Audi A7 Sportback Launched: Price & Models

The Audi A7 Sportback Launches

Audi has finally revealed the Audi A7 Sportback in Munich. On sale in the UK in January 2011 from £42,295

Finally, after much teasing and a little tormenting, Audi did the decent thing and put us out of our misery with the launch of yet another niche filler – the Audi A7 Sportback – at the Museum of Modern Art in Munich last night.

Displayed in all its brown-ness, the Audi A7 looks like an oversized A5 Sportback with the nose of the new A8. In the flesh at launch it somehow seems less impressive than the concept A7; more corporate. But that’s no real surprise – it is a big Audi after all and needs to fit the corporate profile.

The A7 is light for a big car – 1770kg for the diesel quattro – thanks to liberal use of aluminium. That should translate in to a quick and nimble car despite its size. And luxury is going to be the default setting on the A7, with everything from the A8’s Google Earth mapping to Climate, Bluetooth, Leather and Cruise.

Engines at launch will be a quartet of V6 lumps – two petrol and two diesel. There’s a 201bhp 2.8 litre and a supercharged 296bhp 3.0 litre petrol. Diesel comes as a choice of either 201bhp or 241bhp from Audi’s 3.0 litre TDi.

Also on offer is the latest quattro system from the RS5 which cleverly sticks up to 85% of the grunt through the back wheels as you exit a corner under power, but is equally capable of shoving 70% to the front if the grip is needed.

And many Audi owners will be pleased to know that the suspension will be soft-riding air as the default, with sportier options – including changes to ride height – an option. The steering also gets a first on a big Audi – electro-mechanical instead of electro-hydraulic.

As you’d expect, an extremely competent – if at first glance a little bland – niche-filling offering from Audi. UK sales are expected to start by January, with a starting price of £42,295. Model and price detail below.