Is the Audi A7 an icon? That may be going a bit too far, but the sleek, rebodied variation of the A6 sedan proves that a four-door car can be a thing of extraordinary beauty. As such, it is difficult to redesign. “It’s not an easy task,” Audi chief designer Marc Lichte has told us.
Yet, judging from what we’ve seen so far, Lichte’s team has succeeded in creating a visually successful sequel to the original model, which was at its most stunning after its mid-cycle facelift. The next-generation car features a wide new signature grille, first shown in 2014 on the Prologue concept, while the daylight opening—also known as the DLO, which is what designers call the outline of the side windows—remains close to that of the current model, and the taillamps have become wide and slim.
Inside, there are many additional elements inspired by the Prologue concept, but Lichte told us the interior will be “even more futuristic.” Forward-looking elements will include swiping functions for the screen and several thin-film-transistor (TFT) displays that may use OLED technology. The available suite of assistance systems will include a function to summon the car from, say, a tight garage space, a parlor trick that is wildly popular among Tesla devotees.
The new A7, slated for an unveiling in late 2017 and a market appearance in 2018 (likely as a 2019 model) will be built on Audi’s MLB Evo platform, an architecture that is said to save as much as 200 pounds from the architecture it replaces while supporting a wide range of telematics, infotainment, and driving-assistance technologies. It also underpins the A5, A6, Q5, and Q7 as well as the next-generation A8 (which will precede the A7 to market).
The current-generation Audi A7 3.0T.
Under the hood, the A7 will adhere to the downsizing trend. The entry-level engines, at least in Europe, will be turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinders of the gasoline and diesel variety; above that, Audi will offer its 3.0-liter V-6 in various power levels and with both fuels. While the ongoing TDI cheating scandal likely will mean no six-cylinder diesels for the United States—too bad, since some will make as much as 400 horsepower—we will get a range of forced-induction V-6 gasoline engines in the A7 and its S7 and RS7 performance variants.
We hear the current V-8 engines likely will be history, although they could certainly be fitted if the market speaks loudly enough. All U.S.-bound models will come with Quattro all-wheel drive and an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. Expect to see a plug-in hybrid, too, although it’s not yet clear if that one will reach the United States. So far, Audi’s hybrids have performed woefully on these shores (just 18 Q5 hybrids were sold this year through September, for example).
The A7 will continue to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS-class and the BMW 6-series Gran Coupe. All three were developed under the same brief: to be a beautiful derivative of higher-volume executive sedans. Perhaps after another generation or two, the Audi may even be considered an icon.
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