As announced the 2011 Audi A7 was unveiled today by the German car
maker, in front of journalists and media representatives that attended
at the ‘Pinakothek der Moderne’ art museum in Munich.
The 2011 Audi A7 retains most of the characteristics seen on the concept
presented at the Detroit Auto Show in 2009 and some of its design
features include the single frame grille, bi-xenon LED headlights, large air
intakes and a small coupe-like tailgate.
The 2011 Audi A7 can accommodate four passengers and the level interior
refinement is comparable with a larger luxury saloon, with features like
layered wood inserts, aluminium and fine leather.
At launch the 2011 Audi A7 will be offered with a 3.0-litre TDI engine producing 150 kW (204 hp) that has CO2 emissions of 139 grams per Km and needs 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km. Other powerplant choices will include another TDI unit and two petrol engines with the most powerful rated at 220 kW (300 hp).
All engines will feature Audi’s thermal management system, a recuperation system and a start-stop system while power will be sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed S tronic gearbox.
The 2011 Audi A7 will be announced as we get closer to the four-door
coupe’s on-sale date. Even though nothing regarding this matter was
specified, performance versions of the 2011 Audi A7 like the S7 or RS7
are also shceduled to debut sometime next year.
Audi press release :
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.
