Unleashing the big Audi.

Can you fight HIV/AIDS by test-driving a hot car? Actually, yes, thanks to a promotional partnership between Audi of America and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. From now until December 31, if you test-drive a 2007 Audi Q7 in the metropolitan New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, or San Francisco areas, Audi will donate $50 in your name to Sir Elton's AIDS foundation. Buy a Q7, and Audi will donate $500 to the foundation in your name. (Please note that test-drivers and buyers must be at least 25 to qualify for the promotion.)

This fresh idea sounded even fresher after I got to test-drive a brand-new Q7. This is Audi's first SUV model, and from its luxurious interior to the rock-solid platform of Audi's famed Quattro all-wheel-drive, the Q7 brings new power, style, and elegance to SUV design.

How unusual is this SUV? Here's a clue. As I drove along the busy highways of Southern California, I did not see another Q7--not one.

There's beauty in this vehicle's powerfully sculpted exterior design as well as its simple, functional, and feature-packed interior. But what continued to enhance my experience is the sense that the car is being ... thoughtful. The Q7 responds to you from the moment you approach it, with its keyless system unlocking the doors and inviting you inside.

On the road I felt as though the Q7 was genuinely taking care of things for me. Audi's optional Side Assist alerted me to anything lurking in my blind spots via visual cues from the exterior side mirrors. The windshield wipers automatically adjusted to the appropriate speed or the amount of rain hitting the windshield. That's just nice. And the rearview camera and radar system provided not just rear visibility but also active graphics that showed my projected path on the camera's display. It was as easy as backing into my own shadow.

Soundwise the Q7 is a knockout. Much as I enjoy Bose systems, inside many cars the Bose sound can be a little muddy. Not in the Q7. Its Bose surround sound system is now my standard to beat in terms for high-quality audio.

And finally, what about the driving experience? The Q7 can be mild-mannered in normal driving mode or aggressive in sport mode. The Tiptronic shift selector can slide through all six gears without any loss in power--and the 350-horsepower V8 engine will move this premium machine. A lengthy list of standard safety features leaves you feeling secure while keeping all four massive 19-inch wheels on the ground.

All that in a design that really does turn heads. While I was searching for a place in a restaurant parking lot, someone spotted the car and yelled, "Hey, it's the new Q!"