INGOLSTADT: Audi has a completely new slant on the concept of the five-door coupé for the executive class – the first A7 Sportback in which the brand successfully combined the svelte lines of a classic grand tourer with the reality-ready attributes of Saloon and Avant models is about to give way to its successor.
Fluent in the new Audi design language, conversant with the brand’s latest technological advances and comfortable with articulating its most recent drivetrain developments, the 2018 A7 evolves and finesses every facet of the Sportback theme without losing sight of the hallmarks behind its original appeal.
The exterior design of the A7 Sportback is an expression of the new design language that Audi introduced with the prologue study and that made its production debut in the new Audi A8.
With large surfaces, sharp edges and taut, athletic lines, the A7 conveys dynamism and progressiveness from every perspective.
The cabin fuses design and technology in a unique way. The interior of the new Audi A7 Sportback has been conceived according to a reduced, clean design language, with an emphasis on horizontal lines and a sleek instrument panel creating a feeling of airy spaciousness.
The centre console is oriented toward the driver, underscoring the Grand Tourer’s stated aim of combining progressive design, intuitive functionality and sophistication with inherent driver appeal. All colours, upholstery materials and inlays reflect the new aesthetic.
The interior architecture melds seamlessly with Audi’s new MMI touch response operating concept. It replaces the rotary pushbutton and the conventional buttons and controls of the previous model with two large, high-resolution touch displays.
The driver controls the infotainment system from the upper display. Mounted on the asymmetric console of the centre tunnel, the 8.6-inch lower display provides access to the climate control system, comfort functions and text input. Drivers can rest their wrist on the automatic transmission’s wide selector lever knob.
Audi offers an optional head-up display that projects important information onto the windscreen. MMI navigation plus – the highest level infotainment system – also includes the fully digital Audi virtual cockpit with its rendered dials and 12.3-inch display.
The top MMI navigation plus package will be available with a choice of two sound system upgrades, the most sophisticated being Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System capable of delivering advanced 3D sound.
All A7 Sportback models will be equipped with a new mild hybrid system (MHEV) for greater comfort and efficiency.
With the V6 engines, this uses a 48-volt primary electrical system. A belt alternator starter (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery and achieves a recuperation performance of up to 12 kW when braking. At speeds of between 34 and 99mph, the large coupé can coast in freewheeling mode with the engine deactivated and then restart comfortably via the BAS.
The new Audi A7 Sportback will initially launch with the 3.0 V6 TFSI petrol engine. The super-refined V6 turbo produces 340PS and 500Nm, propelling the elegant five-door coupé from 0 to 62mph in 5.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph.
In the NEDC, the entry version of the Audi A7 55 TFSI returns up to 41.5mpg, corresponding to CO2 emissions of 154 grams. The 3.0 TFSI is paired with a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission, and its output is proficiently managed by the latest iteration of the quattro drivetrain using the efficient ultra technology that activates rear-wheel drive as needed.
The A7 Sportback combines the best of all worlds for business and recreational use. It offers the design of a Coupé, the space of a Saloon and the versatility of an Avant. The interior concept of the A7 Sportback impresses with more space and more comfortable seating – and that despite having a dynamic roofline.
Compared with the previous model, interior length has increased by 21mm, resulting in more rear knee room. Rear passengers also enjoy more head room. The loading width has also increased compared with the previous model and now measures 1,050mm.
Topping the range of all-new seats are the multi-adjustable, customised contour front seats with ventilation and massage. The three-seat rear bench (standard in the UK) offers plenty of space and comfort. New high-tech options make life with the Audi A7 Sportback even more comfortable and convenient.
Keyword: Here comes the new Audi A7 Sportback