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| The VW Golf Plus will be marketed in 2006. |
Until recently, many automobile manufacturers were proud to proclaim that they only produced a single type of car. However, the tide has shifted as competition has increased among automakers. Today, Porsche's portfolio includes the Cayenne SUV, and BMW has the X3 and the X5. Mercedes was the first luxury automobile maker to enter this class with its M series. Now, German automakers Audi and Opel as well as French manufacturer Renault are preparing to enter the fold.
However, as time passes, the competition is growing. Even the Italian automaker Lamborghini, which is part of the Audi family, is preparing to launch its first SUV in a few years. Maserati, another Italian manufacturer, has announced that it has plans to revive its Kubang SUV that was put on the shelf after it was initially launched. And Fiat plans to launch its new SUV developed in conjunction with Suzuki in 2006.
Audi's first off-road vehicle
Audi launched its first luxury off-road vehicle, the Q7, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Q7 will be available in Turkey in April 2006 and looks like a crossover between a coupe and a van. The interior has 28 different seating and loading configurations with three rows of seats that can accommodate up to seven people. The seats in the second row can be folded forward or back independently and the last two rows can be flattened to create 2035 litres of baggage space. When the vehicle is launched, customers will have the choice between two engines: a 350 HP eight-cylinder 4.2 litre engine and a 233 HP, six-cylinder 3.0 litre diesel engine with torque of 500 Nm. The Audi Q7 will also come with Quattro as standard.
A pure and simple SUV design
Rumours that French automaker Renault were planning to bring out an SUV have been circulating for some time, and were proven correct when Renault launched its concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Called the Egeus, the SUV follows the design trend set by Renault's previous concept cars, the Wind and Fluence. It resembles a top class hatchback and has a much less aggressive appearance than other SUVs. The front section has a pure and simple design and the interior is spacious and comfortable. The wraparound seats guarantee a high level of comfort and stand out for their innovative functions. The front seats pivot outwards and can be lowered 70 mm for easiest possible access. The rear-hinged doors, plus the absence of a centre pillar, give unencumbered access to the rear seats. The Egeus has a split-level trunk with lift-up top and motorized drop-down lower section, which includes a sliding tray that eases loading of heavy or bulky items.
