AUDI BRINGS A7 COUPE INTO THE NEXT DECADE
Exterior design gains swagger while tech features get a welcome update
Contrary to public perception, not everybody is buying some form of crossover or SUV — it just seems that way. But those hard-working types who have an extra zero (to the left of the decimal point) in their annual salary or bonus, the ones who tend to own multiple vehicles, sometimes need something a bit more formal and/or sporty to complement their Land Rover, Cadillac Escalade or Tesla Model X.
And what better way to roll up to the opera house or Michelin three-star restaurant than in a sleek luxury car, one that is elegant yet not ostentatious, quick but not so much so as to tempt? An all-wheel-drive Audi A7, perhaps. It’s one of those confusingly named “four-door coupes” that nonetheless draw appreciative second looks and flashes of envy.
Audi might not have invented the current four-door coupe style — that honour is usually attributed to rival Mercedes-Benz’s stunning CLS — but it’s one of the acknowledged few, along with other luxury icons as the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, Jaguar XJ and the Tesla Model S.
Some use the more generic descriptor “hatchback,” some “fastback,” a personal favourite. Audi uses Sportback to describe the A7’s steeply raked rear window and integrated trunk lid, an attribute that will define the second-generation, 2019 A7 as much as it does the current model. Even the well-off appreciate easier access to the luggage area to retrieve their Louis Vuitton garment bag. And while not as cavernous as a mid-size SUV, the A7’s capacity to swallow a lot of stuff is still impressive. There’s 535 litres of space with the rear seats up and 1,390 L when they’re folded.
Clearly borrowing elements from the redesigned A8 flagship sedan, the new A7 continues to be defined by its long hood, flared fenders, long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs. Up front, Audi’s signature shield grille is more hexagonal in shape, while moving back, the rear tapers in. It’s a strong design, masculine and dynamic without exaggeration.
When it debuts in Canada during the fourth quarter of 2018, there will be only one engine variant — a 340-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-L V6. However, the existing eight-speed automatic transmission is being shelved in favour of a new sevenspeed dual-clutch unit. The combination, Audi says, is good for a zero-to-100-km/ h time of 5.3 seconds.
More interesting is that the powertrain will use a combination alternator and starter that is capable of recuperating up to 12 kilowatts of power through regenerative braking, which is then sent to the car’s 48-volt lithium-ion battery. There’s also a standard freewheeling mode that temporarily shuts off the engine when coasting at speeds between 60 and 160 km/ h.
Cool feature No. 2 is an optional automatic start/stop system that uses the front camera to monitor the vehicle ahead. When that vehicle starts moving forward from stop, the A7 will restart its engine without the driver taking any action.
The route from Cape Town’s Victoria and Albert Waterfront southward to Chapman’s Peak, through the Table Mountain National Park, up the eastern side to Simon’s Town (home to the South African Navy) and then back via highway to the V & A, stressed the more luxurious aspects of the A7 as well as the more scenic views of the Cape — crashing surf, mountain peaks, sharp elevation changes, bathers, surfers and jackass penguins. With all the sightseers, not to mention later rush-hour traffic, speeds were well under the coupe’s potential.
Then again, unlike the S7 and RS7 performance variants that will be sure to follow, the A7 is more of a gran turismo, capable of blowing past slow-moving tour buses and rubberneckers in Dynamic mode but happier to glide along in Comfort mode at a more civilized pace. The cabin is well insulated from any outside distractions, not with the tomblike silence of the Lexus LS, but close enough.
There’s a light touch to the steering, with just a hint of remoteness. The European-spec model being driven was equipped with the optional air suspension and four-wheel variable-steering system, with the rear wheels moving up to five degrees opposite the front at lower speeds, working in tandem with the fronts at speeds above 60 km/ h. Given its overall dimensions, the car didn’t feel big while working through traffic.
Inside, the cabin is laid out with a functional luxury vibe going for it, with a horizontal orientation to the dash area, leather, piano-black trim and satin-metal accents. Contour lights line the centre console and door trim, tracing the architecture of the interior. Rear-seat room is more than adequate, the exception being that if the front-seat occupant is on the leggy side and the seat is pushed back, getting one’s feet in and under the seat will require certain contortions.
The tester had two notable features; a head-up display, likely an option or part of a package on cars destined for Canada, projecting relevant information such as vehicle speed and navigation instructions onto the windshield, and the crystal-clear 12.3-inch “virtual cockpit,” along with the improved Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system that highlights such functions as audio, navigation, phone, etc. The previous model’s rotary dial and buttons are gone, replaced with high-resolution touch displays, complete with haptic and acoustic feedback.
While the original A7 is aging gracefully, the new model is a needed fresh take, perking up the swagger of the exterior design and adding the tech and features that will amuse buyers well into the next decade. It’s unlikely the movement to all things crossover will abate in the short term (mid-size luxury SUVs outsold mid-size luxury sedans by almost four-to-one last year) but the new A7 will be a classier addition to the garage.
Pricing for the new model will be announced closer to its actual debut. The current 2018 A7 retails for between $76,650 and $82,350.