Back in 2007, we saw a dream through Audi’s eyes. The dream of something as quick as a mini-skirt, but with the detailing of a sari. True, not every homogenization can be good, but this one is.
A dollop of panache and style of a coupe, a tablespoon of the comfort of a saloon and flavoured with the practicality of a station wagon commingle to give a scintillating four-door coupe, the new Audi A7.
After showcasing the A7 Sportback concept at the Auto Expo earlier this year, the company has unveiled the car in Munich. As is apparent from the name, the car is placed between the Audi A6 and the A8 and stands in direct competition with the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW
5 Series GT.
Audi plan to tap a new market segment with their new Sportback, which should be in India by the end of 2010 or the first quarter of 2011.
The latest from Ingolstadt is that the A7 will come in V6s only, two petrol and two TDI units. The Quattro system, with S-tronic transmission is available only in the top-end variants and the base models get only mutitronic. The Quattro comes with a crown-gear centre differential and torque vectoring. You know what that means, that the A7 knows who’s the master.
The sport differential will be optional. A lady with high heels she is, as the wheel size varies from 18” to 20” in diameter.
The chassis has been made with a perfect congregation of steel and aluminium, giving it an appropriate blend of light weight and rigidity.
Audi claim to have painstakingly worked upon the ride quality of the car, by tuning all components, systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings in the extremely stiff body. Power steering has been loaded with an electromechanical drive for better efficiency.
Audi define the A7 as a car that is a treat for the driver, leisure for the passenger and a boon for nature, due to reduced CO2 emission. The cabin has been tastefully crafted to offer utmost luxury and comfort. Looks as if, taking lessons from the success of the CLS coupe, Audi are doing their homework to make the best of an as yet unheralded segment. The prices in India will start at Rs 70 lakh with the top versions nudging the Rs 1 crore mark.
The A7 Sportback should pose high hurdles for the future Merc CLS. For now, the V6 goodie bag that the car offers looks quite appealing, but Audi might also think on the lines of introducing a V8 or a blown V6 to the league. That comes only if they are ready to work upon an S7 or RS7. Till then, que sera sera.
The Audi A7 Sportback being unveiled in Munich. It stands in direct competition with the Mercedes CLS and BMW 5 Series GT.
