Audi A7 Sportback takes aim on new market

Posted: 07 Sep 2010 03:57 PM PDT

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Emotion-packed design, sporty character and innovative technology: Audi takes aim at a new market segment with the A7 Sportback. The large five-door model combines the strengths of a coupe, a sedan and a station wagon in a highly attractive concept. The body of the A7 Sportback is very lightweight thanks to numerous aluminum components. The elegant interior shows a craftsman’s level of workmanship. The four V6 engines combine cultivated power with groundbreaking efficiency. The 3.0 TDI, which will follow somewhat later, produces 150 kW (204 hp) and emits just 139 grams CO2 per kilometer (223.70 g/mile). The sporty chassis offers new solutions such as electromechanical power steering; the assistance and infotainment systems are high-end. The Audi A7 Sportback will roll into dealerships in the fall, with prices starting at €51,650.

Exterior design

The Audi A7 Sportback is a moving sculpture – a large, five-door coupe with sporty proportions, a long engine hood, a long wheelbase and short overhangs. It marks the next step in the evolution of the design language of Audi, the leading brand for automotive design. The latest large Audi model 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 – proportions which illustrate the dynamics with the car standing still.

The Audi A7 Sportback exudes a powerful attraction and presence; 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 harmoniously integrated into the silhouette. The design is consistent and presents the aesthetics of modern technology in every detail – in the precisely drawn lines, the athletic tautness of the surfaces, but also with the components in the engine compartment or with the wheels and brakes.

Similar to the Audi flagship A8, the large, flat, single-frame grille is contoured at the top and is tightly integrated into the vividly modeled front end. Its ribs are painted high-gloss black and adorned with chrome applications as an expression of their quality. Its horizontal posture emphasizes the width of the A7 Sportback, as does the design of the wide and low air inlets with two horizontal struts.

Technical works of art: the headlights

As always with Audi, the headlights are small, technical works of art presenting the lead that the brand enjoys in lighting technology on a brightly lit stage. The headlight’s flat design widens toward the fenders, shifting the optical focus outward. The lower edge is in the form of a wave, with the wing – a plastic contour vapor-coated with chrome and a classic Audi feature – structuring the interior of the headlight body.

The A7 Sportback comes standard with Audi’s xenon plus technology with the new all-weather light. Integrated into the headlight, it replaces the fog lights, whose traditional location in the air intakes is now occupied by the two radar sensors of the optional adaptive cruise control with stop & go function.

Audi also offers the xenon plus headlights with the optional adaptive light system, which always provides the appropriate lighting, whether driving in the city, when turning, on inter-urban roads or on the highway. It includes variable headlight range control, which uses a small camera on the interior mirror to detect the lights of other vehicles and communities. The system adapts the vehicle’s own lights by swiveling the individual modules with soft transitions.

In a technological breakthrough, the control unit for the headlights works closely together with the optional MMI navigation plus. The navigation system reads the route data in advance and relays them to the light computer, so as to activate highway lighting in good time when approaching the highway, for example. The system automatically switches on the cornering light before entering an intersection, and in countries like the United Kingdom, it automatically switches the headlights from driving on the right to driving on the left.

The Audi A7 Sportback is optionally available with LED headlights – a pioneering innovation that debuted in the R8 high-performance sports car. With a color temperature of 5,500 Kelvin, their white light resembles daylight, which helps to keep the eyes fresh at night. The LED headlights are extremely energy-efficient. The low beams consume just 40 watts per unit, which is even less than with the xenon plus units. The zero-maintenance and long-lived headlights generate unmistakable graphics, day or night.

Two powerful, three-chip LEDs per unit are responsible for the low beams. They are installed in separate chambers in the upper section of the headlight. Next to them are the high beams, which likewise comprise three-chip LEDs and a free surface reflector system. The turning light, the all-weather light and the highway light round out the system.

The daytime running lights comprise 18 LEDs and use a plastic body in front of the LEDs to produce a homogenous, linear look. This gives them the appearance of a continuous, curved band on the lower edge of the headlight. Below them are the turn signals, another homogenous strip of LEDs – 11 in this case. Fans and heat sinks moderate headlight temperatures and prevent fogging. The integrated high-beam assistant switches between the low and high beams.

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Dynamically drawn line: the side view

The side view of the Audi A7 Sportback forms a powerfully defined 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 – that, too, is typical for Audi.

The sharp tornado line, the most important design element of the A7 Sportback, extends over the entire flank and defines the proportions. 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 as it gently slopes toward the tail lights.

Above the side sills is the dynamic line, which runs slightly upward over the doors before turning sharply and almost vertically upward at the rear.

The tautly drawn wheel wells, which house wheels between 18 and 20 inches in diameter, underscore the powerful character of the A7 Sportback. As with a sports car, the exterior mirrors with the integrated LED turn signals are mounted on the doors. The agile and sinewy impression of the A7 Sportback is the result of many individual solutions. The third side window, for example, lightens the rear section of the flanks visually. Window capping strips in anodized aluminum and black bezels for the B-pillars subtly accentuate the greenhouse.

Dynamic elegance: the rear end

The dynamically elegant line encircles a sharply dropping rear end that uses a slight negative indentation to form a distinctive spoiler lip – another sports car feature. The notched rear end symbolizes the power and dynamics of the Audi A7 Sportback.

The long luggage compartment hatch integrates a subtle 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, round tailpipes of the dual-branch exhaust system, which sport an elegant chrome application. This solution also emphasizes the width of the Audi A7 Sportback.

As always with Audi, 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 as a standard feature. Their light pattern appears three-dimensional.

The tail lights are designed as 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 arc, with the turn signal extending as a straight line at the upper edge. The third brake light is a delicate LED strip that extends over the entire width of the rear hatch.

Audi offers the S line exterior package for fans of an even more dynamic look. With this package, the two bumpers, the grilles of the air inlets, the side sills and the diffuser insert are more pronounced. The diffuser and the center edge of the front spoiler are painted Platinum Gray; the fenders and the door sills sport S line badges.

Audi offers eleven paint finishes for the A7 Sportback. The two solid colors are called Ibis White and Brilliant Black. The six metallic colors are Dakota Gray, Ice Silver, Havana Black, Moonlight Blue, Oolong Gray and Quartz Gray. Rounding out the palette are the three pearl-effect finishes Phantom Black, Garnet Red and Impala Beige. The Audi A7 Sportback can also be given a custom paint job at the Neckarsulm plant where it is assembled, if desired. In this case the customer is free to chose any shade.

A piece of the Audi identity: the love of design

Design is much more than an elegant outer skin at Audi: it is a core element of the brand. “It is important that the customer can experience the emotion and passion for the automotive sculpture. An emotional aesthetic means a successful synthesis of sense and sensuousness,” says Wolfgang Egger, Head of Design for the Audi Group. “That is an organic and living part of our brand culture.” According to Stefan Sielaff, Head of Design at AUDI AG: “Audi design is the harmony of form and function. It is the perfect interaction with technology and an expression of beauty; the aesthetic staging of highly developed technology.”

The great attention that the Audi designers pay to the smallest of details continuously results in challenges with implementation, for the perfect overall impression is made up of numerous individual solutions of the highest precision.

It is in this attention to detail that Audi’s aspiration can be seen: in the sharpness of the tornado line with its even, tight radii, in the harmonic tension of the surfaces, or in those particularly challenging areas where two edges come together perfectly – such as where the tornado line meets the cutout for the tail lights.

The door grooves of the A7 Sportback appear exactly parallel and are only 3.8 millimeters (0.15 in) wide. Above the tornado line, the groove between the front fender and the door is another tenth to two-tenths of a millimeter (0.004 to 0.008 in) narrower. The smaller dimension compensates for the fact that the gap appears wider to the viewer here due to the inclination of the sheet metal.

The precision with which Audi implements the design begins at the start of the manufacturing chain – in the Toolmaking Division, where the large pressing tools weighing up to 45 tons for the panels are made. The specialists there traditionally work closely with the designers. Both sides decide together how new ideas for details can be realized. They continuously push the envelope, further refining existing methods or completely redesigning them.

The tool and die makers at Audi work with a precision of just a few thousandths of a millimeter. Providing the foundation for this precision is what is known as the strake model – the mathematical data foundation based on complex calculations and simulations. Beyond any technology, however, is another field in which Audi is particularly strong: the field of experience, the art of craftsmanship.

What counts here is a steady eye, sensitive fingertips and decades of practical experience. This personal experience enables the Audi tool and die makers to develop a very special feeling for the material and for its tricky behavior during the pressing process. How do the up to 8,000 tons of pressure have to be distributed and directed? Does the panel try to flow outward at some point? What lubrication is necessary to optimize the sliding properties? More than 1,000 individual parts and 35,000 hours of craftsmanship – the ultimate in fine-tuning – go into some Audi tools.

Many sections of the body of the Audi A7 Sportback are made of aluminum, including the fenders, the lids and the doors. The material is much lighter than sheet steel, but has some special requirements. It springs back and deflects differently than steel after pressing. The Audi tool and die makers have mastered this issue thanks to their many years of experience and technological expertise in working with aluminum.

The Toolmaking Division is hard at work on a novel technology: “intelligent” tools. With the help of sensors, such tools can detect during the pressing process whether the panel is behaving as intended. Future mechatronic tools can compensate for disruptive influences autonomously by means of an integrated adjustment mechanism. In a final developmental step, the tools will communicate with the presses to adjust the forces or their distribution as necessary.

High-end process: body assembly

Audi also uses many high-end technologies in the next step of the production process: body assembly. Hundreds of robots, handling and gripping machines, glue guns, welding machines and stud welding machines work together in a highly complex choreography on the A7 line in the Neckarsulm plant. Measurement systems integrated into the line constantly monitor the joining processes, making adjustments in response to the slightest deviations.

One example of the quality philosophy of the Audi body shop is the invisible seam that joins the roof and the side of the A7 Sportback. It is made by means of plasmatron brazing, a method that demands the ultimate in precision. It ensures a precise gap between the roof and the side of the car, with the permissible tolerances less than 0.1 millimeters (0.004 in). After brazing, the seam is simply brushed smooth in a second work step.

Audi’s great dedication to quality is also reflected in the paint – a layer just a tenth of a millimeter (0.004 in) thick. Instruments control the quality and color values of the finish, and painstaking color matching also takes place in the interior.

Whereas some competitors often only paint the entry sills and interior surfaces of the doors or the trunk with just the basic shades without clearcoat, Audi always uses the body color here.

Fast track: from concept car to production

Before the start of series production of the A7 Sportback there was a showcar. In early 2009, the Audi Sportback concept debuted at the North American International Automobile Show in Detroit. The differences between it and the later production model were relatively slight, lying primarily in the area of the headlights, the single-frame grille, the air inlets, the exterior mirrors and the rear end. Many details in the interior of the A7 Sportback are reminiscent of the Detroit concept car.

Audi frequently has show cars go into production largely unchanged. This demonstrates how earnestly the Board of Management and all other decision makers support the visions of the designers and reflects the value that design enjoys throughout the Company.

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 AI2 show car stood at the same location as a preview of the A2.

In 2003, two spectacular show cars heralded the brand’s 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 recently came onto the market: The Audi A1 project quattro, a hybrid-drive city car, celebrated its debut at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

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Body

With its low weight, the body of the A7 Sportback is at the top of its vehicle segment. A hybrid aluminum construction, it weights roughly 15 percent less than a comparable all-steel body. Take for example the 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and the multitronic transmission. The base version of the car weighs in at just 1,695 kilograms (3,737 lb), well less than its key competitors.

More than 20 percent of the A7 Sportback’s body is made of aluminum, a material with which Audi has experience reaching back to 1994 – when the first A8 rolled off the assembly line – that no other carmaker can match. The strut concept in the engine compartment and the cross-members behind the front and rear bumpers are aluminum sections. The front fenders, the engine hood, the long rear hatch and the doors are made of aluminum panels. Also made of aluminum are the brake booster and the cross-member below the instrument panel. Finally, die-cast aluminum serves as the material for the strut brace in the front section of the car. This optimizes the distribution of axle loads in the interest of handling, which is further enhanced by shifting the battery to the back of the car.
High-end steels of various strength classes also make up a large portion of the body. The best of these are the hot-shaped steels, which also save a great deal of weight. They are heated in a pass-through furnace to nearly 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) and shaped immediately thereafter in a water-cooled pressing die. This temperature differential produces a so-called martensitic structure with extremely high tensile strength. Five Audi A7 Sportback cars could be easily suspended from a strip of this material, which is 30 millimeters (1.18 in) wide and only two millimeters (0.08 in) thick.

Hot-shaped steels are used in a number of areas: in the transition from the front section of the car to the passenger cell, in the A-pillar and the roof arch, as reinforcements for the center tunnel and the side sills, at the transition of the side sills to the rear section of the car and as cross-bracing in the floor panel.

The B-pillars, too, are made of this high-end steel. 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 is not only light, it is also extremely rigid and strong. It thus provides the basis for the sportily precise handling and excellent crash protection. Vibrational comfort is another strength. Vibration levels at the contact points between the passengers and the body – the floor panel, the seats, the steering wheel, and the interior mirror – were painstakingly minimized. Targeted reinforcing measures were taken at all points where force inputs occur when the car is in operation.

The interior of the five-door coupe is largely decoupled from the road and engine noises. The engineers consistently used hydraulic damping elements for the axles and the subframes, and all bearings used for the engines are hydraulically damped. They tuned these elements using advanced simulation methods and Audi’s comfort test bench – a development tool not found anywhere else in the world.

Longer drives really let the five-door coupe show off its luxury-class ride. The excellent acoustics are the result of new structural design methods, the bundled use of high-end materials such as microfiber fleeces, and the systematic conceptual design of multifunction parts, such as acoustically active wheel housing liners and underbody panels.

Low interior noise: glazings

The glazings of the A7 Sportback also reduces interior noise. The standard version already provides good insulation and features a windshield with a special acoustic film. Audi also offers optional side windows of insulating/acoustic glass; another option is for dark privacy glazing. Many body details go into the overall aeroacoustics – noise generated by the slipstream against the vehicle – including a complex sealing concept for the doors with the frameless windows.

The cD value of the base Audi A7 Sportback is 0.29; the front surface area measures 2.29 m² (24.65 sq ft). Low lift coefficients at the front and rear axles impart outstanding stability even at high speeds. The underbody, the wheels and the wheel wells – an area in which a car produces almost half of its total drag – are almost completely lined. A NACA vent directs the slipstream to the transmission oil cooler. The plastic underfloor panels also protect the sheet metal of the bodyshell and the mechanical assemblies against salt, moisture and stone impact.

The efficient flow of air through the engine compartment also had a high priority in the requirements specification. The area around the single-frame grille is painstakingly sealed. Rather than swirling, almost all of the inflowing air makes it to the cooler. Its plate package and the impellers of the fans are optimized for low flow resistance. The arrangement and function of all components in the entire cooling module are precisely coordinated.

The highest standard possible: crash safety

The crash safety of the A7 Sportback is also to the highest standard possible. In a frontal collision, the front cross-member directs the forces to the two longitudinal members, which undergo defined deformation to dissipate these forces. The frame element for the engine and front axle acts as a further force absorption level by diverting forces and moments in a controlled manner into the strong floor and tunnel structure of the occupant cell. The longitudinal members in the rear are large and thick. The cell itself provides a high level of protection thanks to the hot-shaped steel components.

The adaptive restraint system stands guard in the interior of the Audi A7 Sportback. It is networked with the Audi pre sense safety system and also uses its own acceleration and pressure sensors. The interplay between the front airbags and belt force limiters is intelligently managed as a function of how tall the driver and front-seat passenger are. If necessary, the airbags can quickly blow down a portion of their air volume to catch the head and chest more softly. The variable belt force limiters are also adaptive.

Side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and optionally in the outside rear seats for side collisions stand on guard in the event of a side impact collision. The head airbag system opens like a curtain extending from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. The integrated Audi head restraint system reduces the risk of whiplash injury in rear-end collisions. The rear seats are equipped standard with two Isofix fixtures for the child seats.

The new A7 Sportback satisfies all legal requirements for the protection of pedestrians in the event of a crash. The energy-absorbing foam behind the front bumper and an engine hood that maintains the large distance to the hard parts play the major role here. Thanks to intelligent protective measures at the front and back of the car, gentle bumps while parking and low-speed crashes have no major financial consequences.

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Interior design

Air and light, sleek shapes and bright colors: The interior of the A7 Sportback is an emotional space full of lightness and expanse. Its lines take up the powerful, sinewy sportiness of the exterior. Audi demonstrates its status as the leading brand for automotive design here as well.

The salient element is the “wrap-around” – a horizontal line encircling the driver and the front-seat passenger. It starts above the instrument panel and ends in the passenger’s door. A wave-shaped application strip generates great tension. The shape of the rear side window is repeated in the frame of the door opener – proof of the great attention to detail.

The center console is oriented toward the driver. The seats in the Audi A7 Sportback are mounted sportily low, yet most drivers can see the entire engine hood thanks to the low front end, which reinforces the impression of open expanse and freedom.

The wrap-around integrates a low and slender instrument panel whose front integrates a wave-shaped application strip. The dividing line between the upper and lower segment also traces an S curve; the center air vents follow this contour.

The right half of the instrument panel and the zones in the doors and on the tunnel console can be refined with premium veneers. The upper section of the instrument panel is covered in a soft-backed, leather-look material.

The great attention that Audi pays to the smallest of details characterizes the entire interior of the A7 Sportback. Materials are chosen with the utmost care; the workmanship is on a craftsman’s level. Quality knows no compromise – this Audi maxim becomes tangible in the interior.

All of the switches move easily and without play. The gaps are even and narrow, measuring just a few tenths of a millimeter in some areas. Chromed bezels frame the air vents, fine aluminum-look strips accentuate the optional fine wood bezels. Many buttons have an appealing, black, soft-touch finish; the aluminum look turns the rotary controls into miniature works of art. The shift gate and the start-stop button feature subtle red backlighting, and the door sills have aluminum inlays.

Heavily used components in the A7 Sportback are coated with a novel, UV-cured topcoat that makes them extremely scratch-resistant. A high-end coating called Cerapaint protects the aluminum doorsill trims. It is less than two thousandths of a millimeter (0.00008 in) thick, offers excellent protection against damage, repels dirt and is easy to clean.

Natural materials: two types of leather

Audi is offering a wide range of colors, decorative elements and upholsteries at the launch of the five-door coupe. Included among these are robust and durable Milano leather and high-grade Valcona leather. Finishing of the Valcona is minimal; the coating only lightly covers the structure of the skin and allows the leather to breathe.

Rounding out the program is a leather package for the center console, the door armrests and the door pull handles. Leather color-coordinated with the interior is optionally available for the steering wheel and the selector lever. Audi also offers matching seatbelts in exclusive colors.

The two segments of the instrument panel in the A7 Sportback are black, steel gray, marsh brown, titanium gray or velvet beige. The seat coverings are available in black, titanium gray, goa beige, nougat brown and velvet beige, the headlining in black, lunar silver and silk beige.

The S line sport package gives the interior a particularly cool look. The sport seats with power lumbar support are covered in either Valcona leather or a combination of perforated Alcantara and leather. They and also the carpets, the instrument panel and the headlining are in black, with jet gray stitching adding visual touches. The decorative inlays are matt brushed aluminum; S line badges sparkle on the door sills and the specially designed steering wheel, and the selector lever knob is covered in perforated leather. A sport suspension and S line badges on the body round out the package.

The Audi A7 Sportback rolls off the assembly line with micrometallic platinum decorative inlays standard; Audi also offers variants in brushed gray aluminum. Two wood veneers – brown, open-pored, fine grain ash and dark brown walnut – are available. A veneer of layered oak will be available later. Using a technique developed especially for Audi, it is cut from a block in which extremely thin layers alternating between untreated and dark-stained wood lie one over the other. The finishing at the end of the production process imbues the veneer with the quality typical of Audi. The brand with the four rings is going new ways in terms of design here as well. An additional aluminum inlay or a strip covered in black piano finish are available as part of the S line sport package.

An optional lighting package is also available for the A7 Sportback. It comprises active door reflectors and lights in the door handles on the body and a series of LEDs in the cabin. The LEDs serve as reading and vanity lights and illuminate the footwells, the door liners and the center console.

Another option is the ambient lighting package, an emotional overall orchestration that uses light guides in many areas. It also highlights the door pockets and the door sills. Dramatic lighting makes the console on the center tunnel appear to float. The ambient lighting is freely configurable.

Controls and interior

The A7 Sportback offers numerous intelligent and convenient functions, yet, typically Audi, its controls are simple and easily understood. The large, clearly marked instruments with their black dials and the center display are located under an elegantly arched cowl. They feature a three-dimensional and detail-rich design and can be read at a glance. The red needles point to six o’clock when in the zero position and run up briefly and fall back down when the car is started for a sporty look. Additional instruments provide information about the fuel level and the coolant temperature.

The MMI radio plus includes the driver information system (DIS), which has either a 5-inch or 7-inch color or monochrome display, depending on the version. It bundles a lot of important information and settings in an easy-to-understand menu structure using a main field and two additional information strips. The on-board computer with efficiency program is integrated into the DIS. It includes a gear-change indicator, provides tips for efficient shifting, and shows how individual technical components affect fuel consumption.

The driver information system is controlled using the standard leather multifunction steering wheel with intuitive pushbuttons, rockers and rollers. Audi offers a number of different steering wheels – with three or four spokes, shift paddles, a heated rim and a power adjustment system.

The wide, asymmetric tunnel of the Audi A7 Sportback, which is a separate component with no connection to the instrument panel, is home to additional important controls. These include the standard start-stop button, which can be combined with the convenience key for easy vehicle access, the button for the electromechanical parking brake, and the MMI (Multi Media Interface) operating system, which is superior to competing solutions.

Clearly arranged landscape: the MMI terminal

The latest version of the MMI terminal is a clearly arranged, haptic landscape. Four fixed buttons take the user to the main areas of Navigation, Telephone, Radio and Media and are complemented by three additional hard keys (vehicle settings, menu overview and back button). The central rotary pushbutton and the four adjacent soft keys are used to navigate through the menus. A separate control island including a thumb-wheel controls the radio section. Another field integrates six radio station buttons or the touchpad of the optional MMI navigation plus.

The large on-board monitor of the MMI system, the standard version of which measures 6.5 inches and has a high-gloss black frame, is recessed into the center of the instrument panel. It exposes only its chromed upper edge, which appears like a lavish decorative strip. When the ignition is switched on, the monitor extends smoothly forward then upward. That, too, is part of the Audi design concept. As with the optional DIS, the display area is divided into three zones, while the menu control system follows a clear logic.

Intelligent and efficient: deluxe automatic air conditioning

The wide and low center console is home to a series of secondary switches, the slot for the CD or the DVD player and the memory card slots. Found in the lower section is the control unit for the automatic air conditioning; its rotary controls are surrounded by red and blue LEDs. The system features extremely quiet fan modules and provides virtually draft-free ventilation. It considers the position of the sun, and a moisture sensor helps to avoid fogged windows.

The deluxe automatic air conditioning system in the Audi A7 Sportback is groundbreakingly efficient and far superior to the systems of the competition. The brushless fan motor requires little power and is both small and light.

The internal heat exchanger is a coaxial line, with the intake end on the inside and the discharge end on the outside. The heat exchange between the two ends boosts the performance of the evaporator. The refrigerant mass flow is reduced, which in turn decreases the power consumption of the compressor. Thanks to a new oil separator, it does not have to continuously circulate lubricant and cooling oil. The automatic air conditioning system measures the humidity of the inside and outside air to determine the optimal mixing ratio for the lowest energy consumption.

The optional four-zone version of the deluxe automatic air conditioning system includes a separate control unit for the rear seat passengers. Three different climatic styles – gentle, medium and strong – can be selected throughout the entire cabin. A fourth version that heats the footwell especially intensively is available for the winter. A residual heat function uses the heat of the engine when the five-door coupe is parked. Audi also offers a programmable auxiliary heating system, and the program includes a power glass sunroof for the direct supply of fresh air.

New: the head-up display

The head-up display is a new, high-end feature that Audi makes available as an option in the A7 Sportback. It projects the most important data for the driver to see onto the windshield as symbols and digits. A liquid crystal, TFT display backlit by a white LED generates the color image. Two aspherical mirrors enlarge it and redirect it while compensating for the distortion caused by the geometry of the windshield.

The information appears to float in a 26 x 9 centimeter (10.24 x 3.54 in) window roughly 2.5 meters in front of the windshield. To avoid ghost images, the windshield and its noise-damping safety film have a special shape. The driver assimilates the images of the head-up display 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 display should show, such as speed, the navigation arrows or the indications from the assistance systems. The driver can also adjust the height and brightness of the display as desired.

Comfortable: the seats

The Audi A7 Sportback is designed as a four-seater. Entry is extremely easy for all passengers. The frameless windows are lowered slightly when the doors are opened. The door arresters are optimized for convenience, which means that they provide support when closing the doors and remain in the relevant stepless exit positions. Audi also offers an optional power closing assistant. The length and height of the door openings also provide very easy access to the back seat.

Four large adults have plenty of room for their head, arms, knees and feet at all four seats. In the back of the A7 Sportback are two comfortable, contoured individual seats. Their headrests can be lowered especially far so as not to impair the view in the interior mirror.

The standard front seats of the five-door coupe can be manually adjusted ten ways – height, fore and aft, and rake, plus the height of and distance to the headrests. If desired, Audi provides power-adjustable seats with four-way lumbar support, three-stage ventilation and three-stage heating, the latter also for the rear seats.

The optional deluxe seats feature 20-way adjustment with memory function. The backrests and side bolsters plus the lumbar support can be adjusted pneumatically. On request, Audi will upgrade them with a ventilation system with a novel and particularly effective aspiration technology. Also available is a massage function with ten air chambers, five programs and four intensities – a real treat for the occupant’s back. As part of the S line sport package, Audi offers sport seats with prominent side bolsters, 14-way adjustment and a power lumbar support.

Just a small number of switches suffices to operate the seats. All primary adjustments are made using switches that mirror the shape of the seat. A multifunction switch with an adjustable ring and four buttons controls the secondary functions, such as adjusting the side bolsters or the massage function, with the MMI monitor showing each step.

The Audi A7 Sportback offers plenty of spacious, practical storage features. The locking glove box is unusually large, and the front door pockets can accommodate one-liter bottles. Two additional cup holders are located on the center console, and the tunnel also integrates a height- and pitch-adjustable center armrest that includes a storage bin. There are also drawers under the front seats and nets on the backs of the front backrests. In the back is an additional armrest with a storage bin and optional cup holders. Two 12V outlets are also available upon request.

Variable: the luggage compartment

The Audi A7 Sportback is a versatile car for active people. Beneath its long rear hatch extending far up into the roof is a large luggage compartment. It is precisely lined with fine carpeting and the low loading lip helps to make it convenient to use. In its base configuration it offers a volume of 535 liters (18.89 cu ft), enough for four large suitcases standing side by side. Folding down the 60:40 split rear seat backs – a matter of two easy steps – increases the volume to 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft.) and creates a nearly level load surface.

The split cover is never in the way while loading the luggage compartment. Its long segment is connected to the hatch, the short segment to the body. Audi offers an optional sun blind that can be set up on the short rear shelf to shade the rear window. Two bag hooks, four solid, chrome-covered lashing hooks and a practical bin in the right wall of the luggage compartment help to get things stowed. A reversible mat with a rubberized back, a load-through hatch with ski bag and a cargo net are available as options.

The rear hatch comes standard with a power spindle drive and also opens at the touch of a button on the remote key. Two spring-and-damper struts support the electric motors and provide for a smooth, gentle motion. Audi goes to great lengths here, too. The opening angle can be programmed so that the hatch does not touch the ceiling in the garage. A stainless steel strip protects the loading lip, and a small, spring-loaded cover keeps the lock striker plate from getting dirty.

With the optional trailer hitch, the A7 Sportback can tow up to 2,100 kilograms (4,630 lb). If the trailer begins to swerve, a subfunction of the ESP stabilization program brings it back under control by braking the wheels of the five-door coupe 180 degrees out of phase with the oscillations. Customers active in sports will find a complete range of Audi ski and luggage boxes and special racks for bicycles, skis, snowboards and kayaks.

Driver assistance systems

Audi offers a broad portfolio of modern driver assistance systems as options in the A7 Sportback that make driving even more relaxed, smoother and more pleasant. Their tight integration with one another and other systems in the vehicle imbue the five-door coupe with maximum versatility, intelligence and performance. Sophisticated electronics connect the numerous controllers with one another. The novel FlexRay data bus system makes data transmission between individual components even faster and more reliable.

The most important and complex driver assistance system is the new adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop & go function and Audi pre sense front. It regulates the speed and the distance of the A7 Sportback to the vehicle ahead by accelerating and braking in a range from 0 to 250 km/h (155.34 mph), and brakes automatically within certain limits. The driver uses the MMI operating system to determine how comfortably or sportily the system should work. There is a choice of three levels.

The ACC stop & go function uses the data from two radar sensors, a video camera and the ultrasound sensors. It also evaluates many additional signals from a variety of sources, from the turn signals to the steering angle sensor to the trailer detection system. With this high level of information, the system can recognize complex scenarios and predictively support the driver. It also uses the predictive route data from the navigation system so that it can also reliably calculate the proper line on the highway even in curves.

Whether changing lanes, passing or turning off, the ACC stop & go function resolves the situation as judiciously and confidently as an accomplished driver, making driving even more fluid and harmonious. Its operating range also includes rolling in urban traffic, where the system is particularly convenient: it slows the five-door coupe to a complete stop.

Audi side assist including Audi pre sense rear activates at speeds above 30 km/h (18.64 mph). Two radar sensors at the rear of the car monitor what goes on behind the A7 Sportback. If another vehicle moves into the critical zone, a yellow LED display lights up in the housing of the exterior mirror. If the turn signal is nevertheless activated to indicate a lane change, the indicator becomes bright and begins to blink quickly – a signal that can hardly be overlooked.

Audi active lane assist is a new assistance system making its debut in the A7 Sportback. At speeds above 60 km/h (37.28 mph), it uses a camera mounted in the base of the interior mirror to detect the lane markings. If the A7 Sportback approaches a line without the turn signal being activated, the system helps the driver to steer back into the lane by intervening gently in the steering – another advantage of the electromechanical systems. The driver uses the MMI to determine how soon the intervention occurs and whether it should be combined with steering wheel vibration and a warning tone.

If the car is in danger of skidding, Audi active lane assist supports countersteering by briefly boosting or reducing the degree of power support. Audi active lane assist can also take objects in the adjacent lane into account and incorporate them into its strategy. It also uses steering movements to determine when the driver’s concentration begins to slack off and adjusts its interventions accordingly.

Another driver assistance system also benefits from the camera’s images: The speed limit display recognizes speed limit signs on the side of the road, their supplemental signs and the signs lifting the speed limits. It presents them as graphics on the display of the DIS or on the optional head-up display.

Furthermore, the camera provides image data for ACC stop & go. Its data also flows into the braking maneuvers by Audi pre sense front and into the variable headlight range control.

Long-range vision in the dark: the night vision assistant

Another high-end system in the Audi A7 Sportback is the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians. Its thermal imaging camera located in the single-frame grille works as a far infrared system (FIR), meaning that the camera reacts to the heat radiated by objects. A computer converts the information from the camera into black-and-white images and displays them on the driver information system display.

Depending on the speed being driven, far infrared technology can see as much as 300 meters (984.25 ft) ahead, far beyond the range of the high beams. Whereas the cooler road appears dark, animals and people are shown eye-catchingly brightly due to the heat they radiate. The image-processing software can detect them at up to 100 meters away and highlights them with yellow markings on the display.

If the computer assumes a hazardous situation, the person is marked red and a warning gong sounds. The red marking also appears optionally in the head-up display. Like every assistance system, the night vision assistant also works within certain, very liberal system limitations.

Another Audi innovation in the vehicle class is the park assist system. It uses ultrasonic sensors that detect and measure parking spaces on the side of the road when driving slowly. If a sufficiently large space is found, 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 A7 Sportback into both parallel and perpendicular spaces relative to the road. When parallel parking, the space must be just 0.80 meters (2.62 ft) longer than the car. If necessary, the system will make multiple maneuvers, forwards and backwards. The system assists in the same way when leaving the parking space.

Greater safety: Audi pre sense

The Audi pre sense safety system is available in a number of different versions in the A7 Sportback. It works closely with the highly networked systems on board and initiates preventive protective measures in the event of an imminent collision. In the standard version Audi pre sense basic, the system becomes active when it detects an instable driving situation via the sensors of the ESP electronic stabilization program. The front seatbelts are electrically tensioned and the sunroof and the side windows are closed, leaving just a small gap. The rapidly flashing adaptive brake light warns the traffic behind.

Audi pre sense front is available in the A7 Sportback in combination with ACC stop & go. It concentrates on preventing rear-end collisions with the vehicle ahead or on mitigating the consequences of such accidents. The integrated Audi braking guard is activated in a dangerous situation to warn the driver, first with a gong, then with a visual signal. Parallel to this, the brake system is prefilled and the dampers of the optional adaptive air suspension are set to hard.

If the driver remain passive, a warning jolt – the brief activation of the brakes – is performed in the second stage. The seatbelts are lightly tensioned at the same time. If the driver now steps on the brake pedal, the hydraulic brake assist adjusts the braking force as appropriate for the situation. If the warning jolt is also ignored, autonomous partial braking is activated. This initially slows the A7 Sportback at a rate of 3 m/s2. The windows and sunroof are closed, and the adaptive brake lights are activated.

If the five-door coupe is equipped with the full version of Audi pre sense – Audi pre sense plus, which is part of the assistance package – a third and a fourth stage follow in the event of an emergency. The system now increases deceleration to 5 m/s² and tightens the belts completely. The last braking phase – autonomous full braking – occurs roughly half a second before an inevitable collision. The collision and its consequences are greatly reduced, for by the time the impact occurs the A7 Sportback can reduce its speed by as much as 40 km/h (24.85 mph).

Another subfunction, Audi pre sense rear, is coupled with Audi side assist. If the system detects an imminent rear-end collision, it uses the adaptive brake light to warn the traffic behind. Preventive protective measures are activated if the situation turns critical.

Multimedia systems

Navigation and infotainment are two more fields of technology where the Audi A7 Sportback sets standards. In addition to the standard MMI radio, Audi offers three optional systems: MMI radio plus, MMI navigation and MMI navigation plus with the groundbreaking touchpad, MMI touch.

All four systems have a retractable monitor, which measures 8 rather than 6.5 inches in diagonal with the top version. The large monitor delivers extremely sharp images thanks to its high resolution. Graphics, including the cover art for audio titles, are elegantly three-dimensional, as is the navigation map with many city models and points of interest.

The standard version, MMI radio, has eight speakers, and its single CD drive can also read mp3, WMA and ACC formats. The optional MMI radio plus adds two SDHC card readers, a Bluetooth interface for a telephone and a version of the driver information system with a white display. Sound is output via the Audi sound system. A six-channel receiver pumps 180 watts of power to ten speakers, including a subwoofer and a center speaker.

The third version, MMI navigation, adds a navigation function to the MMI radio. The data and dynamic navigation come from an SD card, and the speech control system understands whole words.

The top of the line is MMI navigation plus, which comprises two modules. The radio unit combines the functions of tuner and sound system.

The main unit in the center console integrates other important modules, including a DVD drive, two card readers and a 60 GB hard drive. A third of its capacity can be used to store telephone and music data. Two processors ensure that all applications run quickly, simultaneously and smoothly.

A dedicated 3D graphics processor from nVidia, the market leader, generates the three-dimensional images in top quality. The map is a highly detailed, 3D terrain model. The driver can choose between route guidance using the classic arrows or a new, animated display rich with detailed information.

Groundbreaking operation: MMI touch

MMI navigation plus comes with a groundbreaking innovation from Audi: MMI touch with black panel technology. The driver enters a destination or the telephone number by drawing the letters and numbers on the touch-sensitive control panel with a finger. The system provides brief acoustic feedback after each character so that the driver’s eyes can stay on the road.

MMI touch, whose memory can draw on millions of samples from around the world, also recognizes the characters of numerous Asian languages. The push of a button transforms the pad into a control panel containing six freely selectable radio stations. Along with MMI touch, the Audi A7 Sportback also offers the familiar Audi operation with the MMI rotary pushbutton. Finally, the system also features advanced speech control that allows the city and the street to be entered as a spoken command.

The new MMI navigation plus works very closely with the assistance and safety systems on board the Audi A7 Sportback. Its database precisely describes the entire European road system. The navigation system analyzes these data predictively, reading the current course of the five-door coupe in advance. The information is relayed via a data bus to the computers managing the ACC stop & go function, the headlights and the S tronic or multitronic transmission so that these systems can precisely adapt their function to conditions well in advance.

Audi also offers a number of attractive multimedia modules, including a CD or CD/DVD changer in the glove box. There is also a dual tuner for digital radio reception (digital audio broadcasting, DAB) and an analog/digital TV tuner. The Audi music interface conveniently integrates a modern mobile player into the on-board audio system. The Bose surround sound system integrates a twelve-channel amplifier with an output of over 600 watts.

It powers 14 speakers and delivers powerful, life-like and accurate sound. A special algorithm enables the Bose system to also play stereo audio sources in 5.1 sound.

The top version, the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen, ups the ante with two amplifiers and 1,300 watts of power. It is a real treat even for discerning hi-fi aficionados with a broad, finely differentiated frequency range, sparkling brilliance and detailed resolution. The Danish specialists use a proprietary algorithm to simulate sound reflections like those that occur in a concert hall. The sound technology is so complex that more than 1,200 parameters are influenced by the individual settings of the users.

The Advanced Sound System integrates 15 active speakers, including two elegant acoustic lenses for the high frequencies that extend out from the instrument panel when the system is switched on. The speaker housings are made of polished aluminum. The amplifier for the subwoofer is particularly energy-efficient thanks to the manufacturer’s ICE technology. It is also compact and lightweight.

Internet connection

The A7 Sportback is a specialist in communications, particularly with the Internet connection. This is provided by a UMTS module and a Wi-Fi hotspot, both of which belong to the optional online Bluetooth car telephone.

The UMTS module, which is integrated into the head unit of the MMI navigation plus system, establishes the connection to the special Google services and to the World Wide Web and retrieves news and weather information.

A7 Sportback drivers can plan their travel routes down to the last detail on their computers at home or in the office, upload them to a section of the Internet site www.audi.de and from there download them to the navigation system via UMTS on starting the trip.

The five-door coupe also uses the fast connection to load three-dimensional satellite and aerial photographs from Google Earth. These appear in a bird’s eye view on the monitor, and the computer fills in the roads. A lot of additional information is delivered to the car with the images.

Another high-end feature is the Wi-Fi hotspot. The front and rear seat passengers can simultaneously connect as many as eight terminal devices – from a laptop to an Apple iPad – to the Internet, and surf and send email to their hearts’ content.

Communication with the World Wide Web is via the roof-mounted antenna of the Audi A7 Sportback to enable a stable connection with excellent reception quality. Thanks to a special modulation method called High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), data transfer via UMTS is very fast – up to 7.2 MB per second. WPA2 encryption makes the transfer of data very secure.

The Wi-Fi hotspot is very easy to use. The driver simply places a data-capable SIM card in the online Bluetooth car phone. A card reader is located in the bezel of the MMI navigation plus system. The driver can also connect his or her private cellular phone to the system via Bluetooth if the phone supports the SIM Access Profile. The existing mobile phone contract is sufficient in most cases; no additional fees or separate contracts are required for the new data links. Given the high data volumes, however, Audi strongly recommends an appropriate flat rate.

Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI multitronic

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Engines

The Audi A7 Sportback will hit the market with four direct-injection V6 engines: two gasoline units and two diesels. The five-door coupe is driven by powerful, highly refined and highly efficient 2.8-liter or 3.0-liter engines producing between 150 kW (204 hp) and 220 kW (300 hp).

All engines have Audi’s innovative thermal management system, a start-stop system and a recuperation system on board. The 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp), which will follow somewhat later, consumes on average just 5.3 liters of fuel per 100 km (44.38 US mpg). This corresponds to CO2 emissions of just 139 g per km (223.70 g/mile) and is easily the best value in the segment.

The two gasoline engines, the 2.8 FSI and the 3.0 TFSI, have been thoroughly revised in the areas of internal friction and thermal management. The engines quickly come up to operating temperature following a cold start, significantly shortening the phase of greater frictional resistance due to viscous oil. A separate heat exchanger is used to bring the gearbox to the optimal temperature. The oil pump is controlled based in part on volumetric flow, making it highly efficient. The developers emphasized minimizing internal friction in the crank and chain drives.

The 2.8 FSI features another efficiency technology: the Audi valvelift system, which adjusts the lift of the intake valves in two stages depending on need using cylindrical sleeves called cam elements that can be positioned on the camshaft. The Audi valvelift system regulates the amount of air drawn in when the valves open; the throttle valve can remain fully open, thus largely eliminating throttling losses. This enables the engine to produce more power and torque while fuel consumption is reduced.

Lean and elegant: the 2.8 FSI

The 2.8 FSI produces 150 kW (204 hp) of power from a displacement of 2,773 cc and delivers 280 Nm (206.52 lb-ft) of torque between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm. Audi pairs it with quattro drive and S tronic. The A7 Sportback 2.8 FSI quattro sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 8.3 seconds on its way to 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). This combination will also be available at a later time with front-wheel drive and multitronic.

The 3.0 TFSI embodies Audi’s philosophy of downsizing: It substitutes forced induction for engine displacement. Located in the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks is a supercharger driven by the crankshaft via a belt. It compresses the intake air to as much as 0.8 bar to better fill the combustion chambers. Two downstream intercoolers cool the compressed and heated air again so that even more oxygen enters the combustion chambers.

The gas paths behind the mechanical supercharger are very short so that the torque develops quickly and spontaneously. The peak torque of 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) is available from just 2,900 rpm. The supercharger is located downstream of the throttle valve. Because the intake air has only a low density at engine loads below supercharging level and when coasting, its rotors are free-running and the amount of power required to drive them in the lower load range is low. An extensive package of measures effectively reduces compressor noise.

The 3.0 TFSI displaces 2,995 cc, produces 220 kW (300 hp) 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 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).

New from the ground up: the 3.0 TDI

The 3.0 TDI is available in two variants. Both versions of the 2,967-cc, V6 diesel are new from the ground up. It weighs just 194 kilograms (427.70 lb), 25 kilograms (55.12 lb) less than the previous engine. Six kilograms (13.23 lb) of weight were trimmed from the crankcase alone, which is manufactured of high-strength vermicular graphite cast iron. Additional improvements were made to the pumps of the common rail injection system, the intake and exhaust system, the exhaust recirculation system and the turbocharger with the intercooler.

The innovative thermal management system in the 3.0 TDI has been optimized to reduce friction. The crankcase and the cylinder heads have separate cooling water circuits and the coolant is not circulated through the block during the warmup phase. The greatly reduced internal friction in the crank drive, the lean, newly designed drive for the camshafts and the ancillaries and also the regulated oil pump also make significant contributions to the engine’s groundbreaking efficiency.

The more powerful version of the V6 diesel generates 180 kW (245 hp) and 500 Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque, the latter of which is available between 1,400 and 3,250 rpm. S tronic and quattro drive are standard with this engine version. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 6.3 seconds and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Fuel consumption is just 6.0 liters of fuel per 100 km (39.20 US mpg) on average, which corresponds to 158 grams of CO2/km (254.28 g/mile).

The second variant of the 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) is even better in terms of fuel efficiency. CO2 emissions of 139 grams 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 A7 Sportback with front-wheel drive accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 235 km/h (146.02 mph).

With the efficiency TDI, the timing of the cam shafts, the turbocharger and the common rail system with an injection pressure of 2,000 bar have been optimized specifically for low fuel consumption. Paired with front-wheel drive, the V6 diesel develops 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft) of torque, which is available between 1,250 and 3,500 rpm.

A break for the engine: the recuperation system

All four V6 engines in the Audi A7 Sportback utilize another technology from the Audi modular efficiency platform. During coasting and braking phases, the recuperation system uses intelligent voltage regulation to recover energy for the alternator, this energy is stored temporarily in the battery. The next time the car accelerates, the energy flows back into the on-board electrical system, relieving the load on the generator and thus the engine.

The start-stop system is also standard with all four engines. This turns the engine off when the car is at rest if the five-door coupe has come to a stop and the driver keeps his or her foot on the brake pedal. As soon as the driver’s foot leaves the brake pedal, the engine restarts quietly, conveniently and quickly. The powerful battery enables the system to remain active even in the severe cold. The start-stop system, which the driver can deactivate at any time, thus harmonizes perfectly with the seven-speed S tronic and with the multitronic – yet another innovation.

The high-end technology from Audi finds its perfect visual expression in the design of the engines. The V6 engines and all the other components in the engine compartment are attractively presented – cleanly arranged and clearly organized. The TDI engines present the viewer with a designer cover that also serves as acoustic insulation. The intake system and the cylinder head covers of the gasoline engines are visible, and the visible portions of the ignition system in the 3.0 TFSI are dressed in a sporty red.

Drivetrain

Audi offers two different transmission technologies, both of which combine the efficiency of manual shift with the convenience of an automatic. The continuously variable multitronic, which is available for the 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) and will be also offered later for the 2.8 FSI, delivers the engine power to the front wheels. The dynamic, seven-speed S tronic in the 2.8 FSI, 3.0 TFSI and the 3.0 TDI with 180 kW (245 hp) is mated with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.

Both transmissions have been intensively refined and are characterized by minimal internal friction and high efficiency. Their wide spread allows for both sporty sprints in the lower gears and low revs at high speeds. Both the multitronic and the seven-speed 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 long wheelbase and a favorable distribution of axle loads.

Both transmissions are tied into the engine’s thermal management system via a separate heat exchanger. As soon as the engine has heated enough cooling water, the hot water is allowed to flow to the transmission oil cooler. The multitronic and the seven-speed S tronic can also access the route data of the navigation system. They thus incorporate upcoming curves in their gearshift strategy to avoid unnecessary gear changes on winding roads, for example.

The smooth multitronic, which has been heavily revised for use in the A7 Sportback, allows the engine to almost always run in the range for its optimal efficiency. It offers dynamic drivers a sport program with shorter gear ratios and a manual mode with eight fixed gear ratios. It is controlled via the selector lever or the optional paddles on the steering wheel.

The variator, the heart of the multitronic, allows a particularly wide spread. The ratio between the longest and the shortest gear ratio is 6.7:1. A particularly narrow and lightweight link-plate chain transfers the power between two variable pairs of conical pulleys.

When the faces of the two conical pulleys are pushed apart or pulled closer together, the chain runs on different radii, steplessly altering the gear ratio. The electronically controlled, hydraulic multi-plate clutch also contributes to the low fuel consumption by disconnecting the transmission from the engine when the car is at rest.

The seven-speed S tronic follows a different principle. Its two oil-cooled, multi-plate clutches control two independent transmission sections. The large K1 clutch located on the outside directs the torque via a solid shaft to the gear wheels for gears 1, 3, 5 and 7.

A hollow shaft rotates around the solid shaft. It is connected to the smaller K2 clutch, which is located inside its larger sibling, and which acts on the gear wheels for gears 2, 4 and 6, as well as reverse.

Both transmission sections are continuously active, but only one is connected to the engine at any one time. For example, when the driver accelerates in third gear, the fourth gear is already engaged in the second transmission sections. The shifting process takes place as the clutch changes – K1 opens and K2 closes. Shifting gears takes only a few hundredths of a second and is completed with almost no interruption of traction. Shifts are so fluid, dynamic and smooth as to be barely noticeable.

The driver of the A7 Sportback can use the seven-speed S tronic in a number of different ways. The fully automatic mode offers the D (Drive) and S (Sport) programs. A manual level where the driver changes gears using the selector lever or the optional steering wheel paddles is also available. The transmission takes on a sporty tone in manual mode. Depending on the engine, the seven-speed S tronic has a spread of as much as 8.1:1. Seventh gear is designed as a rev-reducing overdrive.

The next generation: quattro drive

The A7 Sportback is the first volume model from Audi to be equipped with the next generation of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system featuring the crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring. Inside the new center differential are two rotating crown gears that owe their name to the crown-like design of their teeth. The front crown gear drives the output shaft to the front differential, the rear crown gear drives the propshaft to the rear differential.

The crown gears mesh with four rotatable pinion gears. They are arranged at right angles to each other and are driven by the differential’s housing, i.e. by the transmission output shaft. Under normal driving conditions, the crown gears rotate at the same speed as the housing. Because of their special geometry, they have specifically unequal lever effects. Normally 60 percent of the engine torque goes to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front.

If the torques change because one axle loses grip, different speeds and axial forces occur inside the differential and the integrated plate packages are pressed together. The resulting self-locking effect now diverts the majority of the torque to the axle with the better traction. If the front axle begins to lose grip, up to 85 percent of the torque flows to the rear. If the rear wheels have less traction, up to 70 percent of the torque flows to the front axle.

With this extremely broad torque distribution range, the crown-gear differential surpasses its predecessors – traction becomes even better. Redistribution occurs with no lag and absolutely homogenously. The mechanical operating principle guarantees maximum efficiency and immediate response. Other strong points of the crown gear differential are its compactness and low weight – at 4.8 kilograms (10.58 lb) it is roughly two kilograms (4.41 lb) lighter than the previous unit. The propshaft is not bolted to the differential but rather latched to it, saving an additional 0.6 kilograms (1.32 lb) of weight.

Intelligent: torque vectoring

The new crown-gear center differential works closely together with an intelligent software solution in the brake management system. Torque vectoring can act on each of the four wheels. When driving fast through a curve, the software computes the optimal distribution of power. If a change in wheel loads suggests that the wheels on the inside of the curve are about to slip, it marginally brakes these wheels – just a slight application of the pads on the disks at minimal pressure is all that it takes. This allows more torque to be diverted to the wheel on the outside of the curve.

Torque vectoring works smoothly and continuously. The A7 Sportback remains neutral for an extremely long time at the handling limits; the slight understeer when turning into corners and when accelerating is essentially offset. The ESP stabilization program intervenes later and more gently – if it is even necessary at all.

For customers seeking even greater dynamics, Audi also offers the optional sport differential. The high-end rear differential uses two superposition stages to distribute the power in continuously variable proportions between the rear wheels. The superposition stages comprise two sun gears and an internal gear. They rotate roughly ten percent faster than the drive shaft.

A multi-plate clutch provides the connection between the shaft and the superposition stage. When the clutch closes, it steplessly imposes the higher speed of the superposition stage on the outside wheel. The additional torque required in order to rotate faster is drawn away from the inside wheel via the differential. In this way nearly all of the torque can be directed to one wheel. The maximum difference between the wheels is 1,800 Nm (1,328 lb-ft).

In fast curves, this distribution of torque literally pushes the five-door coupe into the radius so that the A7 Sportback corners as if on rails. The sport differential is just as effective while coasting as it is under load. Its highly precise electronic controller reacts within a few hundredths of a second. The system’s controller is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamics system; the driver can change between its various characteristics at any time.

For front-wheel drive: ESP with electronic limited slip differential

The front-wheel drive version of the A7 Sportback features the ESP stabilization program with electronic limited slip differential for even greater agility in curves. On detecting that the front outside wheel in a turn is relieved too much, the system’s control unit arranges for a small and precise brake intervention there. This causes the excess torque to flow to the outside wheel, which has the better grip.

At the same time, the difference between the drive forces generates a certain yaw moment that helps the driver by turning the five-door coupe very slightly into the corner. Self-steering behavior at the limit remains neutral noticeably longer, and overall handling becomes more precise, agile and stable. This in turn further enhances objective safety and the driver’s subjective confidence in the car.

Chassis

The Audi A7 Sportback rolls as comfortably as a luxury sedan and takes corners as sportily as a coupe thanks to its sophisticated chassis. The track measures 1.64 meters (5.38 ft) up front and 1.63 meters (5.35 ft) in the back. The control arms are aluminum forgings, which keeps the unsprung masses low. The wheel carriers and pivot bearings are also made of this same material. The stabilizer bars are actually pipes, which also saves weight.

The front suspension comprises five links per wheel – two transverse links on the upper plane, the support link and control arm in the lower plane and the track rod. The sophisticated design can handle longitudinal and lateral forces separately. Its bearings are stiff in the lateral direction for sporty precision and respond smoothly in the longitudinal direction.

The integral subframe for the engine and the front axle forms the backbone of the front suspension. It is rigidly bolted to the front end of the car – due to its high rigidity, steering forces are applied without lag. The bearing pedestal, which connects the upper control arms, and the strut braces are also made of aluminum. A diecast strut brace further enhances the rigidity of the front of the car.

The electromechanical steering of the A7 Sportback is another new development. The concentric arrangement of the steering rack for the servo drive makes it extremely compact. Boost varies as a function of driving speed. The steering combines highly precise tracking with low sensitivity to disruptive road surface influences. It features a sporty and direct overall ratio of 15.9:1.

The system is extremely efficient. Because it consumes no energy when driving straight ahead, it lowers fuel consumption by as much as 0.3 liters per 100 km depending on the engine. The new Audi active lane assist and the park assist system would not be possible without the electromechanical steering.

The rear axle of the Audi A7 Sportback follows the track-controlled trapezoidal link principle. This compact design combines excellent comfort and driving qualities. The two hollow trapezoidal links are warm-hardened aluminum castings; the wheel carriers are of chill-cast aluminum. Aluminum forgings serve as transverse links and track rods.

Because the physically separated springs and dampers rest directly on the wheel carriers, the development engineers were able to achieve a high damping rate so that the dampers exhibit an extremely sensitive response. The subframe comprises two steel longitudinal and lateral tubes each; four hydraulic bearings connect them to the body. They also play a major role in the high level of ride comfort.

The Audi A7 Sportback comes standard with a steel-spring suspension. Audi also offers an optional sport suspension that lowers the body by 10 millimeters (0.39 in). quattro GmbH offers an even tauter S line sport suspension that lowers the body by an additional 10 millimeters (0.39 in) as part of the S line sport package. The package also includes 19-inch wheels, a black interior with exclusive details, sport seats and S line badges.

Supple: the adaptive air suspension

Another optional feature for the A7 Sportback is the adaptive air suspension with electronically controlled damping. With it the five-door coupe remains smooth and composed over all types of irregular surfaces. The latest generation of the system is used in the A7 Sportback. Up front are struts in which the pneumatic springs enclose the two-tube shock absorbers, while separate pneumatic springs and dampers are used in the rear. The compressor is small and efficient. The aluminum pressure vessel in the spare wheel well holds 5.8 liters of air at a pressure of 18 bar.

The adaptive air suspension sets the ride height of the body to various levels as a function of driving speed and the wishes of the driver. It is controlled via Audi drive select.

In auto mode, the body is lowered by 20 millimeters (0.79 in) once the A7 Sportback has driven for at least 30 seconds at a speed greater than 120 km/h (74.56 mph). This increases stability and reduces drag, thus saving fuel. The body is not lowered in comfort mode. In dynamic mode, on the other hand, the body is lowered 10 millimeters (0.39 in) from the outset, and is lowered another 10 millimeters when the switchpoint is reached.

On an uneven surface the adaptive air suspension can raise the body by 20 millimeters (0.79 in). The air suspension also serves as a high-tech self-leveling suspension and keeps the body at the ideal ride height regardless of the load. The passengers enjoy consistently outstanding comfort. Separate programs are available for towing and for changing a wheel.

The CDC (continuous damping control) shock absorbers are characterized by their low internal friction. The computer for the adaptive air suspension draws on a large amount of data to manage the suspension’s function as appropriate for the condition of the road, the driver’s style and the mode selected in Audi drive select. It readjusts the reaction every few milliseconds individually for each wheel. Electromagnetically actuated valves vary the flow of the hydraulic fluid between the inner and outer tube, with the damper characteristics changing as the cross-section becomes larger or smaller.

Versatile: Audi drive select

Audi drive select comes standard in the Audi A7 Sportback. It incorporates the automatic transmission, the power steering and the engine controller, and modifies the shift points, steering boost and accelerator characteristic. The driver can vary the function of these components between the four modes comfort, auto, dynamic and individual; he can configure the individual mode himself within certain limits.

Audi drive select adds more breadth and emotion to the driving experience. The system includes a number of additional features in the A7 Sportback. It integrates additional modules if the customer so wishes: adaptive air suspension, sport differential, adaptive light, ambient lighting, the Audi pre sense basic safety system and dynamic steering, which will follow somewhat later.

Dynamic steering is another high-end technology from Audi. It varies the steering ratio by nearly 100 percent as a function of driving speed and the setting in Audi drive select. The heart of the system is a superposition gear integrated into the steering column and driven by an electric motor. The dynamic steering system is compact and is very light, weighing only 2.4 kilograms (5.29 lb). The system is characterized by both its high efficiency and its precise, low-friction operation.

In urban traffic, the very direct steering ratio and high boost of the dynamic steering system make the vehicle extremely agile. On interurban roads, the system becomes less direct and provides less power assist. At fast highway speeds, an indirect steering ratio and low level of power assist facilitate smooth, composed tracking.

The dynamic steering system works closely together with the ESP stabilization program in the sportiness and safety areas. It makes steering corrections faster than the brake system can develop pressure at the wheels. It thus eliminates many braking operations and the driving becomes more flowing. Dynamic steering counteracts both oversteer as a result of load changes and understeer. It also prevents the car from pulling to one side when braking on surfaces with different coefficients of friction.

Strong and durable: the brakes

The Audi A7 Sportback has a brake system designed for low weight and maximum performance. The brake booster is made of aluminum. The discs measure 320, 345 or 356 millimeters (12.60, 13.58 or 14.02 in) in diameter up front and either 300 or 330 millimeters (11.81 or 12.99 in) at the rear.

Audi will also offer carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs at a later time. They are practically fade-free and are extremely powerful, robust and durable. They are also lighter than steel discs.

The ESP stabilization program features a sport mode that is activated via the MMI operating system. In this mode, engine intervention is largely deactivated and brake intervention somewhat reduced, allowing experienced drivers to have even more fun with the A7 Sportback on winding roads. The ESP also integrates a starting assist function for slopes and grades. Together with the electromechanical steering, the system also helps the driver with countersteering and braking on a lane that is slippery on only one side.

The five-door coupe rolls on large alloy wheels that blend harmoniously into the elegantly sporty lines. 8.5 J x 18 wheels with 245/45 tires are standard, as is a tire pressure indicator. Sporty customers can choose from 19-inch wheels in one of three different designs and shod with 255/40 tires.

The top of the line are four 20-inch wheels shod with 265/35 tires. The wheels have five, seven or ten spokes. The anthracite, 10-parallel-spoke wheels are semi-polished. The 7-twin-spoke wheels are polished or high-gloss polished. Audi supplies them in one-color or two-color versions; three of the 20-inch wheels come from quattro GmbH.

All tires for the Audi A7 Sportback have been optimized for rolling resistance without sacrificing comfort qualities. Some of the tires are available in an optional run-flat version. A repair kit comes standard; a space-saving spare tire is available as an option. Audi offers 17-inch and 19-inch winter wheels.

Audi A7 Sportback rear seating elegance

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Equipment and trim

The Audi A7 Sportback offers all of the comfort and equipment of a luxury sedan. It is being launched with a generous array of standard features and many attractive options.

Comfort and convenience features include the two-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning system, the start-stop button for starting and switching off the engine and the four-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel. The MMI radio with the 6.5-inch monitor, light and rain sensor, electromechanical parking brake, hill-start assist function, cruise control and front windshield with acoustic insulation are also all standard.

Eye-catching features of the exterior include the standard xenon plus headlights, the LED tail lights with the adaptive brake light function, the 18-inch alloy wheels and the LED turn signals on the heated and power-adjustable exterior mirrors. The safety package comprises two front, two side and two head airbags, four belt tensioners, the integral head restraint system and two Isofix fixtures in the back for child seats. The Audi pre sense basic system rounds out the safety equipment.

The large five-door coupe boasts a number of practical talents for active recreation, including the power hatch release and fold-down rear seats. Sporty drivers will appreciate the latest generation of quattro permanent all-wheel drive, Audi drive select and either S tronic or the multitronic automatic transmission, depending on the engine. The recuperation system and the start-stop system help to reduce fuel consumption.

Luxury the Audi way: optional extras

A wide range of optional equipment is available for even greater comfort and convenience. Among them are the head-up display, four-zone automatic air conditioning with a separate control unit in the back, an auxiliary heating system, a wide selection of steering wheels and a sun blind for the rear window.

Other options for enhanced comfort include two lighting packages, the convenience key for easy access, a power servo function for closing the doors, power folding exterior mirrors and an automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror. Audi also offers optional insulating/acoustic glazing – tinted upon request – and a glass sunroof.

The seating options for the Audi A7 Sportback are also first class, ranging from a power lumbar support to the deluxe 20-way seat with heating, ventilation and massage. Side airbags for the rear seats are available as an option. A storage package provides for order on board and in the luggage compartment. A load-through hatch and a trailer hitch extend the range of recreational possibilities for the five-door coupe.

Audi has prepared a large number of special features for those who appreciate the exceptional: a leather package, various sophisticated upholsteries and decorative inlays, 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.

Audi offers two different sport suspensions and shift paddles on the steering wheel for dynamic drivers. The sport differential is the perfect complement for quattro drive. The wheel selection includes sizes up to 20 inches, and the adaptive air suspension unites outstanding ride comfort with astounding sportiness.

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

State of the art: assistance systems

The five-door coupe also features state-of-the-art assistance systems. Audi offers the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians, the speed limit display, adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, Audi side assist and Audi active lane assist. Three different parking systems are available, either only with ultrasound sensors or also with a camera and a self-steering function. The assistance package bundles the most important features and complements them with Audi pre sense plus, the top version of the safety system.

Navigation and communication are provided by the MMI operating system, which is available in three versions with and without navigation. The top version includes the large color monitor and the groundbreaking MMI touch. There are also sound systems from Bose and Bang & Olufsen, a TV module, a DVD changer, a digital radio tuner, the Audi music interface and a Bluetooth preparation. The A7 Sportback uses the optional Bluetooth car phone to provide a full-fledged Internet connection that allows its passengers to go online via UMTS and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The large five-door coupe from Audi is a car for discerning customers. They are sporty, active and interested in technology and innovations. With its harmonious combination of sportiness, functionality and elegance, the design of the A7 Sportback is a particularly important purchasing argument for these customers.

Audi is scheduled to begin delivering the Audi A7 Sportback this fall. The base price for the 2.8 FSI quattro will be €51,650. The 3.0 TDI with 150 kW (204 hp) will cost €51,900, and the price of the powerful diesel version with 180 kW (250 hp) and quattro drive is €58,100. The top engine, the 3.0 TFSI quattro, is listed at €58,600.

The equipment and data specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.

Elegance on a grand scale – the Audi A7 Sportback

The New Bentley Continental GT reveal is live

Posted: 07 Sep 2010 06:42 AM PDT

Last week we brought you the news that Bentley would be revealing the next Continental GT via the web.

The microsite is live now and you can catch the reveal all over again. There is even a Visualizer where you can choose up to 14 different colors, wheels and more. Check it all out at http://continentalgt.bentleymotors.com

Bentley Continental GT to make world on-line debut September 7th

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