With many automakers expanding their lineups to satisfy every niche in the market, some previously thin segments have exploded with entries. One of the most notable is the four-door coupe. The Mercedes-Benz CLS-class kicked off the trend, of course, and the segment now includes stuff as varied as the Volkswagen CC and the Aston Martin Rapide. Heck, we wouldn’t call you crazy if you argued that the idea influenced the design of the latest Hyundai Sonata. The idea behind all of them: Combine sultry styling with four-door practicality, and, in some cases, hatchback versatility. The latest from Audi, this sexy A7 Sportback, is one that hits all three notes.
An Elegant Shape
The A7 actually is the second recent Audi to play this tune, but it will be the only one sold in the U.S.; the 2010 A5 Sportback will remain forbidden fruit. But we don’t mind that we had to wait for such a four-ringer, as we feel the swoopy styling looks even more fantastic stretched over the A7’s longer, 114.6-inch wheelbase. You might notice that figure puts the A7 size-wise in between the latest 2011 A8 (117.8-inch wheelbase) and the current A6 (111.9), which could lead to some confusion over this car’s origins. Let’s put that to rest: The A7’s underpinnings are more closely related to the A6’s, specifically those of the next-generation A6, which is due out for 2012.
Up front, the A7 wears the latest interpretation of Audi’s trapezoidal grille, as well as the brand’s now-signature LED running lights. Two lower intakes mirror the shape of the headlight housings, but they don’t house fog lights; those are integrated into the standard xenon headlights themselves. Eighteen-bulb, full-LED headlamps like those available on the A8 and R8 5.2 are an option on the A7.
The side and rear views are the most memorable to our eyes. What Audi dubs a “tornado line” gently arches from the upper corner of the headlight, flattening out as it moves rearward to the LED-lit taillight. This sharp crease defines the A7’s shoulders, and serves as a nice complement to the graceful roofline. The power-operated hatch’s large rear backlight flows into a hidden, automatically deploying spoiler that rises above 81 mph and retracts below 50. Eighteen-, 19-, or 20-inch wheels sit below subtle flares that contribute to an overall look of understated elegance, an impression further enhanced by the fact that the car is just 55.9 inches high. For reference, the A6 is 57.4 inches tall.
Elegant Inside, Too
Just as the exterior stays true to that of the A7 concept shown at the 2009 Detroit auto show, so does the interior. The upper section of the dash resembles the new A8’s, but the center stack in the A7 features upright climate controls and other buttons repositioned around the shift lever. Drivers will grip a four-spoke steering wheel that sits in front of a gauge cluster housing either a five-inch text display or a full-color seven-inch screen. An additional 6.5-inch screen in the center console hosts the MMI system. The entry-level version of MMI controls the stereo and other basic functions, with navigation available at additional cost. There’s also the top-dog MMI Navigation Plus setup, which adds an eight-inch monitor in the center console (in place of a 6.5-inch unit) and a nifty touchpad that can read inputs drawn with a fingertip. Internet connectivity is available on the A7, too.
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Engines and Tech
While the look of the A7 is new, the powerplants are not. In Europe, the A7 initially will be available with four V-6s—two gas-fired and two diesels—but the only engine offered to Americans at first is the 300-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6. It’s the same one currently available in the A6, but the A7’s version gains 15 lb-ft of torque for a total of 325. In the U.S. it hooks exclusively to an eight-speed automatic transmission and the latest Quattro all-wheel-drive system from the RS5. The other choices available to our Euro friends are a 204-hp, 2.8-liter gasoline-burner or a 3.0-liter TDI diesel in 204- or 245-hp strengths. Front-wheel drive and a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch gearbox also are available across the Atlantic (the eight-speed automatic is on offer, too), as is an engine stop/start system that won't initially be offered in the U.S. We may get more choices down the line: Audi hints at a high-performance engine option for America, and an A7 TDI isn't out of the question.
Making its debut on the Sportback is a new head-up display that can be customized through the MMI system to show info like speed and navigation prompts. The A7 also will be the first Audi with a new active parallel-parking system (it’s not planned for the U.S., though), as well as an adjustable active cruise-control system that reacts to traffic more or less aggressively based on one of three modes. As is the case with most high-end versions of this technology these days, the active cruise can be used in low-speed or stop-and-go traffic and as part of the collision-mitigation system that brakes harder if the vehicle senses the driver isn’t slowing quickly enough.
The A7 also features active lane assist, Audi’s Drive Select adjustable chassis system, an optional torque-vectoring Sport differential, night vision, and exterior S line body trim. An available Sport suspension lowers ride height by about 0.4 inch, and those seeking a plusher ride can choose an air suspension (in Europe, anyway) that adjusts ride height based on vehicle speed.
When it goes on sale this fall, the A7 Sportback likely will start below the 2011 A8’s $80,000 estimated base price, and its closest competitor will be the Porsche Panamera V-6. We’re looking forward to sliding behind the wheel. We shall see if the stunning A7 drives as well as it looks.
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