Tuesday 27th July 2010

Full Details: New Audi A7 Sportback

More pics and specs of Audi's newest offering

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After yesterday's A7 photo leakage, Audi has finally unveiled the full details of the new A7 Sportback.

Quite what the new car is, we're not sure. Audi says it's a "large, elegant five-door model" (okay, no problem there) that "combines the emotional character of a grand coupe, the comfort and prestige of a sedan and the active practicality of a station wagon". All very nice, but frankly it leaves us none the wiser as to what the A7 Sportback actually is...

Be that as it may, the new A7 is here, and order books open in mid-August with first deliveries expected toward the end of the year. Prices will start from just under £43k.

The 4.97-metre A7 is made of a mixture of aluminium and high-strength steels and is shorter, lower and narrower than the company's A8 flagship. It is also likely to sit on the same platform as the next-generation A6.

Under the bonnet is a choice of four V6s (two turbodiesel, two petrol). All are direct-injection, and feature stop-start tech and brake energy recuperation. The top petrol option is a supercharged V6 that makes 295bhp and 325lb ft of torque - enough to propel the 3.0TFSI A7 to 62mph from rest in 5.6secs on the way to an electronically limited 155mph top speed. The fastest diesel, meanwhile offers 241bhp and a beefy 369lb ft of torque, which makes it good for a 0-62mph sprint of 6.5secs and a 155mph top end.

A hotter S7 version is expected to be unveiled at the Paris motor show in September, and an 'RS' is even rumoured.

The two petrol options and the more powerful of the two diesels come with Quattro all-wheel drive and Audi's seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission as standard, while the entry-level diesel gets the option of Audi's Multitronic CVT gearbox and front-wheel drive.

Audi's active 'sport differential' is available as an option on four-wheel drive models, while the Audi drive select electronic assistance system comes fitted as standard. The standard steel suspension can also be swapped for an air-sprung system.

[Andehh]

No, don't like it. Side view looks hideous & what the hell is the widescreen telly sitting on the dash for?

[Munich]

The BMW 5GT had a good crack, but this Audi is definitely the C21st interpretation of the Rover SD1

[Riggers]

Andehh said:

No, don't like it. Side view looks hideous & what the hell is the widescreen telly sitting on the dash for?

Uppy-downy sat-nav screen. Hidden away for when you don't want it...

[peteA]

Is it just me or does the dash look more BMW than Audi?

[willE36]

A5 LWB?
In a range where I can no longer tell a single car from another, the A1 is a real breath of fresh air.
BMW is not quite as bad... yet

= )

[adycav]

Article said:

Prices will start from just under £43k.

Crikey.

[Riggers]

adycav said:

Article said:

Prices will start from just under £43k.

Crikey.

Werlll... it is almost as big as an A8. And that ain't exactly cheap... it'll set you back a minimum of £55k

[touching cloth]

http://sniffpetrol.com/2010/07/27/audi-in-pointles...

[James Junior 14]

Audi churn out yet another inspipid saloon.

I remain crippled with apathy.

[BlueMR2]

Looks abit like an X6 bmw turned into a non x bmw.

[B10]

So it is a new generation A6 hatchback.

[GTEYE]

Another piece of lazy design from Audi.

The only question I have is......Why?

[taders]

It doesn't really matter where it fits in the range or whether it makes sense. Audi can do no wrong at present and will sell lots of them.

[RichB]

Yeah, I like the look of that but then I like Audi's understated design generally, so much better than the kind of "in your face" BMW look. Must say I don't agree with Sniff petrol - it's a saloon car with a hatchback, nothing new, Cavalier, Sierra, Granada, Rovers etc. sold in their millions, seemed like a good idea back then and probably still is now.

[Whiters]

[redacted]

[BUG4LIFE]

Yawn...another car no one actually needs!

[si2085]

The entire Audi range appears to be evolving into the same car. This looks almost identical to the A8 which in turn looked almost identical to the A4 and A6, neither of which were pleasing on the eye in the first place.

I'm sure the S line will be extremely luxurious though.

[XJ40]

[redacted]

[goron59]

si2085 said:

The entire Audi range appears to be evolving into the same car.

I agree, the R8 V10 Spyder is almost indistinguishable from an A3 Sportback ;-)

[DeadMeat_UK]

C'Mon someone on here must have said - AHA that's just the car I've been waiting for.

Their target audience must be around somewhere ?

I know it's not me as
a) I don't have kids.
b) I don't play golf.
c) My car is my own, not supplied by the company.

OOoh have I just defined the audience ? Any company car driving, golfing parents that can vouch this is the box for them? Oh, no, they're all in the BMW forums still wondering what the X6 is for

Edited by DeadMeat_UK on Tuesday 27th July 13:33