I ordered the Front and Rear Stainless Steel Skid Plates but noticed that I don't think I received the rear skid plate unless you consider the thin strip that goes up and around the trailer hitch as a skid plate.

Perhaps getting the hitch option made things different than normal skid plate? Anyone have any knowledge on this question? See pictures below. Note: the exhaust chamber shown might at first look like a skid plate. It would seem a "skid" plate should be covering that area.

Nope...thats the "skid plate".

Unfortunate choice of names for that rear piece. Although I obviously can't see it when I'm driving, that huge resonator/muffler is aggravatingly visible every time I walk up to the car from the rear. Had the same complaint about my Touareg, and I'm sure the Q7 is no different. I'm waiting for the day that I find something to make that big silver lump (considerably) less visible. Doesn't even have to be functional, cosmetic is sufficient.

//greg//

Thanks for the info. I suppose it could be considered a skid plate if the car somehow was moving along like a dog with worms

thats the exhaust not the fuel tank.

You're right. Duh. Hadn't gotten under the car yet and not used to seeing such a large exhaust chamber horizontal like that. Anyhow took a better look and I see the poly gas tanks now basically with one on each side with the exhaust running in a channel between them.