Audi is working a new model placed between the Audi A6 and the Audi A8 and will be a direct competitor for the Mercedes Benz CLS Coupe. The Audi A7 will be initially available as a four-door coupe that will go on sale for model year 2009 in Europe and shortly after in North America. A Convertible version will be unveiled shortly after. Also Audi will offer a more powerful S-version version, with a V10 engine that will be available in 2010. The Audi A7 will be unveiled at 2008 Geneva Motor Show.

2009 Audi A7

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2009 Audi A7
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mercedes was the "inventer" of the four-door coupe concept and until now it was the only manufacturer to offer a four-door luxury coupe. Audi is the first maker that will unveil a competitor for the A7, but is not the only one. Jaguar will also unveil the replacement for the current XJ and Volkswagen has a Passat-based project on the work.

The A7 will have Audi’s "usual" face design with a single frame grille. It will use the same LED headlights used in the Audi R8 for the first time: light-emitting diodes for all lighting functions. The unit for the low-beam headlights is reminiscent of an opened pine cone. Reflector shells arranged in concentric circles surround the high-performance LED projection system. The internal reflectors for distributing the high-beam light, on the other hand, are architectural in inspiration, recalling the design of the Sydney Opera House.

The same all-glass roof used in the A3 and Q7 models has also been considered for the A7. It will also feature wider fenders, bigger tires, and expensive alloy wheels - painted black and frameless doors.

The definition for the A7’s interior will be beauty and comfort. The rear seats will not be bench style, but rather multi-function, bucket-type seating for improved passenger comfort.

Audi A7 will be based on Audi’s MLP platform and will be powered by a range of six petrol and diesel engines with paddle-shift S tronic transmissions as standard. The MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform) platform it is also used in many vehicles from the Audi’s line-up: the A5/S5, Q5, next generation A4 and also the A6, A7 and A8. Both four-seated coupe and convertible will sit on modular new platform architecture with all-wheel drive Quattro drive trains that have a strong rear-end bias for driver-oriented handling.

The range of engines will start with a choice of V6 and V8 engines, and for the top of the line version will be used a Lamborghini derived V10 engine, first used in the Audi R8. The first choices will be 3.2-litre V6 engine with an output of 260 hp and 4.2-litre V8 FSI direct injection petrol’s with a maximum power of 350 hp. Audi A7 will also come with a range of diesel engines: 3.0 liter V6 engine with 235 hp and 4.2 liter V8 TDI engine with an output of 325 hp. The top of the line will be powered by the same Lamborghini derived 450bhp 5.2-litre V10 engine used in the R8.

The Audi A7 will be limited to 155 mph and will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.5-6 seconds. The V10 powered model will have a top speed of 195 mph.

When will go on sale in 2009 the Audi A7 will be priced at $50.000-55.000 (est.).

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Competitors



Mercedes CLS-Class

In October 2004, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the four-door CLS-Class as a new kind of vehicle concept that for the first time combined the dynamism and features of a coupé with the comfort and functionality of a saloon. In mid-2006, Mercedes-Benz will be further enhancing this series’ exclusive range of equipment and cutting-edge technology. In doing so, it will particularly set new standards with regard to safety and engine technology.

The Mercedes direct-injection engine can still operate in a lean-burn stratified mode at speeds in excess of 120 km/h(74.56 mph). When driving on main roads and motorways at largely constant speed and with proper anticipation, the CGI engine outperforms the fuel economy of the six-cylinder engine with conventional injection technology by up to 1.5 litres per 100 km, a saving of approximately 15 percent.

The range of engines for the CLS-Class now includes two eight-cylinder engines with high output and torque. The CLS 500 will be equipped with the 285 kW/388 hp V8 engine from the S-Class, whose output surpasses that of the previous eight-cylinder unit by about 26 percent. At 530 Nm the engine’s maximum torque also exceeds that of its predecessor by around 15 percent. The new CLS 500 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5,4 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the previous model.

All of the CLS engines will be combined with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission, which comes as standard equipment. What’s more, manual gear switching will be improved as a result of optional new gearshift paddles conveniently located on the steering wheel.