A7 PROMISES BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS

+ Click to Enlarge A TAIL OF GREAT BEAUTY: It's not often that we place a rear three-quarter view at the top of a story but this is what the A7 Sportback is all about and besides, the car looks stunning from this angle.

July 29, 2010
By Minesh Bhagaloo

Audi has unveiled yet another round peg for the square-holed segments of our motoring world.

It's called the A7 Sportback and the maker says it combines the sporty elegance of a coupé, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon.

The five-door A7 is 4.97m long, 1.91m wide and only 1.42m high. The hatch opens wide and reveals a 535-litre luggage compartment that swells to 1390 litres with the rear seats folded. It's clearly a rival for BMW's 5 Series Gran Turismo and will cater to those looking to squeeze between mid and full-size luxury saloon segments.

Buyers will have the option of a sport differential that distributes power between the rear wheels, there's a newly-developed power-steering system with an electromechanical drive and adaptive air suspension with controlled damping can be requested to complement the standard drive select dynamics system.

European buyers will get to choose between four V6 engines, two petrol and two TDI. Their power output ranges from 150kW to 220kW and efficiency is claimed to set new standards in the class. Each uses Audi's thermal management system, a recuperation system and start-stop technology.

A choice of two transmissions is available, depending on the engine derivative. The continuous multitronic sends power to the front wheels while the seven-speed S tronic works with the latest version of quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

As can be expected, the interior will offer typical Audi luxury with and online services that work together with Google.

The A7 Sportback's satnav works with the many optional driver assistance and safety systems and will forward route data to the control units for the headlights and the adaptive cruise control.

Expect local introduction in the first quarter of 2011, prices and spec levels to be confirmed then.