2011 Audi A7 Sportback Officially Unveiled in Munich [video]

A7 will come with four V6 engines - two diesel and two petrol

Audi has officially unveiled the new A7 Sportback in Munich today.

The 5-door, fastback coupe is Audi's own unique foray into the sport coupe segment with rear passenger doors. Audi describes the car as a combination of elegant coupe, sport sedan and practical wagon.

The A7 will feature a lightweight body made with aluminum components and high-tech steels, which will allow for it to be powered solely by a set of V6 engines - at least at first. Audi will likely come to add some V8 power plants to the mix later on.

Riding on 18 to 20-inch wheels, the A7's chassis comes with aluminum control arms and a highly-efficient electromechanical power steering. A drive select system comes standard but the adaptive air suspension with controlled damping will be offered only as an option.

Also optional will be the LED headlights while bi-xenon with LED taillights are standard.

Of those V6 engines, two petrol and two diesel will be available, Audi has only named the 3.0 liter TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) for now. It says the top engine will be a 220 kW (300 hp) offering but doesn't say which V6 that will be.

Of the V6's in Audi's engine stable, there is also a supercharged 3.0 liter V6 petrol with 200 kW (272 PS) and a spunkier 3.0 liter TDI with 184 kW (253 PS) which are possibilities for the A7 Sportback.

All engines will be coupled to automatic transmissions, either the multitronic for front-drive variants or the seven-speed S tronic for the Quattro-fitted models. That new Quattro system comes with torque vectoring technology and a crown-gear center differential.  It can transfer up to 70 percent of torque to the front wheels or as much as 85 percent to the rear, if necessary. The default power transfer ratio is 40:60 with a slight rear bias for sportiness. The new differential is compact and lightweight.

All variants will come with thermal management, energy recuperation and stop-start systems to improve fuel-economy. For example, the 3.0 liter TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) coupled with the multitronic gearbox on the front-drive A7 provides for a 5.3 liters/100 km fuel rating and CO2 emissions of 139 g/km.

The A7 Sportback hits dealerships in Europe in the fall with prices starting at €51,650.

Source: Audi

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Audi is targeting a new vehicle class with the A7 Sportback. The large, elegant five-door model combines the emotional character of a grand coupe, the comfort and prestige of a sedan and the active practicality of a station wagon. With its lightweight body, the powerful and efficient V6 engines, the sporty chassis and the advanced assistance and multimedia systems, it sets standards in many fields of technology. The Audi A7 Sportback will roll into dealerships in the fall, with prices starting at €51,650.

Aesthetic and athletic – the Audi A7 Sportback

Emotion-packed design, sporty character and innovative technology: Audi is targeting a new market segment with the A7 Sportback. The large five-door model with the dynamically accentuated rear end brings together the best of three worlds: the sporty elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon.

The A7 Sportback is pure high-tech. Its body is very lightweight thanks to numerous aluminum components. The elegant interior shows a craftsman’s level of workmanship. The four V6 engines combine refined power with groundbreaking efficiency. The 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and multitronic has CO2 emissions of just 139 grams per kilometer (223.70 g/mile). The sporty chassis comes with new solutions, such as electromechanical power steering. When it comes to assistance and infotainment systems, the luxury-class coupe exhibits all of the innovative power expected of Audi.

The five-door coupe from Audi combines supreme, long-distance comfort with a sporty character. The interior noise level is very low even at fast highway speeds, with the V6 engines providing refined acoustic feedback as their power unfolds.

The excellent vibrational comfort likewise contributes to the atmosphere of cultured tranquility on board. This is the result of painstakingly tuning all components, systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings and the extremely stiff body. The body is comprised primarily of aluminum and high-tech steels, making it extremely lightweight and safe. The large rear hatch opens wide to reveal a large, extremely usable luggage compartment that is very easy to load. Its 535-liter (18.89 cu ft) capacity swells to a volume of 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft) with the rear seat backrests folded down.

With the A7 Sportback, which will be rolling into dealerships in the fall at a base price of €51,600, Audi is taking up a new design line representing elegance on a grand scale. The five-door coupe is 4.97 meters (16.31 ft) long and 1.91 meters (6.27 ft) wide, but only 1.42 meters (4.66 ft) high. Its long hood, the short front overhang, the long wheelbase, the sportily flowing C-pillars and the sharply dropping rear create a dynamic overall impression. The five-door coupe is an aesthetic athlete with a wide, powerful road stance.

Optional LED headlights reinforce the unmistakable expression of the A7 Sportback and provide all light functions with light-emitting diodes while minimizing energy consumption. Bi-xenon headlights and LED tail lights come standard. The innovative all-weather light function has also been integrated into the headlights, replacing the classic fog lights.

The sinewy sportiness of the exterior carries over into the interior of the A7 Sportback, where Audi again demonstrates its leading role in automotive design. The salient element is the “wrap-around,” a horizontal line that encircles the driver and front-seat passenger in the interior to provide a feeling of safety and security. The wave-shaped application strip with its integrative dynamics is the salient element of the dashboard.

The utmost care has been devoted to every last detail in the interior. Workmanship is at a craftsman’s level. Optional climate-control and massage functions are available for the front seats covered in high-grade Audi leathers. The optional ambient lighting fills the entire interior with atmosphere.

Like Audi’s A8 flagship, the A7 Sportback also combines a new level of technical intelligence with logical, intuitive ergonomics and self-explanatory operation. The advanced MMI operating system with central menu button and reduced number of buttons comes standard, while one of the options is a new head-up display that projects the most important information on the windshield. The MMI touch system combines a hard drive navigation system with the convenience of touchpad input.

The driver can use the touchpad to perform numerous functions, such as using his or her finger to write the letters of the destination or the digits of the telephone number.

The online services work together with Google to connect the five-door Audi coupe to the Internet via the Bluetooth car phone. A UMTS module delivers images and information from Google Earth to the monitor and combines them with the navigation route. A WLAN hotspot is used to connect mobile devices. Further to the Bose sound system, the top-of-the-line option is the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen featuring 1,300 watts of power and 15 speakers.

The top navigation system works closely together with the many optional driver assistance and safety systems in the A7 Sportback. It forwards the route data to the control units for the headlights, the automatic transmission and the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, enabling these systems to recognize complex scenarios. In many cases, the Audi pre sense safety system can reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences. The new Audi active lane assist helps the driver to keep the A7 Sportback firmly on course, and the new park assist system relieves the driver of the chore of steering when parallel parking.

Audi will initially offer the A7 Sportback with a choice of four powerful and cultivated V6 engines: two gasoline and two TDI units. Their power output ranges from 150 kW (204 hp) to 220 kW (300 hp), and their efficiency sets impressive new standards in the vehicle class. The new 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and multitronic consumes on average just 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km (44.38 US mpg), corresponding to CO2 emissions of just 139 g per km (223.70 g/mile). All engines use Audi’s innovative thermal management system, a recuperation system and a start-stop system.

The standard automatic transmissions also play a role in the high efficiency of the Audi A7 Sportback. Audi offers two different transmissions depending on the engines: The continuous multitronic sends the power to the front wheels, while the sporty seven-speed S tronic works together with quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The latest evolutionary stage of quattro features a crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring.

The drive system is particularly flexible and dynamic. The optional sport differential actively distributes the power between the rear wheels.

The chassis also combines sporty precision with luxurious comfort. The Audi A7 Sportback rolls on large wheels measuring from 18 to 20 inches in diameter. The chassis features aluminum control arms and a newly developed power steering system with an electromechanical drive for high efficiency. The Audi drive select dynamics system is standard and can be supplemented by the optional adaptive air suspension with controlled damping.

At a glance

The Audi A7 Sportback

Design and body

  • Elegant coupe design with four doors and a large, wide-opening luggage compartment hatch that opens and closes electrically (standard)
  • 4.97 meters (16.31 ft) long; variable luggage compartment with up to 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft) of capacity
  • LED headlights optional; bi-xenon headlights and LED tail lights standard
  • Lightweight body, large percentage of aluminum and high-strength steels

Interior and controls

  • Elegant, modern lines, a craftsman’s level of workmanship, elegant colors and materials, novel layered wood inserts
  • Start-stop button standard
  • Front seats optionally with ventilation and massage function
  • MMI radio operating system standard; head-up display available as an option
  • Optional MMI navigation plus system with touchpad and large 8-inch display, Internet services from Google, Audi music interface and Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System
  • Optional ambient lighting package with LED technology in the roof module, in the center console ringed with lights and the illuminated door sill trims
  • Advanced safety and assistance systems such as Audi pre sense, adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, Audi active lane assist, night vision assistant, speed limit display and park assist system
  • Highly efficient, fuel-saving climate control system

Engines

  • Four V6 engines – two powerful and highly efficient gasoline and TDI units each  with power ranging from 150 kW (204 hp) to 220 kW (300 hp)
  • All engines with thermal management, start-stop system and energy recovery
  • 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and multitronic (front-wheel drive) with just 139 g CO2/km (223.70 g/mile)

Drivetrain

  • Front-wheel drive with multitronic; quattro all-wheel drive combined with seven-speed S tronic
  • quattro with crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring
  • quattro with sport differential for the active distribution of power at the rear axle available as an option

Chassis

  • Sophisticated chassis construction, aluminum control arms
  • Newly developed, high-efficiency electromechanical power steering
  • Audi drive select assistance system comes standard
  • Optionally available adaptive air suspension with controlled damping
  • 18-inch to 20-inch wheels, powerful brakes
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Comments (72)

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 jale jale
a4, a5, a6, a7, a8 ??? what is it???
July 26, 2010 3:29 pm
 Discover Discover
u forgot the A1, A3, and soon to come (again) - A2.
July 26, 2010 8:01 pm
 McNamara68 McNamara68
butt ugly. pun intended.
July 26, 2010 3:33 pm
 GRAVE GRAVE
The rear looks like an old man's sad face, what a fail, this is a proof that Audi has no design inspiration at all, and this A7 is the ugliest Audi ever!
July 26, 2010 3:38 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
just saw the premiere, looks delicious imho.
July 26, 2010 3:39 pm
 GuyOh GuyOh
wow, this audi is ugly!!!!!!!!!!
July 26, 2010 3:39 pm
 IN_ACtion IN_ACtion
looks way better in dark colors and actually got something i like bout it butcant put my finger on it really
July 26, 2010 3:43 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
Big lol @ all Audi Haters for desperately trying to talk the A7 down. it won`t help!
July 26, 2010 3:44 pm
 McNamara68 McNamara68
no one's hating, they're just opinions bro, to each his own
July 26, 2010 4:00 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
and u call this ugly: http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6456/50529337.gif it looks amazing! if u want ugliness: http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/24/01bmw550igtreview2010.jpg
July 26, 2010 4:14 pm
 Beemer89 Beemer89
No one is complaining about the front end(its typical audi). People are grossed up with the rear. the shape of the car is uglier than panamera. And u comparing it with 5gt jus shows that you "WANT" to like this uglyass car. I am not an audi hater. I love the current a4 and a5, r8, tt, and q5 and q7. But the rest a6 a8 and now a7 are just ugly.
July 26, 2010 10:30 pm
 Hardboy997 Hardboy997
wow Wanna see this on the streets!
July 26, 2010 4:03 pm
 F10V8tt F10V8tt
The rear 3/4 view looks bad in any color, and im not a fan of the huge crome grills.
July 26, 2010 4:31 pm
 Francois Francois
True CLS rival. Better looking than Panamera, but I'm not convience to leave a MB showroom, not buying the CLS and go for A7.
July 26, 2010 4:32 pm
 MSRking MSRking
Ugly? what wrong with you people? The A7 looks amazing! the exterior and enterior! You know what calls ugly? 5GT, panamera... I i have no idea what the problem with this car... Any way the A7 looks abesolutely great!
July 26, 2010 4:43 pm
 bILLIONAIRE bILLIONAIRE
wow this is going to look ridiculously hot in an s kit or the rs kit! going to photoshop and post pictures, just a moment! THERE U GO; http://www.worldcarfans.com/community/photo/DBC8ulv
July 26, 2010 5:04 pm
 Max_Speed Max_Speed
yuk! Everything looks great until you reach the rear end. That thing looks like a distant cousin of the panamera... and that's not a good thing!
July 26, 2010 5:05 pm
 ForceInduction ForceInduction
@ catchmyshadow BTW lets see how this overpriced piece of metal will rival againest the GranCoupe. It doesn't even have a chance againest the new CLS. The A7 is simply being squashed and kicked out of the competition
July 26, 2010 5:14 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
The 5-series GT should be nuked as soon as possible. it is worse than anything bangle has ever created. the Gran Coupe Concept looks nice but why is BMW trying to fool the people. It is NOT a coupe. it is a sedan. Just like the 5-series, 7-series. a bit more elegant but in reality just another sedan, no special magic at all.
July 26, 2010 5:39 pm
 jerry05cod4 jerry05cod4
The Grand Coupe is as much of a coupe as a CLS or this A7, catch my drift eeh. Saying that i don't think that this car is ugly, but it is a notch beneath what the concept was, which i loved btw. They should've kept the side inlets on the front as they were on the concept.
July 26, 2010 5:56 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
The A7 has definitely the shape of a coupe, no doubt but i agree with u, i wish they would have kept even more details from the concept (they kept a lot by the way in contrast to other companies) but some parts are not suited for production cars. u will never see a concept finding its way 1:1 to the production version.
July 26, 2010 6:12 pm
 moodyaaa moodyaaa
RS7 ??
July 26, 2010 5:14 pm
 Jeff_Lux Jeff_Lux
...tastes and opinions....grow up people. I like Coca Cola, who likes Pepsi? Oh, what you prefer Virgin Cola...FINE! Cheers everybody!
July 26, 2010 5:17 pm
 PeterPL PeterPL
The thing is that this car is really well designed, so we shouldn't call it ugly. Main problem is that designer couldn't get out A5 Sportback of his head. High expectations, huge disappointment. I don't understand why making one interesting model, all the others must look the same (e.g. Audi, VW...) Want to see it soon alive ;)
July 26, 2010 5:19 pm
 p2c p2c
+1 First intelligent comment ... They could have made the most beautiful car judging by the drawings but they somewhere failed and I still do not get what goes wrong ... definitely the back should have been shorter... The inside look really nice and I can not wait to see it in real life.
July 27, 2010 12:14 am
 panamera789 panamera789
audi should give $10000 reward for those who can distinguish this junk from a4 and a5 and a6 and a8... they are all basically the same shxt... it must be an easy job being a audi salesman... u just tell the customer to just look at the a4 and u know how the rest looks like.. .
July 26, 2010 5:22 pm
 atlasmason atlasmason
ok this is just funny coming from a "porsche" guy. other than the panamera and cayenne, all porsches virtually look the same.
July 27, 2010 3:03 pm
 ForceInduction ForceInduction
@ panamera789 LMAO! no one will ever win hahaha
July 26, 2010 5:24 pm
 bILLIONAIRE bILLIONAIRE
Did a rendering of the A7 With the TT-RS front bumper, it looks really neat! If you don't like this, you don't like cars at all! http://www.worldcarfans.com/community/photo/DBC8ulv
July 26, 2010 5:32 pm
 ForceInduction ForceInduction
It does look good. Now can you re'render the back please?
July 26, 2010 5:37 pm
 catchmyshadow catchmyshadow
awesome!
July 26, 2010 5:40 pm
 bILLIONAIRE bILLIONAIRE
Sure I'll do it right away, give me a minute or two ;)
July 26, 2010 5:51 pm
 bILLIONAIRE bILLIONAIRE
I've uploaded on the same link, don't get an heart attack, it looks insane!
July 26, 2010 6:06 pm
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