Specifications of Audi A7 Sportback 50 TDI (286 HP) quattro tiptronic MHEV
General characteristics of Audi A7 Sportback 50 TDI (286 HP) quattro tiptronic MHEV
As the second-largest four-door offering from Audi, the A7 stands at an intimidating 195.6 inches long, with a 115.2-inch wheelbase. With its sleeker Sportback styling, the 'sedan' remains low to the ground with an overall height of just 56 inches, but the impression is that it's even lower due to a body width of 75.1 inches without mirrors. The Audi A7 also weighs in as a heavyweight, with a curb weight of 4,332 pounds. This is on par with segment rivals like the Mercedes CLS at 4,255 lbs, while the Porsche Panamera is a little lighter at 4,157 lbs.
A wide variety of paint colors comprise the palette for the A7 Sportback, with few limitations on options. Standard across the range are Brilliant Black and Ibis White. The metallic hues make up the premium palette and comprise hues such as Avalon Green, Carat Beige, Firmament Blue, Florett Silver, Soho Brown, Triton Blue, Typhoon Gray, and Vesuvius Gray, each for an additional $595. The Premium Plus and Prestige get access to one additional metallic paint, Tango Red - a bold and striking $595 choice that takes the color palette to 13 options in totality. If none of those run-of-the-mill options takes your fancy, though, for a hefty surcharge of $3,900 you can choose from a list of over 50 exclusive paints to customize your Audi.
With 335 hp and 369 lb-ft on tap from the V6 engine, performance isn't really where the A7 shines, but it isn't a weak point, either. The large Sportback won't seem too quick when left to its own devices in the more relaxed drive and transmission modes, but flip the switches towards Sport and Dynamic handling, and the Audi is able to run the 0-60 mph sprint in as little as 5.2 seconds, no mean feat for such a heavy vehicle. The similarly powered all-wheel-drive Mercedes CLS 450 shaves only 0.4 seconds off this time, while the high-performance Porsche Panamera makes the dash in 5.2 seconds in its standard guise. Both these rivals offer higher-performing models that blow the Audi A7 out of the water, thanks to its single powertrain option, but the S7 is available if you need extra performance. However, if you're after a rear-wheel-drive experience, you'll need to look elsewhere, as the Audi is only available with quattro AWD, while Mercedes sells the CLS in both RWD and AWD variants.
The Audi A7 is powered by a combination of a 3.0-liter turbo V6 and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The overall output of 335 hp and 369 lb-ft is directed via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to all four wheels. The Quattro Ultra all-wheel-drive focuses power on the front wheels unless the performance or handling needs require intervention from the rear wheels. The drivetrain can be switched between four modes - Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, or Individual - while the transmission offers two modes - Normal and Sport.
While the numbers don't look overly impressive on paper, the powertrain is certainly not lacking. Sticking to Comfort/Normal will result in a more relaxed driving experience, but selecting Dynamic/Sport will see the engine pushed to perform, and perform it does. Getting around town will seem slow when compared to the impressive passing power provided on the highway, which is sufficiently aided by the hit of electric torque to minimize the effects of turbo lag. It's not the most athletic four-door coupe on the market, but the Audi A7 is still extremely enjoyable to drive. Acceleration is quick and eager, especially when the drive and transmission modes are set for performance. This also helps to reduce the slightly noticeable lag before the turbo kicks in. But once it initializes, thrust is eager and energetic. The automatic transmission finds the correct gear easily and isn't afraid to downshift when needed.
