Road Test: 2008 Audi Q7 4 . 2

20/09/2008 02:15. The Audi Q7 is an imposing vehicle. It not only looks large and heavy, it has a road presence many SUVs cannot match. A big part of its overwhelming impression is the optics at play -- the short front and rear overhangs exaggerate the length of the vehicle.

Motivating a portly 2,480-kilogram vehicle takes power, and that the Q7 has in spades. While the base, 280-horsepower V6 is sufficient, it is the 4.2L V8 engine that ices the cake. It is the only way to go, simply because it delivers the poop needed to motivate a seven-seat SUV with the desired alacrity. With its direct fuel injection and variable valve timing on the intake cam, the V8 delivers a broad power band that puts 350 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque at a leisurely 3,500 rpm at the driver's disposal. The hard numbers indicate... // National Post