At the front of the Q

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CEO Middle East takes Audi's first foray into the luxury Sports Utility Vehicle market out onto the UAE's roads.

With every one of its competitors already in the luxury sports utility market it's a wonder that Audi have taken so long to take the plunge, especially as the brand name alone is strong enough to guarantee a ready-made client base.

So it was with great anticipation that fans of the brand waited for the arrival in the Middle East of the Q7.

With a hefty price tag the brand knows exactly which segment of the market it is aiming at, and what it needs to provide to meet those expectations.

At first glance the exterior is reminiscent of the Touareg; big, powerful but sleek with it.

The car is all curves and slopes rather than sharp angles, a break from the regular 4x4 offerings.

This has the side effect of making it appear deceptively shorter than it actually is. So much so that the need for the rather clever extras for reversing seemed a little superfluous - but more on those later.

The tyres can go up to 21 inches (including wheel trim) from that extra bit of ooomph.

Inside the trimming is as luxurious as you would expect for the money.

Leather seats and matching stitching all rounds give it that Audi feel.

Each of the main seats in the cockpit also has individual air-conditioning.

The central console fits in well with the general curve and the menu on the screen is navigated through a relatively simple button system and central dial - although get to grips with it fully before trying it while on the move!

As well as the basic automatic settings tiptronic mode and Sport functions are also available.

The steering wheel controls and miniature screen on the dash serve to enhance the drive.

The panoramic sunroof running almost the entire length of the vehicle is a nice touch.

As is the electrically operated boot, which opens onto over a metre of packing space or just over 2,000 litres with the rear seats folded down.

The most noticeable aspect of the controls is the way that the driver can switch between the different adaptive air suspension settings.

From Dynamic to Lift there is over half a metre in height difference, allowing for greater speeds on motorways or added comfort at more sedate speeds - or clearing the chassis when driving onto curbs.

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