Manufacturer Audi AG Designer Stefan Sielaff Body style 5-door Fastback | Assembly Neckarsulm, Germany Class Full-size luxury car | |
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Layout Longitudinal front-engine, front-wheel-drive or quattro permanent four-wheel-drive | ||
The Audi A7 Sportback is a mid-size luxury car (E-class) produced by Audi. A four-door hatchback, it features a roof line with steeply raked rear window and integrated trunk lid (forming the so-called "Sportback"), and frameless doors.
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Audi Sportback concept (2009)
Audi Sportback concept is a concept vehicle with 3.0-litre V6 TDI clean diesel engine rated 225 PS (165 kW; 222 hp) and 550 N·m (405.66 lb·ft), 7-speed S-tronic transmission, quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system, five-link front suspension, continuous damping control shock absorbers, electromechanical steering, ceramic brake discs (380-millimeter front and 356 millimeters rear), front 6-piston monobloc aluminum brake calipers, rear floating-caliper brakes, 21-inch wheels.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
Initial release
The A7 is in essence, a coupé-hatchback version of the C7-series Audi A6, based on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform. The A7 was released before the more conventional A6 saloon/estate. Both cars share the same core structure, drivetrain, chassis, dashboard and interior, whilst the A7 has its own unique exterior panelwork. It also differs from the A6 in that it uses aluminium for much of its front body structure.
The vehicle was unveiled in Pinakothek der Moderne art museum in Munich on 26 July 2010, and later in 2010 Paris Motor Show, 2011 New York Auto Show, Wörthersee Tour 2011 (in Misano Red)
The vehicles went on sale in fall 2010. Early models include 2.8 FSI (204PS) with multitronic, 3.0 TFSI quattro (300PS) with seven-speed S tronic, 3.0 TDI quattro (245PS) with seven-speed S tronic; followed by 3.0 TDI (204PS) with multitronic.
US models went on sale 2012 model year vehicles. Early models include 3.0 TFSI quattro (310PS) with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The 2011 model year A7 introduces FlexRay high speed databus that controls all the driver assistance systems from the A8, but it adds head-up display and active lane assist. Full LED headlamps with Automatic high beam switching or Audi adaptive light (Xenon) with variable headlight range control.
Audi S7 (2012–)
The S7 is a version of A7 with a 4.0 biturbo TFSI V8 engine rated 420 PS (309 kW; 414 bhp) and 550 N·m (405.66 ft·lbf), quattro four wheel drive system, 7-speed S Tronic gearbox. The S7 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, and later in 2012 Audi quattro Cup.
Delivery of the S7 began in spring 2012.
Similar vehicles
Reviewers have cited the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class as the inspiration to the Audi A7 in the four-door executive coupé market.
Engines and performance
The following internal combustion engines are available, with variations dependent on market.
Awards
In the ICOTY Awards, the Audi A7 was named the International Car of the Year in 2012.
AutoWeek magazine named the Audi A7 as the Best of the Best/Car for 2012.
Esquire magazine named the Audi A7 as the 2011 Esquire Car of the Year.
Automobile Magazine named the Audi A7 "2012 Automobile of the Year".
Marketing
As part of the A7 Sportback product launch, a launch campaign was created in collaboration with the London advertising agency bbh. The birth story of the A7 Sportback became the inspiration of the Paper Liberation spot.
As part of A7 launch in the US, a papercraft version of 2012 Audi A7 was produced.
As part of S7 launch in the US, a Super Bowl commercial was produced.
2012 update
A7 3.0 TDI quattro (313PS) (as A7 3.0 BiTDI quattro) was added to the UK market.
Early Germany models include A7 2.8 FSI (204 PS), 2.8 FSI quattro (204PS), 3.0 TFSI quattro (310PS), 3.0 TDI (204PS), 3.0 TDI quattro (204PS), 3.0 TDI quattro (245PS), 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro (245 PS), 3.0 TDI quattro (313PS).
A7 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro (245PS) was unveiled in 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.
US model of A7 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro (245PS) was set to go on sale in fall 2013 as 2014 model year vehicle.
A7 Sportback Black Edition (2013–)
It is a version of A7 (excluding 3.0 TDI (204PS), S7) for the UK market. It included 21-inch rotor-design alloy wheels with a dark titanium finish with further lowered S line sports suspension, black grille and number plate surrounds and the window frame strips, and by privacy glass extending from the B-pillar rearwards; Piano Black inlays, sports seats upholstered in black Valcona leather, black headlining, BOSE audio system with DAB radio and AMI from SE specification and above, S line equipment package (satellite navigation, light and rain sensors, Xenon all-weather headlights and LED rear lights, Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system, Audi parking system plus, keyless go), powered tailgate operation, electrically adjustable front seats, a powered retractable rear spoiler.
Sales began in November 2012, with deliveries began in early 2013.
RS 7 (2013–)
The RS7 has a 4.0 TFSI twin scroll twin turbo V8 engine rated 412 kW (560 PS; 553 bhp) and 700 N·m (516 lbf·ft), cylinder on demand system deactivates intake and exhaust valves of 4 cylinders (2, 3, 5 and 8), eight-speed tiptronic transmission with D and S driving modes, quattro with torque vectoring with self-locking center differential with a high locking rate and oil cooler (optional quattro with sport differential with two superposition gears), polished 20-inch forged wheels in a seven twin-spoke design (optional 21-inch cast wheels in a choice of three designs), four internally vented diameter brake discs with 390 mm (15.35 in) diameter front discs and black (optional red) painted six-piston calipers (optional 420 mm (16.54 in) carbon fiber ceramic discs with anthracite gray calipers), electronic stabilization control with Sport and off modes, adaptive air suspension lowering body by 20 mm (0.79 in) (optional tauter sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control), optional Dynamic all-wheel steering with continuously variable steering boost and ratio, high-gloss black protective grille with honeycomb structure at the front of the car, add-on parts in matte aluminum, power extending spoiler, two elliptical tailpipe trims, a choice of 10 body colours (including Nardo gray, exclusive finish Daytona gray, matt effect), optional matt aluminum and carbon styling packages, footrest, pedals and soft keys in the standard MMI navigation plus terminal in an aluminum-look finish; decorative trim below the retractable monitor in piano finish, carbon inlays (four optional additional materials), headlining in black cloth (optional lunar silver or black Alcantara), RS sport seats with side bolsters and integrated head restraints and RS 7 logos upholstered in black Alcantara and leather with diamond quilting at center sections (optional honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather in either black or lunar silver), optional power-adjustable comfort seats with memory function, contoured rear seats, xenon plus headlights, a tire pressure monitoring system, the parking system plus, three-zone automatic air conditioning, cruise control, Audi sound system, MMI navigation plus, adaptive cruise control with stop & go function including Audi pre sense front.
The RS 7 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.9 seconds and is limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Optional dynamic package and dynamic package plus increase top speeds to 280 km/h (173.98 mph) and 305 km/h (189.52 mph) respectively.
Other options include the exterior mirrors with exposed carbon housings and the all-LED headlights, head-up display, a comfort package, the dynamic package, the dynamic package plus, Bluetooth online car phone, Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 NAIAS.
Audi announced the RS7 performance along with the RS6 performance on October 22, 2015. It is powered by the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine as the standard RS7, but now with 605 PS (445 kW; 597 bhp), and 750 N·m (553 lbf·ft). The top speed remains limited to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) as standard, and there are optional Dynamic and Dynamic Plus packages that raise the top speed to 280 km/h (174.0 mph) and 305 km/h (189.5 mph) respectively. The RS7 performance will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.7 seconds and 0 to 200 km/h (124.3 mph) in 12.1 seconds. Despite the improved performance, the fuel economy and CO2 are unchanged from the standard RS6 Avant.
Mid-2014 facelift (model year 2015–)
Audi unveiled the 2015 A7 facelift in May 2014. Changes include: