Audi A7 Sportback Concept Images Leaked

Audi Sportback concept

By Thami Masemola
January 11, 2009 2:02 AM
Filed Under: Audi, Concept Car, Detroit Auto Show, German, Leaks

Audi's Sportback concept will make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show which begins in less than a day. These are the first leaked images of the car. The Sportback concept represents the future Audi A7, a four-door 2+2 coupe said to be larger in size than the current A6. As much as it is a concept, Audi's recent design philosophies are all over the Sportback including those LED lights and the smiley grille, though this time it's upside down.

The vehicle's roofline and smaller rear window shows a fastback blueprint which could mean the A7 is a full-on hatch. It will be built on Audi's new modular longitudinal build kit (LBK). This modular setup can be adjusted for length, width and height to suit whatever application it's needed for. Other future large Audis are expected to use the same chassis setup.

The A7 will mark Audi's entry into the four-door Grand Tourer market where at the moment the Mercedes-Benz CLS reigns supreme and Porsche's new Panamera has also entered. Other players like the Aston Martin Rapide and BMW CS concept-based car will soon join the segment. The production car should be seen on many roads by the last quarter of 2009.

Source: autozeitung.de via autoblog.com

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Audi Sportback Concept official details, photos and video (50 comments

Comments

Motor_Yakuza

January 11, 2009 2:16 AM

This looks good, but that huge but reminds me of the Lambo Estoque.

WBizarre

January 11, 2009 3:32 AM

I'm not a fan of the new grille and face treatment; it makes the car feel cheaper somehow.

echtel

January 11, 2009 4:27 AM

this does looks good. rear looks like the estoque? really? as far as i can remember, the estoque has a square-ish butt. this doesnt. rear looks more like a cls if i have to say so myself.

MTC

January 11, 2009 4:28 AM

It will be better looking if they put the rear wheels further back...just a thought.

darxider

January 11, 2009 4:45 AM

Thank god! Finally, an evolution :-)

Lutzie

January 11, 2009 4:52 AM

I agree, Audis look too much alike - but then will they all look the same again when they have all evolved?

schnell

January 11, 2009 4:46 AM

i love audis but for some reason this doesnt do anything for me

EisenFaust

January 11, 2009 5:16 AM

I too see Estoque here. What platform does the Estoque ride on?

dbehmoaras

January 11, 2009 6:31 AM

its reminiscent of the estoque because lambo and audi are under the same company, inevitable that the design cues will overlap, looks good though, in an odd way

dbehmoaras

January 11, 2009 6:31 AM

but it just doesnt spell audi for me

v6s_stink

January 11, 2009 6:37 AM

I don't see the Estoque in this concept. I think it is about as original as designs get today. With the exception of a couple of recent Alfa Romeos it seems like we are living in one of the most uninspired periods of styling in the history of the automobile.

GanSan

January 11, 2009 7:27 AM

Wow. What a beautiful car!

Moko

January 11, 2009 8:21 AM

i was expecting more, the word uneven comes to mind when i see this car but we will wait and see

boyke69

January 11, 2009 9:16 AM

Whoa.

NauAudiS4

January 11, 2009 9:40 AM

The only major similarities that the BMW CS and this car have in common are the following: They both have four doors, they're both fastback-coupe sedans and the last but not least, they're both concept cars.

Obviously you do not fully understand the idea of the concept-car world. The designers love the concept-cars because it allows them more freedom and more emotions. You can derive more emotions from a concept car in two very simple ways such as more aggressive and exaggerated character-lines, and also by using larger and more exaggerated wheels.

Please save your annoying biased banter for Bimmerforums or Roadfly.

NauAudiS4

January 11, 2009 9:32 AM

It looks good, but there is just something about it that I just don't care about. It looks somewhat mis-proportioned, and uneven. I think MTC nailed it on the head that Audi should move the rear-wheels back a bit more. I see more Aston Martin Rapide in the back quarter (and in the green-house) than Mercedes, BMW or the Estoque. BMWKing, that is hardly the Hoffmeister-kink found in BMW's, but more of Aston Martin's own take. Overall I'm glad to see how the next-generation of cars are going to look.

lucifa

January 11, 2009 11:53 AM

i think the kink's a little hoffmeister-esque, but the way it curves off at the bottom of the curve is different to the true bimmer one. to be honest, i'd hazard a guess that audi originally used a hoffmeister kink, realised it was too like a bmw and so they softened the edge so it didn't look like one. btw, the first audi of a new generation is always brilliant - eventually they all end up looking excessively similar, but when the style first comes out it's fresh and up-to-date

EisenFaust

January 11, 2009 11:39 AM

Those gangster-fied rims upset the overall shape, at lease a production version would shed those - leave 24's or whatever those are to the tasteless aftermarket Audi

afterace2

January 11, 2009 1:17 PM

Fully agreed.

boyke69

January 11, 2009 12:00 PM

I think it looks good.

rcw

January 11, 2009 12:38 PM

To me... I do see evolution... but also... I do see lines or the essence of the Infiniti M35/M5. Something about the overall proportions (especially the vertical proportions) and the C pillar area seem reminiscent. So the design is not that original in this sense. I am usually an Audi fan but I it will take me a while to know how I feel about this one... at the same time I definitely see/feel the need for design evolution. Tough call on this one for me.

catchmyshadow

January 11, 2009 1:06 PM

The Lamborghini Estoque will be based on this A7 platform, so no wonder that there are some similarities.

anyway, this will be another successor for Audi, no doubt. an elegant, unique geometry and its got that touch of class such a car needs.

Scuderia-Paul

January 11, 2009 1:39 PM

I think that looks great. The rear also reminds me of the awesome Lamborghini Estoque. It is about time that Audi changed its style and if all new cars in this style look as good as this A7 concept we should be in for some absolute cracking designs.

FP23

January 11, 2009 3:38 PM

Difference between Estoque and A7 Sportback Concept:

The Audi will enter the market within this year :)

daviepops

January 11, 2009 3:45 PM

Another stunning classy looking concept from Audi ... and luckily for us all most Audi concepts are actually pre production models in soft disguise ... so bring it on soon please (minus the over sized wheels of course)

daviepops

January 11, 2009 3:51 PM

... I meant to add ... it looks like a full glass panorama roof in the photos ... NICE.

stillthewhizz

January 11, 2009 4:59 PM

The rear lines and rear end are nice, very Merc CLS at the rear. Not too keen on the new shaped grille.

darzav

January 11, 2009 5:32 PM

just does not look right. In the distance....Audi A4? A5? A6? A8? as its goes by...oh right. A7...

politz

January 11, 2009 6:52 PM

Looks pretty hot... hope the design cues are more of a case of personal indentity for this model, and less of a new family face for Audi.

offik

January 11, 2009 7:23 PM

i hope audi will use aluminium space frame... less kg better performance

BMWPrince

January 11, 2009 8:45 PM

Just to let all of you guys know that my message has been deleted just because I mentioned that it copied the BMW CS Concept. If you take a look, all these messages are extremely pro-Audi. So there is an element of bias in World Car Fans staff who monitor these forums.

In today's society, it is extremely unacceptable that we still have people not willing to accept that there are others thinking differently to themsleves. People have a right to voice their opnion, whether you like it or not. If I think this Audi copied BMW and that it doesn't look nice, who's to delete my message and ban my account.

I accept all's comments that tends to disagree with me, and I have an open mind to them. But unfortunately World Car Fans staff do not. If this is the case, why even bother to put a forum out here??? In this article, it is very clear that their intention was to make positive coverage with positive comments only about Audi. This is totally bias!

RS5

January 11, 2009 9:36 PM

Your comments were deleted because you couldn't make a rational argument, and you were TALKING LIKE THIS in a very incoherent manner that was extremely provocative. Your comments showed no rationalization at all, and it was clearly evident that you were a BMW fanatic who absolutely hated Audi. Now don't come back and pretend that you didn't deserve to get banned, because you absolutely did. You showed blind fanatism for one brand (BMW). Your ideas had no logical basis, and you were bashing Audi from every single angle possible without even thinking about what you were saying. And I'm sure the WCF staff probably agree to some extent with what I'm saying. You don't have to lie.

BMWPrince

January 11, 2009 10:46 PM

Also just to add, in case someone thinks I am bias: I love the headlights of this car. But just a note on the practicality of the rear exhaust pipes: A friend of mine bought a white A4 2.0TDI a few months ago (which has a straight pipe) and the smoke also leaves a black diesel deposit on the white bumper area above the exhaust outlet. The new BMW 7 Series also has this exhaust outlet design. If this is going to be a diesel A7, expect a regular wash to prevent staining - sulphur is corrossive. (again nothing against Audi - BMW does that as well)

xarlyn

January 11, 2009 9:37 PM

it hurt my eyes!

BMWPrince

January 11, 2009 10:35 PM

Of course I am a BMW fan, but that doesn't stop me from liking other cars. It can be clearly seen that you are an Audi fan, and from your past comments on this site, you do not like BMW at all. I like the R8, A3 SB and A6, which are from Audi as well. I was not blasting Audi from all angles. I am just stating my opinion, that this car copied BMW with BMW deisgn features like the kink - any person interested in cars can see that the kink was from BMW (at least inspired by BMW) that this segment was opened by BMW just like the X3, which Audi now has a Q5. There is nothing to argue. The company that came up with the first product is the leader and innovator. Those who follow or copy are not.

Very clearly, most people can see that Audi is trying to be BMW by launching products that resemble BMW and follow BMW's footsteps: to name a few: X5 - Q7, X3 - Q5, CS - A7, iDrive - MMI, RWD - Quattro with most power from RW, M3 - RS4.

Don't get me wrong, it is a good thing that BMW is getting competition, but I would have preferred that Audi came up with its own stuff instead of trailling BMW - which is so obvious. WCF has great articles, let there be great open comments from both sides.

Yawung

January 13, 2009 7:50 AM

Might I add if you are comparing it to bmw, S4 - no competition, TT RS - no competition, S8 - no competition, R8 - no competition. CS concept is already scraped and A7 is likely to be released, so A7 - no competition.

THERENAISSANCEMAN

January 14, 2009 6:43 PM

not to fret , BMW Prince , the kink is more AstonMartin-esque than BMWs . as for rampant automobile design cross-copying , MBenz has Bangle's grossly misunderstood "butt" is proudly ensconced at the S-class' rearend . one can find traces of the 7s instrument fascia integrated into today's MB S and the upcoming E specifically in the dual instrument binnacle and front aircon vents .in all fairness , Mr.Bangle also lifted some body sculpting elements like that inwardly -pronounced upper horizontal crease along the BMW 3s and 5s side elevation , from 1960s-era American cars . a linear visual effect that casts a pleasingly-graduated sharp shadowline along the length of a car . industrial design is a highly relative field of endeavour and design elements regularly make a crossover across different models . as per the Audi A7 sportback , its rear elevation seriously needs a rework as its visual composition does not integrate well with the rest of the car's excellent massing .

Decypha

January 12, 2009 12:00 AM

For a change an Audi that looks weird from some angles... It looks good mostly but there's something there that shouldn't be.

Michael-Heinrich

January 12, 2009 10:24 AM

The arguably successful BMW 2002, launched in 1962, is considered by many people to be the beginning (production models, does not include concepts) of the modern design language of BMW, not only the Hoffmeister, but the kidneys as well. But BMW 2002 is definitely not the first production model featured a kink. Aston Martin has a tradition of kinks: the DB Mark III in as early as 1958 (half a century ago), and all the current models in production. The kink on the C-pillar of the 1973 Volkswagen Passat is more profound than the BMW 2002 of the same era.

Mercedes-Benz ML was offered 2 years earlier than BMW X5, although the current Audi Q7 is somewhat larger than a 2nd generation ML and very similar to a GL; while the 2nd generation X5 remains similar in its overall dimension.

Mercedes CLS debuted in IAA (Frankfurt) 2003 as a concept and in Geneva 2004 as a production model; BMW CS Concept debuted 4 years later in Shanghai 2007 as a concept.

The 1980 Audi Quattro featured a four-wheel-drive system entirely different from most of other systems: a longitudinally mounted engine; a clutch; a front differential; a 2-axel gearbox; a TORSEN ® differential; and a rear differential. There are several versions of four-wheel-drive branded Quattro ® in Audi products, but they are not the same.

Finally, if there were a Congress of the “United Commentators of Automobiles”, I would possibly be a “Washington insider”, but not as partisan as Rahm Emanual (not a bad person whom I’ve never met, but he’s said to be quite partisan though). I just did some technical improvements to the recent comment from “His Royal Highness”.

edubruell

January 12, 2009 11:41 PM

I am a very big Audi fan and I like most of this concept very much. But I think that the front is a little bit too aggressive. Especially the headlights and the grille. Where is the classical Audi understatement ? I hope they change the front for the production model.

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