"If you're late to the party, you'd better come with a nice gift and a pretty dress."

-- Audi official speaking to the media at the unveiling of its Q7 crossover

Audi is late -- way past fashionably late -- to the sport-utility vehicle party.

But minding its manners and its market sense, Audi is coming to the party with "gifts" -- nifty technology and features -- on its Q7, which is wrapped up in a very pretty "dress" -- a sleek, sophisticated, eye-catching design.

The Q7, which comes in standard and premium versions with prices starting at around $49,900, goes on sale this month. Initially, the cars are powered by a 350-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 that is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 19 on the highway. A version powered by a 3.6-liter, 280-horsepower V-6 will follow in a few months.

The gifts include an optional "Audi Side Assist" system that tells you via a flashing light on the driver's side mirror not to change lanes because another car is in your blind spot. A rear view camera system also provides guidance to help you parallel park and back up safely.

Other good stuff? A tailgate system that can be power adjusted if the deck lid opens too high for you to reach it. Windshield wipers that automatically reposition themselves at certain temperatures to avoid freezing at the base of the hood.

As for that pretty automotive "dress," the car has an arresting look -- a good thing given that it's an imposing 6,000 pounds or more. The smooth flanks have a muscled look to them, thanks to large wheel flares and huge aluminum alloy wheels.

Up front, you'll see the Audi family trademark -- an upside down horseshoe shaped grille. Around back, look for two large exhaust pipes and a sloping, coupe-like roofline.

Audi interiors long have been known for their beauty and innovation, and the Q7 is no different, though it has less wood and chrome than most Audis.

The first thing I noticed in the interior is the trouble that Audi went to hide unsightly things. Seats, for instance, sit upon a slightly raised, carpeted surface, so you don't see all the tracks and mechanics underneath. Generous bits of aluminum chrome, including around the dash vents, add a touch of class.

But there's one practical problem with this interior -- namely the third-row seat. As is the case with most vehicles that have three rows, space back there is extraordinarily cramped, even if the second row is moved up a bit. And entrance and exit from that seat can be quite a trick.

Audi officials took great pains to point out that the Q7 is not a VW Touareg or Porsche Cayenne in disguise, although they share about 15 percent of their parts. The Audi, to me, is a more comfortable and pleasant ride than either of the other two products. But time will tell if its technology and styling will be enough to distinguish it in a very crowded end of the market.