A very wide range of powertrains will be offered in the A7 and its S7 and RS7 sport-focused variants. Everything from diesel-electric hybrids to 600hp V10s will be found under the hood of one variant or another. The hybrid drive is expected to show up first in the company’s Q5 soft-roader, making its A7 appearance later next year, reports AutoWeek. A diesel-electric version is rumored, but the company may end up using a petrol engine instead.
The more ordinary A7 variants will be powered by a pair of petrol V6s. The first, a 204hp 2.8L engine is the base model, while the 3.0L supercharged engine making 300hp will be the first step up. An upgrade to S7 trim will bring with it another 94hp in the form of a 4.0L V8. The RS7’s 600hp 5.2L V10 is the range-topper. The S7 and RS7 will be released a year two years apart, with the S7 arriving first in late 2010.
A six-speed manual gearbox and eight-speed automatic will be available in the lower-spec models, while a seven-speed dual-clutch unit is also expected to be offered in the higher-performance variants. U.S. models are also expected to get Audi’s quattro AWD standard, though it is not known if European market variants will have a RWD-only option. Audi’s new torque-vectoring system will also be part of the package.
Air suspension will replace the standard spring-based system found in other Audis. The change is designed to help the car compete with the progenitor of the four-door coupe genre, the Mercedes CLS. Sales of the car are only expected to reach the 40,000 mark, but the image boost it will offer with its high-tech features and glamorous look - especially in the soft-top variant - are important for Audi’s development as a brand.
Preview: 2009 Audi A7 Cabrio
Preview: 2009 Audi S7
Reader Comments
Wed Jun 11 2008 6:59 PM
HECTOR says
Fantastic. Another small window, big price car. And the tools will probably line up to buy it.
Wed Jun 11 2008 7:11 PM
Gus says
But you have to admit, Audi has the understated styling sense that Mercedes and BMW have both lost over the last 10 years. I mean what is the deal with the headlights of the new 1 series? Or the butt of the 7, 6 and 5 series? Or the butt of the C-class or S-class?
There is not one Audi model that I find the styling offensive on...
Wed Jun 11 2008 10:54 PM
lexlife says
Beautiful design. The new creative director @ Audi is doing a wonderful job on the sedans and coupes. The A5/S5 is one of the hottest coupe designs out. An A7/S7 will only compliment the entire lineup. The convertible A7 should not be made however. I am eager to see how the upcoming A8/S8 stacks up against the pending BMW 7 and MB S Class - please Audi recognize your competition and challenge them with aggressive styling with the A8/S8.
Wed Jun 11 2008 11:15 PM
Roman says
I agree with LEX, do not make the convertible, but the coupe looks hot, some good competition for the cls 63.
Thu Jun 12 2008 11:44 AM
Gunnar says
A brand extension too far for Audi? Do they really need to go the MB route?
Thu Jun 12 2008 6:29 PM
james says
is it just me or does this have very very little difference in styling to just about every other audi model? i agree that the new direction that they're taking is an improvement but at least vary the head and tail lights a smidge. other'n the front air intake holes, this looks just like the upcoming A6
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