Audi R8, Q7 Tougher Than Iron Man

It’s almost summer, and you know what that means: It’s time for at least one superhero movie. This year things kick off with “Iron Man,” starring Robert Downey Jr. as the iron-clad crusader. Audi spent some dough to get two of its vehicles prominent placement during the movie, including in its finale.

As the YouTube videos below show, the FX guys for “Iron Man” weren’t a match for German engineering. We have a few thoughts, though, on the reality versus the hype below. And, of course, on the cool videos.

Audi's Bang & Olufsen Sound Now Available in Q7

For the sound junkies around Cars.com’s office, it doesn’t get much better than the auditory experience created by Bang & Olufsen’s 14-speaker, 1,000-watt sound system in Audi’s A8 and S8. You may ask yourself: $6,300? For a stereo? Who? Why?

Trust us. Now, Audi is offering the system in its Q7 SUV as well. Audi says Q7s equipped with the stereo are arriving at dealerships right now. Not all Q7 trims get the stereo; it will be available in the Q7 3.6 Premium and 4.2 Premium models for an extra $6,300.

The A8 and S8 sedans were the original carriers of the sound system, where it pumped out 1,000 watts. A 505-watt version was later included in the A5 and S5, and a 465-watt version can be had in the R8 supercar. The Q7 will use the full-powered 1,000-watt stereo, which is tailored specifically for the Q7’s interior volume, shapes and materials.

Among the system’s trick features are the front tweeters that pop up out of the dashboard. The first sound heard inside the car when they deploy isn’t from the speakers themselves, but usually an “oooooh” or “ahhhhhh” from passengers.

Related

Audi's Bang & Olufsen Sound System Reviewed (KickingTires)

Suburban Dad: 2007 Audi Q7

Did you ever have a neighbor you waved and smiled at for years, thinking, “What a great guy,” till one day you spent a long time talking to him and realized, “Wow, he’s really annoying.”

So it was for me with the Q7. I first drove it back in May, and came away impressed with the ride quality and seating, among other things. It wasn’t until I got my wife and kids into it that it showed its true colors.

Audi Bringing Diesel Q7, New A4 to U.S.

Audi announced today it will indeed bring its new clean-diesel power plants to the U.S. in 2008. This is one of those rare times when U.S. consumers will not only get a shot at diesel engines, but they’ll get them at roughly the same time as European buyers. The first vehicle slated for the 3.0-liter V-6 TDI ultra-low emission system will be the Q7 SUV, which will arrive sometime in 2008. The redesigned A4 will have the same power plant when it arrives in the U.S. at an unspecified date, most likely late in 2008. We’re also hoping the next A4 Avant gets the TDI treatment.

The diesel engine puts out 240 hp and 406 pounds-feet of torque. That torque figure is the important one; a Mustang GT, for example, has 320 pounds-feet of torque. Like recent entries from Mercedes, the Audi TDI will pass the toughest emission requirements in the world, meaning California’s.

Related
2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: 2009 Audi A4 (KickingTires)
Audi Diesels: No V-12, but V-6 Could Show Up Elsewhere (KickingTires)

Audi's New Q7 SUV Selling Better in Europe

Here’s a rare example of Americans looking down their noses at the Europeans. This doesn’t happen often, but Audi’s first foray into the SUV market — the new Q7 that Mike Hanley recently reviewed — is selling better in Europe than it is in the usually more SUV friendly United States. Audi had originally thought a full half of Q7s that rolled off the assembly line in Germany would be sold on American soil. Instead, only 30% of Q7s are being housed in U.S. garages.

There are a number of factors that could be contributing to the reversal of SUV fortune. American buyers are getting tired of SUVs in general and another entry based on the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne isn’t exactly hot stuff. The Q7 didn’t come to market offering a more affordable V-6 engine so shoppers first glimpse of a sticker price saw something just under $50,000 for the V-8 instead of just under $40,000 for the V-6. Audi says the problem is brand awareness. That doesn’t fly for us since the rest of Audi’s lineup like the A4 and A6 is at a record-setting pace.

Otherwise, we’re not sure why folks are staying away from the Q7 while many other new luxury SUVs like the Range Rover Sport and Cadillac Escalade are selling well. We’ll see if the new BMW X5 suffers a similar down trend or if it is just a case isolated to Audi.

[Q7 sells better in Europe than US, AutoWeek]