Monday 26th July 2010

Leaked: New Audi A7 Sportback

Images of Audi's new Limo-coupe-saloon thingy slip onto the web

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These images of the new Audi A7 Sportback have leaked onto the web, ahead of the car’s official unveiling later today.

It’s the first time we’ve seen the car undisguised, and the pics reveal that Audi’s designers and engineers have managed to stay relatively faithful to the concept of the – er – concept from the 2009 Detroit show.

Design-wise, the A7 borrows heavily from the new Audi A8, especially from the front and rear angles (and to our eyes it kind of looks like an Audi take on a Rover SD1). The interior takes its cue from the warm, cosy ambience of the A8, although the actual design is quite different.

The four-seat only A7 is expected to be available from launch with a range of diesel and petrol V6s.

[911p]

A competitor for the 5 Series GT? Rear end looks awful IMO...

[Ray Singh]

I'm already confused with Audi model numbers.
The A4 coupe and the A5 four door look all the same.

[bobmcgod]

Ray Singh said:

I'm already confused with Audi model numbers.
The A4 coupe and the A5 four door look all the same.

There's an A4 coupe?

As for the A7 I'm sure It'll do well. As it seems pointless. Pointless things seems to do well in the car industry (My one and only example I can think of being the X6).

[adycav]

Marked down for looking like an A6 (or is it an A8) with less rear room and no mention of a V8.

[Thomo97]

When did a massive hatchback become a "Sportback"? If I'd called my old Saab 9-3 a Sportback people would have thought I was a complete tool.

The slopey roof over the back seats approach also means that us tall folk can't fit in the back. Discovered that both in the new Jag XJ and some other luxo-barge the other day.

[Luca Brasi]

You have what to wonder what goes on inside Audi's R&D department.

[Denorth]

there are plenty letters and numbers exist. Conclusion - more 'different/same' Audis to come.

Edited by Denorth on Monday 26th July 11:44

[Matt UK]

A niche too far IMO. But then again all the German manufacturers are playing this game, so what do I know...

[Elroy Blue]

Ray Singh said:

I'm already confused with Audi model numbers.
The A4 coupe and the A5 four door look all the same.

You are confused.

There isn't an A4 coupe. There is an A5 and an A5 Sportback (which looks just like this)

[E21_Ross]

any time a new car comes out, everyone just says:

"it's a niche too far, it's pointless, it's ugly" etc etc. well...don't fking buy one then. you should be glad people are making different cars to fill different needs of different customers. or would you all have us drive around in ford mondeo diesels because they are, spacious enough, are economical, and so 70mph which is fast enough and they aren't ugly.

9 times out of a 10 a new car comes out, someone will say it's ugly if it's different, or it's bland if it looks like something else. it's a broken record now.

i don't like it very much, i'd take an A8, but fair play for audi bringing out another car for some people to buy, and for many miserable sods to moan about.

[andymadmak]

ooooooooooooooooooohhhh, the imagine..

[einstein75]

Thomo97 said:

When did a massive hatchback become a "Sportback"?

The same time that every new estate that comes out is called a "Sports tourer" !!!!

[E21_Ross]

einstein75 said:

Thomo97 said:

When did a massive hatchback become a "Sportback"?

The same time that every new estate that comes out is called a "Sports tourer" !!!!

BMW have been calling their estate cars tourings since the 70's, with the 2002

[pSyCoSiS]

The range of cars Audi are producing is getting a little boring now.

All look too similar. Yes, I'm sure it will sell well, but looks to similar to the A5 sportback thingy, so I don't really see a point.

[Twincam16]

I get the impression that, like the sizes of office paper Audi's range is named after, you merely decide precisely what size your dull, sterile silvery-grey missile will be and they have a size for every occasion down to the last millimetre.

[Double R]

oh well, I may well enjoy the flack here but I believe it is a nice car. I own an A6 TDi LeMans and this could be a great replacement in 1-2 years time. Or the Merc 6.3 AMG E-class

[E21_Ross]

Twincam16 said:

I get the impression that, like the sizes of office paper Audi's range is named after, you merely decide precisely what size your dull, sterile silvery-grey missile will be and they have a size for every occasion down to the last millimetre.

i'm sure there is a little more to it than size. i bet the W12 6.0 A8 drives a little different from an A4 tdi.

are you asking "why have an S class or 7 series, when you can own a C class or 3 series"? because there is a lot more than just styling between them.

[Andrew[MG]]

Is this just a Passat CC?

[morebeanz]

I'm with you too. Nothing contravertial about it and fits entirely within the range without any ripples.

I'm more confused about why they would deliberately make it four seats only though?

[ctallchris]

They have applied a colour other than grey to an audi interior. Which means the entire thing will go through progressive levels of blandening before it goes into production

Back end looks like a poorly proportioned copy of the A5

Blandening (noun): To conciously make more tastless and devoid of flavor. What Germans do to cars.
See also Blanden, Bland, Beige, Nissan Sunny and Volkswagen Group.