Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 73

PHOTOS : AUDI AG
I saw my first Q in September . I
still remember like it was yesterday. The
Q wasn’t a secret anymore – Audi had
just presented it to international journal-
ists, and the first photos appeared in the
press – but hardly anyone had seen one
live. My family had just expanded by
two, and the generous interior and the
third row of seats were just what we
needed. Mine was one of the first to be
delivered to a customer. Black – a real
stunner, and not just in terms of looks.
I had to wait a long time before Audi ven-
tured into the SUV segment – and imme-
diately landed a bullseye with the first
generation. That was more than nine
years ago, and once again Audi is demand-
ing that I be patient. But today is the
day : I’m allowed to take a first look at
the car that many would like to see,
which is precisely why it is still top se-
cret. That’s also why the first photo-
graphs for the press are being taken at
a secret location in a California desert.
The paparazzi and prototype hunters
haven’t got a chance.
When I arrive at the location, the team
of photographers has already been
there a few days, meticulously preparing
the shoot : perspectives, settings, driv-
ing routes and best locations for stunning
stationary shots. At first glance a camp
in the middle of nowhere. On the horizon,
mountain ranges obscure the view of the
seemingly endless desert plain, which is
covered in a reddish dust. We get an
early start, since the big shoot is sched-
uled for today. It’s the time of day when
the sun sends its first rays over the
mountains on the horizon and bathes the
entire landscape in this mild light that
photographers love so much and that
makes the paintwork come alive.
I can’t wait to see what color the design-
ers have chosen for the presentation
of their car. And I’m also excited to see
whether the new Q follows the Audi
trend of losing weight from one genera-
tion to the next. I expect the more tautly
contoured design to be noticeable on
the big body in a particularly positive way.
It will likely be more masculine and dis-
tinctive, for even the Singleframe grille
has undergone a true metamorphosis
since my first Q and now has a much
stronger presence. I can get a vague
sense of some of this, despite the pro-
tective shroud covering the new Q
in front of me.
Sportiness, eciency,
premium comfort :
the new Audi SUV at the
photo shoot in California.
The
paparazzi
and
prototype
hunters
haven’t
got a
chance.
The new SUV in motion :
Watch the video
of the Audi Q here.