Audi A7 Sportback (2011)

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 Audi 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 Audi 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 Audi 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.

Exterior design

The Audi A7 Sportback is at once an elegant and an innovative Audi - a car with elegant, sporty proportions, a long hood and wheelbase, short overhangs and athletically curved outer contours. It marks the next step in the evolution of the design language of Audi, the leading brand for automotive design.

The Audi A7 Sportback exudes a powerful presence and attraction; it is a car whose design cries out to be touched and enjoyed. With its low, dynamically accentuated roof line and its balanced proportions, it looks like a coupe. The rear doors are perfectly integrated into the silhouette. The design is consistent and expresses the aesthetics of modern technology in every detail - in the precisely drawn lines, in the athletic curvature of the surfaces, in the engine compartment and even the wheels.

The large single-frame grille up front has six corners like that of Audi's A8 flagship, making it appear even more dynamic. The slats of the grille are painted high-gloss black and adorned with chrome applications as an expression of quality. Its horizontal posture and the design of the wide and low air inlets emphasize the width of the Audi A7 Sportback.

As always with Audi, the headlights are small, technical works of art that illustrate the advantage that the brand has gained in lighting technology. Their flat contour that widens laterally shifts the optical focus outward. The lower edge is in the form of a wave, with the wing - a classic Audi feature - structuring the interior.

The Audi A7 Sportback comes standard with xenon headlights with integrated all-weather lights. Optionally available here is the Audi adaptive light system, which always offers the appropriate lighting, whether driving in the city, when turning, on inter-urban roads or on the highway. It includes continuous headlight range control, which detects other vehicles and adjusts the car's own light with smooth transitions.

Audi offers optional all-LED headlights, a major Audi innovation that premiered in the R8 and the A8. Their white light resembles daylight and is extremely energy-efficient. The zero-maintenance LED headlights generate unmistakable graphics, day or night.

Three modules comprising high-performance light-emitting diodes, mounted in separate chambers, generate the low beams. Other light functions include the high beams, the cornering light, the all-weather light and the highway light. The daytime running lights comprising 18 LEDs appears to be a continuous band at the lower edge of the headlights, below which are the turn signals comprising eleven LEDs. The high-beam assistant, which switches between the high and low beams, is a complementary technology.

Dynamic wave: the side view

The side view of the Audi A7 Sportback is a powerfully drawn line. The roof arch is a flat dome; the C-pillar stretches endlessly to the rear and flows into the shoulder of the body. Integrated into the pillar is a third side window with an upward pointing tip - a small homage to the Audi 100 Coupé S from 1969. The ratio of painted body surfaces to the frameless windows is two-thirds to one-third in the side view, which is also typical for Audi.

The sharp tornado line, the most important design element of the Audi A7 Sportback, extends over the entire side. It gives the body strong shoulders, like those of an athletic swimmer. The tornado line starts at the headlights and extends along the fenders, the doors and the rear side walls to the tail lights. Located above the side sills is the dynamic line.

The large wheel wells housing wheels between 18 and 20 inches in diameter are also typical for Audi. They underscore the powerful character of the vehicle and offer opportunities for customizing the car's outward appearance. Like with a sports car, the dynamically styled exterior mirrors are mounted on the doors - another sporty detail. The agile and sinewy impression of the Audi A7 Sportback is the result of many subtle solutions. The third side window, for example, lightens the rear section of the flanks visually.

The line of dynamic elegance encircles a rear end that uses a slight negative indentation to form a distinctive spoiler lip. The luggage compartment hatch is equipped with a spoiler that automatically extends at 130 km/h (80.78 mph) and retracts again at 80 km/h (49.71 mph). The diffuser insert is painted in the body color and frames the two large, chromed tailpipes of the exhaust system, thus also emphasizing the car's width.

All surfaces at the rear of the car are vividly modeled; the tips of the divided tail lights point inwards. With the exception of the reversing light, the tail lights are realized entirely with LED technology standard. They have been machined in three dimensions and accentuate the sculptural character of the Audi A7. The tail lights appear to be a homogenous band that forms a broad, U-shaped arc. The brake lights, which are in the form of a helix, are located inside the arch, above which the turn signal extends as a straight line.

Audi offers eleven elegant paint finishes for the Audi A7 Sportback. The two solid colors are called Ibis White and Brilliant Black. The six metallic colors are Ice Silver, Quartz Gray, Oolong Gray, Moonlight Blue, Havanna Black and Dakota Gray. Rounding out the palette are the three pearl-effect finishes Phantom Black, Garnet Red and Impala Beige.

Fast track: from concept car to production

Audi announced the Audi A7 Sportback at the 2009 North American International Automobile Show in Detroit with the Audi Sportback concept show car. The differences between it and the production model were slight, lying primarily in the area of the headlights, the single-frame grille, the air inlets, the exterior mirrors and the rear end. Almost all of the new ideas in the interior also made it into the production model.

Audi frequently has show cars go into production nearly unchanged. This process expresses one of the brand's particular strengths, demonstrating how deeply the Board of Management and all areas of the company support the visions of the designers. Design is much more than styling at Audi; it is a reflection of the highly developed technology.

Back in 1993, a luxury sedan in shining silver called the ASF enthralled the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The show car with its unpainted body of polished aluminum was the precursor to the A8. Two years later Audi provided the first glimpse of the TT, likewise at the Frankfurt Motor Show. And in 1997, the Al2 show car stood at the same location as a preview of the A2.

In 2003, two spectacular show cars heralded the move into new vehicle classes. In January Audi presented the Pikes Peak quattro in Detroit. The big, sporty SUV was the precursor to the Q7. In September, the Audi Le Mans quattro became the star of the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was the spitting image of the R8 which came later.

At the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2007, the brand presented the Audi Cross Coupé quattro, which went into production as the Q5 a short time later. There was even a forerunner of the compact Audi A1, which is just now coming to market: The Audi A1 project quattro, a hybrid-drive city car, debuted at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

Body

The Audi A7 Sportback is 4.97 meters (16.31 ft) long and has a wheelbase of 2.91 meters (9.55 ft). 1.91 meters (6.27 ft) wide, it is only 1.42 meters (4.66 ft) tall - these proportions allude to the dynamic lines. The cD value is 0.28; the front surface area measures 2.29 m² (24.65 sq ft). The clean flow of the slipstream - including along the underbody and as it flows through the engine compartment - was an important objective in the requirement specification.

The noise level on board the five-door coupe is extremely low thanks to the painstaking fine-tuning of the aeroacoustics, which also includes the glazings. Even the standard version does a very good job of attenuating outside noise. Audi offers optional glazings that integrate a special film with acoustic properties for an added degree of comfort, particularly on long highway journeys.

Long-distance comfort and a sporty character are not contradictory at Audi, and this also applies to the acoustics of the Audi A7 Sportback. Longer drives really let the five-door coupe show off its luxury-class ride: low noise, low vibrations and perfect vibrational comfort. The powerful engines round out the experience with a cultivated sound.

The excellent acoustics are the combined result of high-end materials and new construction methods. Modern microfiber non-wovens, an underbody liner and wheel well linings all play a part here.

The high level of vibrational comfort is another strength of the Audi A7 Sportback. Hydraulic damping elements are used consistently for the axles and the subframes, and hydraulically damped bearings are used for the engines. The engineers tuned these elements using advanced simulation methods and Audi's comfort test bench - a development tool not found anywhere else in the world.

The body of the Audi A7 Sportback also sets standards with its low weight. The steel/aluminum mixed-construction body is roughly 15 percent lighter than a comparable all-steel body, placing it at the head of its class. Take for example the 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and the multitronic transmission. Minus the driver, the entire car in the base version weighs just 1,695 kilograms (3,737 lb). The low weight is the result of the brand's pioneering lightweight construction technology that intelligently combines a variety of materials.

More than 20 percent of the body is made of lightweight aluminum, a material with which Audi has experience that no other manufacturer can match. The strut mounts in the front of the car are aluminum castings; the strut brace and cross-members behind the front and rear bumpers are aluminum sections. All add-on parts, such as the front side walls, the hood, the rear hatch and the doors, but also the bulkhead and the cross-member in the luggage compartment, are made of aluminum panels.

High-end steels of various strength classes make up a large portion of the body. Most commonly used are the hot-shaped steels, which are used in some zones of the passenger cell and at its transition to the front end of the car. They are heated in a pass-through furnace to nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) and shaped immediately thereafter in water-cooled pressing dies. Audi also uses tailored blanks in many areas. These are panels of various thicknesses that are thicker and stronger in areas subjected to higher loads.

The body of the Audi A7 Sportback combines low weight with high rigidity and supreme strength. It thus provides the basis for the sportily precise handling, the high crash safety and the supreme vibrational comfort on board - for the typical Audi ride, in other words.

Interior design

Air and light, sleek shapes and bright colors: The interior of the Audi A7 Sportback is an emotional space full of lightness and expanse. Its lines take up the powerful, sinewy sportiness of the exterior to demonstrate Audi's status as the leading brand for vehicle design.

The salient element is the "wrap-around" - a horizontal line encircling the entire cabin. It extends in a curve from the driver-side door sill across the instrument panel to the passenger-side door sill. The wrap-around embeds the driver and front-seat passenger into the interior. The exterior and interior form a harmonious design element. The frame of the door opener invokes the shape of the rear side window from the exterior.

The large arch integrates a low and slender instrument panel that slopes slightly downward toward the passengers. The application strip with its integrative dynamics is the salient element of the dashboard. Its face forms a wave oriented toward the driver, and even the dividing line between the upper and the lower segments is in the shape of an S. The center air vents follow this line and are shaped like a wing.

Audi's legendary attention to detail characterizes the entire interior of the Audi A7 Sportback, just as it does in the A8 luxury sedan. Materials are chosen with the utmost care; the uncompromising workmanship is on a craftsman's level.

The strongly driver-oriented cockpit comprises the instrument cluster, the air vents and the control elements. The aluminum finish highlights the rotary knobs. Both the shift gate and the start-stop button feature subtle red backlighting.

Audi will immediately be offering a wide range of upholsteries and decorative elements, including Milano and Valcona fine leathers, a leather/Alcantara combination and a leather package for the center console, the armrests in the doors and the door pull handles.

Audi offers inlays in a choice of two aluminum applications and two types of wood: natural brown fine grain ash and dark brown walnut. A veneer of layered oak will be available later. Audi has made significant advances in the technique of cutting veneers from a single block and uses painstakingly prepared and treated oak.

Controls and interior

The Audi A7 Sportback offers a full range of functions, yet its controls are simple and intuitive. The large, clearly marked dial instruments with their red needles and the display of the driver information system (DIS) are located under a flat cowl. They appear three-dimensional and extremely precise.

The optional driver information display - either 5 or 7 inches and white or in color depending on the version - bundles a lot of important information and settings in a logical menu structure and is controlled using the leather multifunction steering wheel. Another standard feature is the on-board computer with efficiency program. It provides tips for efficient shifting, includes a gear-change indicator and shows how individual systems affect fuel consumption.

The central on-board monitor, the standard version of which measures 6.5 inches and has a high-gloss black frame, is recessed into the center of the dashboard. It extends electrically upward in an elegant motion when the ignition is switched on. The instrument panel, which is inclined toward the driver, contains the control unit for the highly efficient deluxe air conditioning system and secondary switches for direct access to the most important functions. All other functions are offloaded to the MMI (Multimedia Interface) operating system located on the wide, asymmetrical tunnel, which forms a separate component with no connection to the center console.

The operating logic of the MMI is exemplary. The hard keys are used to jump directly to the main menus; the soft keys and the central rotary pushbutton are used to navigate within them.

The driver can jump to the menu overview at any time using a central menu button. The central rotary pushbutton is used to select the desired menus and functions. The main functions of the audio system make up one logical unit and are consolidated in the main control element. The electromechanical parking brake leaves a lot of room on the center tunnel for a comfortable, steplessly height-adjustable center armrest, a telephone and a large storage compartment.

New: the head-up display

Audi offers a new high-end feature as an option in the Audi A7 Sportback - a head-up display. It projects the most important data onto the windshield as symbols and digits that appear to float at a distance of roughly 2.5 meters (8.2 ft). The driver assimilates this information extremely quickly because his or her eyes, accustomed to distance vision while driving, do not have to adjust. The driver can use the MMI to determine which information the head-up display should show, such as speed, the navigation arrows or the indications from the assistance systems.

The Audi A7 Sportback is designed as a four-seater. Its front seats are mounted sportily low. Ten-way seats are standard. Options include power adjustment, a memory function and seat heating.

The deluxe seats offer 20-way power and pneumatic adjustments. These are available with ventilation using a novel and particular effective suction technology and a function in which ten air chambers massage the back according to one of five programs. Customers with sporty tastes can choose the sport seats with their prominent side bolsters and 14-way adjustment.

In the back of the Audi A7 Sportback are two comfortable individual seats. The long wheelbase provides for generous amounts of space. Even large persons enjoy ample headroom and easy entry. Spacious and practical storage is available at all of the seats.

The Audi A7 Sportback is a versatile car for active people. Its long rear hatch that extends far up into the roof covers a large luggage compartment lined with fine carpeting. Its low loading lip helps make it convenient to use. Standard capacity is 535 liters (18.89 cubic ft), which increases to 1,390 liters (49.09 cubic ft) by folding down the split rear seat backs, which is a matter of a few easy steps.

The rear hatch comes standard with an electric drive unit. It opens high, and the opening angle can be programmed using the buttons on the inside of the hatch. The split cover is never in the way while loading the luggage compartment. Its short segment is connected to the body, the long segment to the hatch. Audi offers an optional load-through hatch with a ski sack and a reversible mat. With the trailer hitch, the Audi A7 Sportback can tow up to 2,100 kilograms (4,630 lb).

Driver assistance systems

Audi offers a wide range of the latest-generation driver assistance systems. They are tightly networked with one another and other systems in the vehicle, making them extremely capable and versatile. The respective control units are connected via the fast and modern FlexRay bus system, allowing the driver assistance and chassis systems to be precisely controlled.

The heart of the driver assistance systems is the new adaptive cruise control with stop & go function (ACC). It uses the data from four radar sensors, a video camera and the ultrasonic sensors, incorporates navigation data and analyzes a multitude of additional signals, from the activity of the turn signals to the steering angle to trailer detection. Its functions range from automatic stop & go in rush-hour traffic to the electronic monitoring of high-speed highway driving at speeds of up to 250 km/h (155.34 mph).

The driver uses the MMI system to determine how the vehicle should behave in ACC mode. The choices are "dynamic" - powerful acceleration when the roads are clear, spontaneous and direct when following traffic; "standard" - balanced in all situations; or relaxed and fuel-efficient cruising in "comfort" mode.

Another high-end system is Audi side assist, which from speeds of 30 km/h (18.64 mph) upwards warns the driver of critical situations when changing lanes. It uses radar to monitor the space behind the Audi A7 Sportback. The speed limit display detects important traffic signs and their supplemental signs with a camera and shows them in the instrument cluster display or in the optional head-up display. The night vision assistant uses a thermal imaging camera and highlights persons that it detects in front of the vehicle. It projects its black-and-white images onto the instrument cluster display. If it detects a potentially hazardous situation, it marks the person red and optionally displays a warning symbol in the head-up display.

The Audi pre sense safety system is available in a number of different versions in the Audi A7 Sportback. It uses the highly networked systems on board and initiates preventive measures in the event of an imminent collision. In the version Audi pre sense basic, the system reacts when it detects an instable driving situation. The front seatbelts are electrically tensioned; the sunroof and the side windows are closed, leaving just a small gap; and the traffic behind is warned.

Audi pre sense front is available in combination with ACC stop & go. Its job is to prevent rear-end collisions with the vehicle ahead or to mitigate the consequences of such accidents. If the driver does not brake sharply enough in a critical situation, the system autonomously increases the brake pressure. If necessary, it initiates partial braking and tightens the belts as a precaution. If the person at the wheel still does not react, Audi pre sense front increases the braking force in a second stage and initiates preventive measures. If Audi pre sense plus is installed and the accident can no longer be avoided, emergency braking is initiated to reduce the speed by up to 40 km/h (24.85 mph).

Audi pre sense rear is coupled with Audi side assist. If it detects a critical situation - an imminent rear-end collision - it ensures that the traffic behind is alarmed via the emergency flashers. If the situation escalates, preventive protective measures are activated.

The electromechanical power steering in the Audi A7 Sportback allows the use of two new assistance systems. One of them is Audi active lane assist, which uses a camera to detect the lane markings on the road.

If the driver does not stay in the lane, the system intervenes gently in the steering to steer the Audi A7 Sportback back on course. The system can take vehicles and objects in the adjacent lane into account while doing so.

The second innovation is the park assist system, which is the top version of the three parking aid systems offered by Audi. It uses ultrasonic sensors that detect parallel and horizontal parking spaces on the side of the road while driving slowly. If the space is large enough, the system takes over parallel parking at the push of a button. The driver only has to apply the gas and brake. The park assist system maneuvers the Audi A7 Sportback into the smallest of parking spaces. The system can parallel park with multiple forward and reversing motions, and can also park the car in spaces perpendicular to the road.

Multimedia systems

Infotainment and navigation are two other fields of technology where the Audi A7 Sportback sets new standards. In addition to the standard MMI radio, Audi offers three optional systems: MMI radio plus, MMI navigation and MMI navigation plus with MMI touch. All four systems have a retracting monitor.

Except for MMI navigation plus, all MMI versions uses a 6.5-inch monitor. An 8-inch monitor is included in combination with MMI touch. The system integrates a large hard drive that can also be used to store music and files, convenient voice control and a Bluetooth interface. Its high-resolution 8-inch monitor displays map images and many points of interest in three dimensions.

As in the A8 luxury sedan, MMI touch comes with a groundbreaking innovation - a touchpad with black panel technology. The driver enters a destination or a telephone number by drawing the letters and numbers on the touch-sensitive control panel with a finger. The system provides acoustic feedback so that the driver's eyes can stay on the road. MMI touch also recognizes the characters of Asian languages.

Networked intelligence: predictive route data

The high-end navigation system works closely together with the other systems on board the Audi A7 Sportback. It reads the road ahead from the 3D navigation data and provides predictive data to the control units for the automatic transmission, the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function and the headlights, enabling these systems to recognize complex scenarios.

Another groundbreaking feature in the Audi A7 Sportback are the online services provided in collaboration with Google. They deliver online news and current information from the Internet to the Audi A7 Sportback via the Bluetooth car phone. A UMTS module pulls images and information from Google Earth up on the monitor and combines them with the navigation route. A WLAN hotspot provides contact to mobile devices on board, such as an iPad or a laptop. The driver can use all of these services with his or her existing cellular phone contract.

Audi likewise offers a number of attractive multimedia modules, from the Bose sound system to the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 1,300 watts of power. Its 15 speakers, which include two acoustic lenses that extend from the instrument panel when the system is switched on, have elegant aluminum housings. The amplifiers for the woofers are particularly energy-efficient.

Engines

The Audi A7 Sportback will hit the market with four direct-injection V6 engines: two gasoline units and two diesels. Ranging from 150 to 220 kW (204 to 300 hp), the engines propel the large five-door coupe smoothly and powerfully, with astonishing efficiency. The 3.0 TDI multitronic with front-wheel drive and 150 kW (204 hp) 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). No competitor in this class can boast figures this low. All engines use Audi's innovative thermal management system, a recuperation system and a start-stop system.

Audi has thoroughly revised the two gasoline engines, the 2.8 FSI and the 3.0 TFSI, with respect to internal friction and thermal management. The engines quickly come up to operating temperature following a cold start. A separate heat exchanger is used to also bring the transmission up to temperature. The 2.8 FSI has an additional efficiency technology on board - the Audi valvelift system varies the stroke of the intake valves as needed. This enables the engine to breathe with significantly reduced throttle losses in many partial-load ranges, boosting torque and reducing fuel consumption.

The 2.8 FSI produces 150 kW (204 hp) and 280 Nm (206.52 lb-ft) of torque at 5,250 rpm. The torque is available from 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. Audi pairs this engine with the S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. The Audi A7 Sportback 2.8 FSI quattro sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of 235 km/h (146.02 mph). It consumes just 8.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (29.40 US mpg) on average, which corresponds to only 187 grams of CO2/km (300.95 g/mile).

With the top gasoline engine, the 3.0 TFSI, a supercharger compresses the intake air for improved efficiency and performance. The three-liter V6 produces 220 kW (300 hp) between 5,250 and 6,500 rpm, and delivers 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) of torque between 2,900 and 4,500 rpm. The supercharged engine, which in Europe is mated to the S tronic and the quattro powertrain, gives the five-door coupe the performance of a sports car.

The standard sprint takes just 5.6 seconds, and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Standard fuel consumption is just 8.2 liters per 100 km (28.68 US mpg), corresponding to 190 grams CO2 per km (305.78 g/mile).

The 3.0 TDI is available in two versions. The more powerful version of the big diesel, which has been completely redesigned, produces 180 kW (245 hp) between 4,000 and 4,500 rpm and 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque between 1,400 and 3,250 rpm. The S tronic and quattro all-wheel drive are also standard here. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 6.5 seconds and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Efficiency is impressive: just 6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (39.20 US mpg) on average, which corresponds to only 158 grams of CO2/km (254.28 g/mile).

The second version of the 3.0 TDI, which will follow somewhat later, does even better in this discipline. It produces 150 kW (204 hp) between 3,750 and 4,500 rpm. With front-wheel drive and the stepless multitronic automatic transmission, it really flaunts its efficiency: 139 grams CO2 per km (223.70 g/mile) and an average fuel consumption of 5.3 liters per 100 km (44.38 US mpg) are groundbreaking figures. With the new Efficiency TDI, the front-wheel drive Audi A7 Sportback accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 8.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 234 km/h (145.40 mph).

With the 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp), the timing of the cam shafts, the turbocharger and the common rail system with an injection pressure of 2,000 bar have been designed specifically for low fuel consumption. With front-wheel drive, the V6 diesel produces 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of torque. The power is continuously available between 1,250 and 3,500 rpm. With quattro all-wheel drive, it is 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft) of torque that is available between 1,250 and 3,500 rpm.

Drivetrain

Some of the groundbreaking efficiency of the Audi A7 Sportback can be attributed to the transmission. Audi provides two different technologies. The multitronic sends the power to the front wheels; the seven-speed S tronic is paired with quattro permanent all-wheel drive.

Both transmissions are characterized by low internal friction and high efficiency. They feature a wide spread with long gear ratios for high-speed driving. The transmissions are integrated into the engine's thermal management system and can access the predictive route data from the navigation system. Both the multitronic and the S tronic have the differential upstream of the clutch, i.e. directly behind the engine. This enabled the development engineers to place the front axle far to the front for a longer wheelbase and more even distribution of axle loads.

The continuous multitronic automatic transmission, which has been intensively revised for use in the Audi A7 Sportback, allows the engine to constantly run in the range for its optimal efficiency. Its smoothness shines in everyday driving. It offers a sport mode and a manual mode with eight fixed gear ratios for a sporty driving experience. As with the seven-speed S tronic, the driver can change gears using the selector lever or the paddles on the steering wheel.

The seven-speed S tronic combines the convenience of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual transmission. Shifts are performed by switching between two independent clutches that service different gears. They take only a few hundredths of a second and are so smooth that they are barely noticeable. Two fully automatic programs are available in addition to the manual mode.

Even more efficient: the new quattro drive

The Audi A7 Sportback comes with the new evolutionary stage of quattro permanent all-wheel drive that debuted in the RS 5 high-performance coupe. The new quattro drive system provides superior stability and traction, enabling the Audi A7 Sportback to easily pull away from its rear-wheel drive competitors when exiting a corner.

Its central component is the crown-gear center differential. It can widely vary the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles very quickly, with up to 70 percent flowing to the front or as much as 85 percent to the rear, if necessary. The default 40:60 ratio offers a sporty rear bias. The new differential is compact and lightweight.

The crown-gear center differential comes standard in combination with torque vectoring, which is also new. The electronic system can act on each of the four wheels individually. If the load on the inside wheel is reduced too much while the car is being driven dynamically, that wheel is braked ever so slightly and almost unnoticeably before it can begin to slip.

Audi offers the sport differential, a high-tech axle drive, as a complementary option that actively distributes the power between the rear wheels. When the driver steers or accelerates in a curve, much of the torque flows to the outside wheel - in turn perfectly re-orienting the car. The system nips any tendency for oversteer or understeer in the bud, giving the large five-door coupe maximum dynamics and driving precision.

Chassis

The Audi A7 Sportback combines the supreme comfort of a luxury sedan with the handling of a sporty coupe thanks to its sophisticated chassis. All control arms and many other components are made of aluminum. The track measures 1.64 meters (5.38 ft) up front and 1.63 meters (5.35 ft) at the rear. The five-link front suspension and the track-controlled, trapezoidal link rear suspension provide for superior driving and comfort qualities.

The electromechanical steering of the Audi A7 Sportback has been developed from the ground up. Its servo boost varies as a function of driving speed. Steering feel is precise and sensitive; the steering ratio of 15.87:1 is very direct. The new electromechanical power steering is also very efficient because it does not have to draw any energy while driving straight ahead. It saves as much as 0.3 liters per 100 km. The steering works closely together with the optional Audi active lane assist system.

The Audi A7 Sportback comes standard with a comfortable steel-spring suspension. An optional sport suspension with a 10-millimeter lower ride height is also available, and quattro GmbH offers an even tauter sport suspension. Audi also offers an optional air suspension with four electronically controlled shock absorbers. The adaptive air suspension has been redesigned, with struts up front and separate air springs and dampers in the back.

The system sets the ride height of the body to one of three different levels as a function of speed and the wishes of the driver. It lowers the body on the highway for improved stability and lower fuel consumption.

Another high-end feature in the Audi A7 Sportback is the Audi drive select driving dynamics system. The standard version incorporates the automatic transmission, the electromechanical power steering and the engine control unit. The driver can vary the function of these components between the four modes "comfort," "auto," "dynamic" and "individual." Additional modules can also be integrated, including the adaptive air suspension, quattro with sport differential and adaptive light.

The Audi A7 Sportback is equipped with a powerful brake system. All discs are internally ventilated. The five-door coupe rolls on large, 18-inch alloy wheels; the 255/45 tires are equipped with a pressure monitor. 19-inch and 20-inch wheels are also available. The 20-inch wheels are available with a chrome finish, in two colors or partly or fully polished. All tires have been optimized for rolling resistance, with run-flat versions available as an option.

Equipment and trim

The Audi A7 Sportback will debut with an opulent array of standard features. These include the deluxe automatic air conditioning system, keyless ignition via the engine start-stop button, the four-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel, the xenon headlights, the LED tail lights, the MMI radio with the 6.5-inch monitor, the electromechanical parking brake, the power rear hatch, the 18-inch alloy wheels and an acoustic windshield. The safety package leaves nothing to be desired, with two front, side and head airbags, four belt tensioners and the integral head restraint system.

A wide range of optional equipment is available for even greater comfort and convenience. These include the head-up display, a park assist system, a speed limit display, a four-zone automatic air conditioning system, an auxiliary heating system, insulating/acoustic glazing, a heated steering wheel rim, a power-adjustable steering column, sunblinds for the rear window, two ambient lighting packages, power-assisted closing for the doors, a garage door opener and the convenience key for keyless vehicle access. The choice of seats is also first-class - from power-adjustable comfort seats with heating, cooling and massage to sport seats. A storage package keeps things tidy.

The development of the deluxe automatic air conditioning system logically continued the Audi strategy of offering efficient air conditioning systems to reduce the associated additional fuel consumption/CO2 emissions. The refrigeration cycle of the new Audi A7 Sportback represents the latest generation and offers market-leading performance.

Audi has prepared a large number of special features for those who appreciate the exceptional: a leather package, various upscale decorative inlays, black window styling and an S line sport package that drapes the interior in black. It is combined with a taut sport suspension, 19-inch wheels, sport seats and a special leather steering wheel. There is a complementary S line exterior package with updates to the exterior design available as an option. A number of additional suggestions are included in the Audi exclusive program.

A step ahead: the lighting technology

Lighting technology is a particular Audi strength. The adaptive light with continuous headlight range control is available as an option for the Audi A7 Sportback with xenon plus headlights. The top-of-the-line version is the LED headlights with the high-beam assistant, which automatically switches between the high and low beams.

The brand also offers a choice of attractive technologies for the chassis. These are quattro all-wheel drive with sport differential as a complement to quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the adaptive air suspension and a range of wheels in sizes up to 20 inches.

The large five-door coupe also features state-of-the-art assistance systems. Audi offers the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians, various versions of the Audi pre sense safety system, adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, the speed limit display, Audi side assist and Audi active lane assist. There are even three different parking aid systems to make parking easier - with classic sensors, with a reversing camera and with an autonomous parking function with the park assist system.

Navigation and communication are covered by the MMI operating system, which is available in three versions with and without navigation. There is also the online Bluetooth car phone, three sound systems, a TV module, a DVD changer and a digital radio tuner.

Audi is scheduled to begin delivering the Audi A7 Sportback this fall. Prices start at €51,650.