Audi will be launching A7 in second-half of this year. We had reported on A7 launch earlier. Autocar India has now spotted the yet-to-be-launched Audi A7 Sportback being tested on Pune highway. Sources say that the test mule was powered by a 3.0 litre, V6 diesel engine and there were no model badges on the wheels to avoid identification. The 3-litre, V6 will produce 245 hp of power and 449 Nm of peak torque. Mated to a seven-speed S-tronic transmission, Audi’s Quattro 4WD would only add more driving pleasure to this beauty on wheels.
Audi A7 has a very aggressive front end with day-time running white LED headlamps. A7 does resemble its bigger models such as the A8 sedan on whose platform it is based. The Audi A7 is a very niche product pushing the German cult brand to an all-new market segment addressing a new breed of buyers looking for a sportiness wrapped in luxury. Like Mercedes CLS coupe, it’s a four-door sedan with coupe-like sloping roofline.. Audi calls the A7 a “four-door coupe” that brings together the best of three worlds: the sporty elegance of a coupe, comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon!
The A7’s dimensions (4.9m long, 1.9m wide and 1.4m tall) are similar to those of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (4.8m x 1.8m x 1.47m). Compared to the Audi A8, it is 17cm shorter and 4cm narrower, justifying the “Sportback” character. However, the swooping roofline might limit the rear passenger head room, at least for the very tall amongst us. In two-wheel-drive variant, A7 tips the scales at 1695 kg making it a full 100kg lighter than the car’s arch rival, the Mercedes CLS350 CDI. This is surprising because A7 doesn’t feature A8’s aluminum space frame but still, Audi has made extensive use of the alloy in the doors, bonnet, front bulkhead and a cross member in the boot.
The tail lamps look similar to the A4’s but aren’t swept out sideways. This slightly degrades the otherwise aerodynamic curves and lines on this marvel, which allure us to the sportily flowing C-pillar and the sharply dropping rear. An automated spoiler lifts on its own as the car reaches speeds close to 130 kmph, retracting at about 80 kmph. Many feel the A7’s interiors will borrow a lot of design cues from the yet-to-be launched 2011 A6 and also resemble its bigger sibling Audi A8’s interiors even though it’s a class apart.
The A7 is not just a performance sedan; it will also have some ultra-cool gadgetry and technology features to boast. Audi will offer an MMI operating system, with an ergonomically aligned layout having both hard and soft switches. This console is easily accessible, as it is found near the gear knob. The Bang & Olufsen audio system with 15 speakers (yes, you read that right!) will mete out a thumping 1,300 watts of musical bliss. The centrally located head-up display unit will project information onto the windshield, including the sat-nav data, and can be connected to Google Maps.
Audi’s European website shows the price of A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI multitronic as £ 65,138.00 (Rs. 38, 90, 444). However, since Audi will most likely launch A7 as a CBU car in India, the 110% excise duty will make the car’s price shoot up to around Rs. 80 lakhs. Currently, Audi’s A6 price ranges from Rs. 42.28 lakhs to Rs. 52.28 lakhs and A8 price ranges from Rs. 93.33 lakhs to Rs. 121.76 lakhs (On-Road, Delhi).
Source:-Autocar
