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Cape Town - Audi hosted the world launch of its new A7 in Cape Town in February and now the first details of engines specifications and trim options are available albeit for the UK market.
Audi SA says the new A7 is likely to be introduced in the third quarter of 2018.
Compared with the previous model, interior length has increased by 21mm, resulting in more rear knee room says Audi. Rear passengers also enjoy more head room. A three-seat rear bench is standard for UK models, and when its backrest is fully stowed the luggage compartment capacity expands from 535 litres to 1390 litres.
In common with the A8 the communications hub of the new A7 Sportback is a new MMI touch response operating concept based around 25cm upper and 21cm lower touchscreen displays which appear to blend into the dashboard when switched off.
The two large, high resolution touch displays replace the rotary controller and satellite button system used by the previous model.
Image: Newspress
In the UK the A7 Sportback is initially based around two specification levels – Sport and S line – and two engines classified according to the new Audi naming convention first introduced in the new A8 luxury saloon. The 55 TFSI is powered by a petrol V6 TFSI offering 250kW and 500Nm.
From rest, 100km/h is reached in 5.3 seconds and its top speed is 250km/h. A 50 TDI variant is also available, utilising a V6 TDI diesel that delivers 210kW/620Nm of torque. It enables the A7 Sportback to reach 100km/h in 5.7 seconds and a 250km/h top speed.
Audi says specification will be appropriately high, with LED front and rear lights and 19-inch alloy wheels maximising presence externally in Sport versions, and Twin leather- upholstered seats with full electric adjustment upfront and LED ambient interior lighting setting the scene inside.
Virtual cockpit to be standard
Tech features common to both levels will include the fully digital Audi Virtual Cockpit, MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, the Audi Smartphone Interface and the Audi Phone Box with wireless charging for QI-enabled compatible phones. The list of electronic driver assistants will also feature the Audi Parking System Plus with rear-view camera, the Audi Pre-sense Front collision warning and automatic braking system and the Lane Departure Warning system.
S line specification ramps up the visual appeal even further with 20" alloy wheels, HD Matrix LED headlights with dynamic front and rear indicators and coming/leaving home animations, sport suspension lowering the body by ten millimetres, and S line-specific body styling.
Another core component of the standard technology package benefiting all A7 Sportback models is the new mild hybrid drivetrain (MHEV) made possible by the newly introduced 48-volt primary electrical system says Audi.
The start-stop function has also been significantly expanded and now activates at 20km/h. In combination with the standard front camera, the engine is restarted predictively while at a standstill as soon as the vehicle ahead begins to move. In real-world driving, the MHEV technology reduces fuel consumption by up to 0.7-litres per 100km.
Quattro with ultra technology
The two engines work with a seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission (55 TFSI) and an eight-speed tiptronic (50 TDI), and their outputs are proficiently managed by the latest iterations of the quattro drivetrain. For the TFSI engine, the efficient quattro with ultra technology will channel drive to the rear wheels in a split-second when necessary.
Image: Newspress
