According to Audi their latest stunning executive class Mercedes-Benz CLS lookalike is a combination of all three, boasting a saloon’s “prestige”, a coupé’s “emotion” and an estate’s functionality.
Whichever way they interpret it, to me it’s more of an all-round beautifully built five-door coupé.
The slinky A7 Sportback, which marks Audi's return to the executive coupé market 42 years after the first-generation Audi 100 Coupé S, is yet another niche vehicle in the premium German company’s diverse product line-up bringing them a step nearer in their bid to oust BMW as the world’s best-selling luxury car maker by 2015. They now have quite a collection of top notch thoroughbreds in their own particular stable.
It’s lush, plush and if, unlike me, you’re flush and ready to say “buy buy” to €87,250 – the price of our review car, the 245bhp 3.0TDi Quattro all wheel drive, including a cool €20,350 of options – then this stylish executive hatch has, in addition to those tantalising looks, lots of other desirable qualities to whet your appetites.
The A7 is based on the same platform as the fourth generation A6 saloon, and is similar in concept to the smaller A5 Sportback, which is based on the A4/A5 architecture.
At 4.97m long, 1.91m wide and 1.42m tall with a 2.91m wheelbase, the A7 Sportback is 50mm longer, 40mm wider and 40mm lower than the all-new A6. The Sportback also has a slightly larger luggage capacity, up from 530 litres to a huge 535 litres.This expands to 1.390 litres with the rear seats folded.
The A7 Sportback comes standard with adaptive bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights.
As I said, and as can be seen from my picture, the A7 is something of an eyecatcher with its strong sloping, coupé-like roofline. The endless C-pillar flows into the strong rear shoulder and borders the upward-pointing rear side window, which Audi says is inspired by the Audi 100 Coupe S from 1969. And the powered opening rear hatch features a spoiler that automatically extends at 130km/h.
With the exception of the reversing light, the taillights are fitted entirely with LEDs, positioned three-dimensionally to accentuate the vehicle’s sculptured design.
There is loads of space for the driver and front seat passengers. However, rear headroom is compromised for even moderately tall travellers. The low roof line also makes entering a little difficult. Shoulder and leg room are good, although three adults abreast across the rear seat may find it a little tight. The car is really more of a four seater than five.
Standard kit includes Bluetooth, autofolding door mirrors, cruise control, front and rear park assist, heated front seats, light and rain sensor package, navigation system, start=stop with energy recovery and Xenon headlights and daytime running lights. The options on our car included 20-inch alloys, four-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, ambient lighting package, leather covered multifunction sports steering wheel, with shift paddles, night vision assistant with highlighting of pedestrians, rearview camera, sports suspension etc.
The A7 is available with a choice of two petrol and two diesel. Our review car for the week was the 3.0TDi 245bhp all-wheel-drive quattro S-tronic. The talk is certainly all torque and lots of it – its peak arriving at a very lowly 1,400rpm - from this brilliant high performance V6 engine that provides lots of grunt and a 40/60 percent front-to-rear torque distribution via a slick new sporty 7-speed dual clutch S-tronic transmission. And just feel that almost instant strong surge of power as you put the foot down. The 3.0TDi boasts a whopping 369lbs of pull and 237bhp of power - with barely the hint of it being a diesel - to satisfy the sportiest of drivers. It takes just 6.3 seconds from standstill to 100k/mh and has a top speed of around 250km/h. It is fairly frugal too, thanks to the use of aluminium in the body which keeps down the weight. I averaged 40mpg over a fair mix of most rewarding mountainous and motorway driving. Gorgeous. CO2 Rating: 158 g/km.
Price €87,250 (review car had €20,350 worth of options).
