SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW: No end in sight to SUV boom

Audi -- which was late to cash-in on the SUV boom but has since embraced the rise of recreational wagons -- believes there is no end to our passion for faux-wheel-drives.

As the German car maker unveiled its third SUV in as many years, the Q3, it warned that there are still new ways to pique our interest in high-riding cars.

The head of Audi's future vehicle development, Roman Schindlmaister, told the Carsales Network at the Shanghai Motor Show yesterday: "In my opinion the SUV boom will go on. But, he warned, "you have to build the right SUV".

He hinted that Audi had dusted off its old Steppenwolf concept (pictured) -- a bizzare, high-riding Audi TT with chunky tyres and rugged looks -- and was looking at other models in the Audi range that could be converted into a "cross-over" vehicle. That is, part-car, part wannabe SUV.

When asked about reviving the Steppenwolf concept or a vehicle like it, he said: "It was a serious study for us but I think the idea wasn't finished ... maybe we are [again] thinking of this.

"We are thinking about new derivatives, making maybe a mix with some niches or whatever. But I can't give you ... our ideas. You will have to be surprised. We will surprise you."

He said the popularity for small, medium and large SUVs would remain as long as car makers found ways to make them more economical.

He said it would not be long before small and medium SUVs had hatchback-like fuel consumption -- and said the company was taking drastic measures to slash weight from the Audi mothership, the Q7 4WD.

"There is a market for ... SUVs like we have to day, like the Q3 and also the Q5, but you have to build an intelligent SUV," he said.

"What we are doing now is thinking about our Q7 ... we are planning to bring it down about 300kg."
 

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