Cars & Motors News

[Rasputin]

2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Base Price $ 65,000
Price As Tested $ 67,845
Engine Type 16-valve pushrod overhead valve V8
Engine Size 7.0 liters / 427 cu. in.
Horsepower 505 @ 6300 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 470 @ 4800 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 105.7 in. / 175.6 in.
Curb Weight 3,130 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 6.2
Fuel Capacity 18 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar Extended
Mobility
P275/35ZR18 front, P325/30ZR19 rear
Brakes, front/rear vented and cross-drilled discs
all around,
6-piston front, 4-piston rear
calipers, ABS and Stabilitrak
standard
Suspension, front/rear independent unequal-length aluminum
control arms with transverse
composite leaf springs
Drivetrain front engine, rear-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 16 / 26 / 22
0 to 60 mph 3.7 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Polished aluminum wheels $1,295
Special paint $ 750
Destination charge $ 800

[Rasputin]

ششمين نمايشگاه تخصصی و چهارمين نمايشگاه بين المللی خودرو و صنايع وابسته به عنوان بزرگترين نمايشگاه خودرو ايران در سه سال گذشته در محل دائمی نمايشگاههای بين المللی شهر مشهد که نخستين نمايشگاه خودرو در عضو اتحادیه بین المللی نمایشگاهها UFI در ایران است برگزار شد.
در اين نمايشگاه بيش از ۲۰۰ شرکت ايرانی و خارجی در فضايی به مساحت ۴۰ هزرا متر مربع حضور يافتند. در بين حاضران ازديگر کشورها می توان از آلمان، آمريکا ، ايتاليا، انگليس، ژاپن، کره جنوبی، چين ، فرانسه، ترکيه ، تايوان ،سويس و بسياری ديگر نام برد.

شرکت های داخلی نيز از شهرهای مهم و صنعتی از سراسر ايران به معرفی آخرين محصولات و دستاوردهای خود در زمينه خودروسازی، قطعه سازی ، خدمات پس از فروش، بازرگانی، طراحی و مهندسی، نشريات تخصصی ،ماشين آلات و ... پرداختند.

در روز افتتاح نمايشگاه مهندس مفيدی، معاون وزير صنايع ايران حضور يافت و در سخنانی گفت:"خودروسازی در رده دوم اقتصاد جهانی قرار دارد و اين صنعت در ايران نيز در ميان صد صنعت جايگاه نخست را دارد و با افزايش بسيار زياد صنعت خودروسازی در ايران و توليد ۹۶۴ هزار دستگاه خودرو در سال گذشته رتبه ايران يک رده در جايگاه جهانی ارتقاء يافته و به جايگاه شانزدهم رسيده است."

معاون وزير صنايع افزود ايران با داشتن يک درصد جميعت جهان حدود يک و نيم درصد توليد خودرو جهان را داراست.

بازديد کنندگان و علاقمنديها

شرکتهای توليد کننده محصولاتی مانند تويوتا، هيوندا و لوگان آخرين مدل های خود را در نمايشگاه معرفی می کردند و کارخانجات ايران که به مونتاژ اتومبيل می پردازند هم محصولاتی از قبيل سوزوکی، پروتون و تويوتا را به نمايش گذاشته بودند. در کنار اينها می شد آخرين مدل های پژو ۲۰۶، ۴۰۵ و پرشيا را که هشتاد و پنج درصد قطعات آن محصول ايران است و خودروی سمند که طراحی آن کاملا به ايران مربوط می شود را مشاهده کرد.

در اين نمايشگاه هر نوع مخاطبی اعم از مردم عادی جويای اتومبيل های جديد، مسئولين کارخانجات قطعه سازی و خودروسازی، دانشجويان رشته های فنی مهندسی و مسئولين بخشهای ترانزيت کالاحضور داشت.

اما يکی از مهمترين مسائلی که می شد در نمايشگاه ديد، تعداد بازديدکنندگانی بود که فقط برای آشنايی با خودروها و محصولات خارجی به نمايشگاه آمده بودند و به محصولات ايرانی چندان علاقه ای نشان نمی دادند. بيشتر اين افراد عدم کيفيت بالا، تنوع مدل ها و افت قيمت کالا پس از خريد را دليل اين موضوع بيان می کردند.
اما به طور مثال مهرزاد يکی از بازديدکنندگان که از کشور دانمارک به مشهد سفر کرده بود در توضيح اين مطلب گفت:" به نظر من اين مساله ريشه در سی يا چهل سال قبل در ايران دارد که کيفيت خودرو وقطعات آن در ايران فوق العاده پايين بود ولی حالا اين مساله به يک معزل فرهنگی تبديل شده که ما محصولات کشورمان را قبول نداريم درحاليکه امروز با رشد روزافزون صنعت خودرو در ايران روبرو هستيم و به طور مثال من واقعا از ديدن خودروی سمند که توليد ايران است لذت بردم."

نمايشگاهی بيشتر مردانه

يکی از ديگر موضوعاتی که در نمايشگاه خودرو خراسان به وضوح می شد ديد اين بود که نمايشگاه بيشتر به يک بازار کاملا مردانه شباهت داشت و حضور خانم ها در آن بسيار اندک بود. در حاليکه در ديگر نمايشگاهها حضور خانم ها بسيار پررنگ تراست.

سميه که به همراه همسر و فرزندش به نمايشگاه آمده بود در اين باره گفت:" ببينيد در کشور ما خانم ها به دليل نداشتن مشاغل مهم و با در آمد بالا از استطاعت مالی مناسبی برای خريد اتومبيل به تنهايی برخوردار نيستند. اونها معمولا به پدران، همسران و در مواردی به برادران خودشون تکيه می کنن که البته اين مردان هم کمتر به خريد خودرو برای خانم ها علاقه نشون می دن."

مريم زنجانی ، مهندس برق که به همراه دوستش که مهندس کامپيوتر بود برای معرفی محصولات يک شرکت ايرانی، آلمانی در اين نمايشگاه شرکت کرده بود.او گفت که متوجه حضور کم خانم ها و مخصوصا دختران در اين نمايشگاه شده، به نظر او به دليل اينکه خانم ها در خريد اتومبيل فقط به رنگ و مدل و يا سيستم تهويه داخل اتومبيل توجه دارند ،چنين نمايشگاههای تخصصی که بيشتر به ارائه جزئيات می پردازند نمی تواند زياد برايشان جالب باشد.

بهاره بيست ساله که دانشجوی زراعت در زاهدان است می گويد:" من خيلی علاقه دارم يک پرادوی هفتاد ميليونی داشته باشم."وقتی می پرسم که چطور می توانی اين مبلغ را به دست بياوری می گويد:" تنها راهش اين است که با يک آدم خيلی پولدار در زاهدان که شايد قاچاقچی هم باشد ازدواج کنم تا به آرزويم برسم."

مسلم و آرمين هم از پسرانی هستند که به نمايشگاه آمده اند. مسلم می گويد:" خوشبختانه خواهر ندارم. اگر هم داشتم اجازه نمی دادم اتومبيل بخرد.چون برای دختر لازم نيست. من بودم و همه جا می بردمش."

آرمين هم می گويد:" خواهر دارم اما اولويت خريد خودرو برای من است چون مرد خانه هستم."

موسيقی ، دختران، دکوراسيون، غرفه داران

دريکی از غرفه های نمايشگاه بين المللی خودرو متوجه ازدحام خيلی زياد در اطراف يکی از خوردروها شدم. خودرويی نارنجی رنگ که کاملا با رنگ های به کار گرفته از غرفه همخوانی داشت و موسيقی بسيار بلندی از آن پخش می شد. اين غرفه مسئول نصب سيستم های فوق العاده قوی و با کيفيت و استانداردهای جهانی در ايران بود. و در هر کدام از بخشهای نمايشگاه که موسيقی های شادی پخش می شد و رنگها و طرحهای جذابی در غرفه آرايی به کار رفته بود تعداد بازديدکنندگان بسيار زياد بود و همه از اين نوع تبليغات اظهار رضايت می کردند.

در نقطه مقابل در بخشهايی از نمايشگاه می شد، خودروهای بسيارگران قيمت و مدل بالايی را ديد که فقط برروی يک زمينه خاکستری رنگ از فرش نمايشگاه بدون هيچ تزئين و يا ارائه جذابی توقف داده شده بودند طوری که آدم تصور می کرد اينجا فقط يک پارکينگ است.

حضور برخی دختران غرفه دار با لباسهای شاد و يا دخترانی در کنار اتومبيل ها به جذابيت نمايشگاه افزوده بود که مريم زنجانی مهندس برق ويکی از اين غرفه دارن گفت بسيار عاليست که حضور دختران علاوه بر تبليغات با آخرين اطلاعات فنی و علمی باشد. او افزود که دختران با حوصله و دقت و مهربانی بيشتر به مخاطبان پاسخگو هستند.

اما در کنار اين شاهد غرفه دارانی بوديم که در کنار برخی اتومبيل ها ايستاده بودند و به بازديدکنندگان می گفتند از ما اطلاعات فنی و يا صنعتی نپرسيد.

[Rasputin]

2006 Jaguar XKR Coupe

2006 Jaguar XK8 Victory Coupe

Base Price $ 82,995
Price As Tested $ 88,495
Engine Type Dual overhead cam 32-valve
supercharged V8
Engine Size 4.2 liters / 256 cu. in.
Horsepower 390 @ 3500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 399 @ 3500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length101.9 in. / 188.0 in.
Curb Weight 3,865 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 9.9
Fuel Capacity 19.9 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires Pirelli P Zero Asimmetrico
255/35 ZR20 front, 285/30 ZR20 rear
Brakes, front/rearvented and cross-drilled discs
all around, with floating
multi-piston calipers
Suspension, front/rear independent double wishbone /
independent with lower wishbones
and driveshaft acting as upper link
Drivetrain front engine, rear-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy- miles per gallon
city / highway / observed
16 / 23 / 17
0 to 60 mph 5.2 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES none

[Rasputin]

2007 Honda Fit Sport

2007 Honda Fit Sport

Base Price $ 15,170
Price As Tested $ 15,720
Engine Type 16-valve single overhead cam
aluminum alloy inline 4-cylinder
with VTEC variable valve timing
and lift.
Engine Size 1.5 liters / 91 cu. in.
Horsepower 109 @ 5800 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 105 @ 4800 rpm
Transmission 5-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 96.5 in. / 157.4 in.
Curb Weight 2471 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 22.7
Fuel Capacity 10.8 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane regular unleaded gasoline
Tires P195/55 HR15Dunlop SP 81
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / drum, antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut/
semi-independent torsion beam axle
Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 33 / 38 / 34
0 to 60 mph est 9.0 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Destination charge $ 550

[Rasputin]

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Perfect is an overused word, yet “highly suitable for someone or something” is an accurate description of the 2007 Explorer Sport Trac. It does everything it should—and more—with style, grace and a heaping dollop of panache.

Previous Explorer Sport Tracs were based almost completely on then-current Explorers and offered their solid rear axles, V6 engines, later Ford’s first five-speed transmission with dual first gears, and the first widely used composite pickup bed. It offered more elegance than any mini-truck available—at the cost of a slightly smaller pickup bed. And it drew a rabid following of devoted users (www.mysporttrac.com.)

For 2007, Explorer Sport Track is all-new, and radically revised. The 2007 Explorer Sport Trac offers a V8 for the first time—the 3-valve 292 horsepower 4.6-liter V8 found in other Ford trucks. Paired with a class-exclusive 6-speed automatic transmission with a wide 6.04:1 gear span (this means the engine is more often in the “sweet spot” for fuel economy, emissions reduction, and power) it can tow 6,800 pounds and has 1,390 pounds of cargo capacity. The other available engine, an upgraded 4.0-liter V6, meets Tier 2 Bin 4 emissions regulations and produces 210 horsepower (5100 rpm) and 254 pound-feet of torque (3700 rpm.) More important this week is the fact that the V8 and a reasonably light foot on the accelerator can deliver 20-plus miles per gallon. In fact I regularly exceeded 20 mpg on the freeway and nearly 15 mpg in 60/40% highway/city driving.

[Rasputin]

2006 Lexus IS350

2006 Lexus IS350


Base Price $ 35,440
Price As Tested $ 46,593
Engine Type dual overhead cam, 24-valve aluminum
alloy V6
with VVT-i variable cam phasing
Engine Size 3.5 liters / 210 cu. in.
Horsepower 306 @ 6400 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 277 @ 4800 rpm
Transmission 6-speed electronically-controlled
automatic
Wheelbase / Length 107.5 in. / 180.1 in.
Curb Weight 3,527 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 11.5
Fuel Capacity 17.1 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires 225/45 front, 245/45 VR 17 rear
Dunlop Sport SP
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc, ABS, EBD,
brake assist standard
Suspension, front/rear independent double wishbone
Drivetrain independent multilink

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 21 / 28 / 22
0 to 60 mph 5.6 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Headlamp washers $ 100
Luxury Package - includes:
HID & adaptive front lighting system,
heated & ventilated front seats, perforated
leather seat upgrade, wood interior trim,
power tilt & telescope steering wheel,
driver & passenger memory seats,
illuminated scuff plates, power rear sunshade,
rain-sensing wipers $ 3,495
Lexus Pre-Collision system(PCS) with
dynamic radar cruise control $ 2,850
Navigation system with Mark Levinson
premium audio package $ 3,990
Cargo net $ 59
Trunk mat $ 69
Destination charge $ 590

[Rasputin]

2006 Jaguar S-Type VDP Edition

2006 Jaguar S-Type VDP Edition

Base Price $ 51,830
Price As Tested $ 59,245
Engine Type dual overhead cam 32-valve aluminum
alloy V8 with continuously-variable
valve timing and multi-stage
intake manifold
Engine Size 4.2 liters / 255 cu. in.
Horsepower 300 @ 6000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 310 @ 4100 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic with manual
shift mode
Wheelbase / Length 114.5 in. / 193.1 in.
Curb Weight 3,868 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 12.9
Fuel Capacity 18.4 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires P235/50 HR17 Michelin Pilot HX mxm4
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc,
antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent unequal-length
aluminum double wishbone /
independent double wishbone
Drivetrain front engine, rear-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 18 / 26 / 20
0 to 60 mph 6.2 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Navigation and Bluetooth - includes:
DVD-based navigation system with 7-inch touch screen,
Bluetooth wireless technology $2,800

VDP Edition - includes:
17-inch Aurora alloy wheels, chrome door mirror caps,
burl walnut wood veneer interior trim, premium
leather interior trim, heated 16-way power driver's and
12-way power front passenger seats, premium carpet
footwell rugs, electric rear sunblind, auto-leveling
xenon headlamps, front park control $3,500

Satellite radio $ 450

Destination charge $ 665

[Nutcase]

isetta

has anyone ever heard of the isetta from bmw?
it is the cutest car ever and a phenomenon in my opnion.

The Isetta was incubated in the post-war economy of Europe. After the war, many people did not have the money to afford large automobiles and instead moved about on scooters and motorcycles.

Designed and developed during 1952-1953, Iso presented the first Isetta (literally, little Iso) at the 1953 Turin Motor Show. Looking like the result of a high speed collision between a refrigerator, a scooter, and an airplane at a Lawrence Welk show, the Iso Isetta was only 4.5 ft wide and 7.5 ft long. The car had a single door at the front, rear wheels that were only 19 in. apart, and gas mileage of over 50 miles per gallon. The two-cylinder, two-stroke engine allowed a top speed of 45 mph and could propell the Isetta to 30 mph in 36 seconds. Iso began production in Italy and in Belgium for domestic sales and limited export.

BMW made the Isetta its own. They redesigned the powerplant around a more reliable BMW one-cylinder, four-stroke, 247 cc motorcycle engine with 13 hp. Although the major elements of the Italian design remained intact, BMW re-engineered much of the car, so much so that none of the parts between a BMW Isetta Moto Coupe and an Iso Isetta interchange. The first BMW Isetta appeared in April, 1955. BMW introduced the restyled Isetta Moto Coupe DeLuxe (sliding-window Isetta) in October 1956 with the larger 298 cc motor for export. Legend has it that BMW would not be here today if not for the success of the little Isetta.

BMW began exporting Isettas to the U.S. (to a lukewarm response) in 1957. Overall, the Isetta was successful enough to encourage BMW to produce the 600, which shared the Isetta’s front door and a motorcycle engine (600 cc) and the more car-like 700 (also powered by a motorcycle engine).

Due to competition from faster and more car-like mini-cars (specifically the BMC Mini), BMW stopped production of the Isetta in 1962. Isetta of Great Britain also stopped production of the little cars but continued to produce Isetta engines until 1964. Romi-Isetta in Brazil continued to manufacture the original Italian Isetta until 1959 and produced spare parts until 1961..

Thanks to BMW, the Isetta was the most successful of the bubble cars. BMW built 136,367 Isettas. Isetta of Britain produced about 30,000 cars. Romi-Isetta manufactured about 3,000 of which an estimated 200 remain. Velam produced about 5,000 cars. Iso itself only made about 1,000 Isettas. Of the cars made by BMW, about 8,500 were exported to the U.S. of which it is estimated 1,000 still survive.

In 1980, there was a brief attempt to bring the Isetta back into production as the 'Diaseta.' The Diaseta was the Isetta with several minor modifications

[Rasputin]

thx for info

[Nutcase]

khahesh mikonam jenabe vin rouge

[Rasputin]

2006 Mercury Milan Premier

Base Price $ 22,845
Price As Tested $ 24,495
Engine Type aluminum alloy dual overhead cam
24-valve V6 with variable valve timing
on the intake camshafts
Engine Size 3.0 liters / 182 cu. in.
Horsepower 221 @ 6250 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 205 @ 4800 rpm
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 107.4 in. / 191.4 in.
Curb Weight 3303 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 15.2
Fuel Capacity 18 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline
Tires P225/50 VR17 Michelin Pilot HX mxm4
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc,
antilock standard on Premier
Suspension, front/rear independent short-and-long arm /
independent multilink
Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / (observed) 21(20) / 29 (28
0 to 60 mph est. 7.5 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Comfort Package - includes:
automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights,
leather steering wheel with cruise controls,
electrochromic mirror, foglamps, compass,
heated power outside mirrors with
puddle lamps $595
Safety/Security Package - includes:
Front side and side curtain airbags,
anti-theft perimeter alarm $595
Heated front seats $295
Traction control $ 95
Audophile sound system $420
Destination and delivery $650

[Rasputin]

2006 Hyundai Accent GLS

Base Price $ 13,305
Price As Tested $ 14,870
Engine Type dual overhead cam 16-valve inline
4-cylinder with
continuously-variable valve timing
Engine Size 1.6 liters / 97 cu. in.
Horsepower 110 @ 6000 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 106 @ 4500 rpm
Transmission 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 98.4 in. / 168.5 in.
Curb Weight 2403 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 21.8
Fuel Capacity 11.9 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline
Tires P195/55 VR15 Kumho
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc,
ABS and EBD standard
Suspension, front/rear independent MacPherson strut /
semi-independent torsion beam axle
Drivetrain front engine, front-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 28 /36 / 28
0 to 60 mph est 11 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Premium-Sport Package - includes:
air conditioning, power heated mirrors, power door locks,
remote keyless entry with alarm and panic alert,
15-inch alloy wheels with P195/55R-15 tires $ 1,500
Carpeted floor mats $ 65
Destination charge $ included

[Rasputin]

2005 Jaguar Super V8 LWB

Jaguar Super V8 LWB SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL: Jaguar Super V8 LWB
ENGINE: : 4.2-liter supercharged V8
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: : 390 hp @ 6,100 rpm/399 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with sport and normal modes
WHEELBASE 124.4 in.
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 205.3 x 76.5 x 57.3 in.
TIRES: 255/40ZR19
CARGO: 16.4 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/22.3 mpg test
PRICE: $91,395 (includes $665 transportation and handling fee)
It's not really fair to say that the Jaguar Super V8 is a great car, because a car that's priced at $91,395 SHOULD be a great car. But I felt that during the week we drove the Jag, and covered more than 1,600 miles, we gave it just about every test we could give a car outside of the race track, and it passed with flying colours.

We used the Jaguar Super V8 in the Seattle, Washington, area. We drove it in the city, on ferries, and to Mt. Ranier, Mt. St. Helens, Olympic NP, North Cascades NP, and everywhere we could get a car.

[Rasputin]

2004 BMW 530i

Base Price $ 44,300
Price As Tested $ 55,795
Engine Type dual overhead cam 24-valve aluminum alloy inline 6
Engine Size 3.0 liters / 182 cu. in.
Horsepower 225 @ 5900 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 214 @ 3500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 113.7 in. / 190.6 in.
Curb Weight 3472 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 15.4
Fuel Capacity 18.5 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane premium unleaded gasoline
Tires P245/40 WR18 Dunlop SP Sport
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc
Suspension, front/rear independent double-pivot strut / independent multilink
Drivetrain front engine, rear-wheel drive


PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon city / highway / observed 20 / 30 / 25
0 to 60 mph 6.6 sec (mfg)


OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Cold weather package
$750
Premium Package - includes: leather upholstery, gloss wood trim, integrated garage door opener, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, power lumbar support $2,400
Premium Sound Package - includes: Logic 7 audio system, 6-disc in-dash CD changer $1,800
Sport Package - includes: Star Spoke alloy wheels, performance run-flat tires, power front sport seats, sport suspension, active steering, active roll stabilization, shadowline trim $ 3,300
Electric rear sunshade $ 575
Fold-down rear seats with ski bag $ 475
Park distance control $ 700
Xenon headlamps $ 800
Destination charge $ 695

[Rasputin]

2007 Audi Q7

I've just returned one of the short-lead presentations of Audi's Q7, where company spokespersons stressed two points: One, the Q7 is not merely a stretched Touareg. The two vehicles have only 15 percent parts commonality, most of which are suspension pieces. And two, the Q7 is the most important vehicle in Audi's history.

There is an old saying to the effect that if you are late to the party, you had better have good reasons and be correctly dressed. Audi didn't want to do a ``me too'' variation on the Touareg/Cayenne theme, and chose to take its time and do the job right.

Why ``Q7''? Q as in quattro, Audi's well-developed all-wheel drive system, which is standard in all Q7s, and 7 as it fits between the midsize A6 sedan and wagon and A8 premium luxury sedan in the company's lineup.

The SUV wave may have crested, but SUVs are still an important part of the American vehicle marketplace. The Q7 will gather buyers from two groups - existing Audi owners who need an SUV and want an Audi SUV, no substitutes, and conquest sales. Selling to brand fanatics is easy; making conquests is not.

But the Q7 should do well in bringing new customers into the Audi fold. It's a luxury vehicle first and foremost, with all of the elegant design and comfort for which Audi is known. In the Audi lineup, it's closest to the A6 sedan in interior design. And it does have a true seven-passenger capacity, not merely five and two (very) small children stuffed way in the back. The third row provides reasonable space and comfort for two medium-sized - say 5-8 or less - adults. The first two rows provide all the space and comfort anyone could need.