7 brings the new design line of the Audi brand to the premium SUV segment. Its elegant styling represents power and presence and impresses with its dynamism and sportiness. Flowing forms create a body of moving surfaces, which appears sculpture-like even when standing still. The Audi Q7 is a new breed of SUV. The first representatives of this vehicle category were angular beasts with a strictly off-road character. These were followed by the first premium SUVs, with a design clearly oriented towards on-road capabilities. In contrast, the Audi Q7 is a third-generation performance SUV. It combines the best features from both worlds and reflects this in its design. Its exterior is as much a reflection of superior sportiness as it is of the robustness required of a powerful off-roader. A strong personality such as the Audi Q7 convinces with its attention to detail. The front is dominated by the striking, practically vertical single-frame grille a clear indication of the powerful engines installed behind. With its slim chrome frame and rib structure, the grille has a marked three-dimensional effect the horizontal ribs protrude slightly to emphasise the horizontal lines, the vertical lines are set back slightly. On either side of the grille, wide headlights reach far into the wing, their light tubes visible behind clear-glass covers. In addition to the standard halogen lights, xenon plus headlights and the dynamic cornering light adaptive light are available. Sporty and robust The engine compartment lid has a distinctive V-shape to underline the sporty character of the Audi Q7, whereas the dominant shape of the bumper emphasises its robustness and stability. The lower section is colour-contrasted. This visual differentiation further accentuated by the contrasting paintwork option clearly highlights the versatility of the vehicle. The Audi Q7 looks powerful and elongated: with regard to its ratio of length to width to height it boasts the sportiest proportions in its class. These proportions are harmonious and at the same time striking. High side panels lend the vehicle body a muscular appearance, contrasting with the flat sporty window area. The free-flowing surfaces create the impression of a sculpture. Broad curves, swage lines and seams intensify this effect as does the play of light and shade on the concave and convex surfaces. The elegante dynamic line running above the wheel arches and the strong high shoulder section lend the design an athletic character. Bullish front end The Audi Q7 seems to forge ahead even when standing still. Its overhang at the front is markedly short at only 965 millimetres, the sill line rises dynamically towards the rear, passing round the distinctly contoured wheel arches. The A-pillar, optically accelerated by its flat angle of projection, forms a harmonious transition area from the engine compartment lid to the roof. The roofline starts to drop again just in front of the B-pillar and finally ends in a coupé-like curve at the sporty flat, sturdy D-pillar. A spoiler carrying the third brake light lends a final touch. The rear of the Audi Q7 has an unusually dynamic and innovative design. The sweeping wrap-around tailgate with the S-shaped shut line has an optically stabilising effect while at the same time expressing the urge to push forward. The tailgate does not interrupt the bumper with the embedded light strip and itself carries single-piece lights with an expressive design, extending to the body flanks and accentuating the horizontal lines at the rear. The shoulder line of the body ends at the top edge of the lights. Both exhaust tailpipes are arranged symmetrically. On vehicles with the V6 engine they are 80 millimetres in diameter and with the V8 4.2 FSI 100 mm. A number of impressive details round off the sporty appearance of the Audi Q7. The large wheels of up to 20 inches in diameter symbolise maximum performance and safety on and off-road. The exterior mirrors , like all add-on parts, they have been optimised to achieve minimum air resistance, low noise levels, dirt-resistance and good drainage in wet weather. Horizontal turn signals featuring LED fibre optic technology are harmoniously integrated. The drag coefficient of the Audi Q7 on models with steel suspension is 0.37. If air suspension is fitted, it is even lower due to the lowered body at higher speeds, reaching 0.34 on the V6 FSI, for example. These figures are the best in the SUV segment. A range of eleven exterior colours All eleven exterior colours are perfectly matched with the sporty yet elegant character of the design. The colours are Silver, metallic, Quartz Grey, metallic, Condor Grey, metallic, Lava Grey, pearl effect, Night Black, Phantom Black, pearl effect, Cobalt Blue, metallic, Garnet Red, pearl effect, Calla White, The lower sections of the bumper and door cover strips, coordinated with these paint colours as standard by Audi, are available in Black and Dark Grey. The contrasting colours Platinum Grey, matt and Silver, matt are available on request. |