Originally created out of a need to counter-attack the rather successful Mercedes-Benz CLS "four-door coupe," the Audi A7 is arguably the best-looking five-door hatchback->ke304 coupe->ke141 out there, despite its more than obvious similarities with just about every other Audi->ke14 model. Still, you can tell that the Ingolstadt brand went to extremes to make it as desirable as possible, with initial sales results suggesting that it went a little bit better than expected, especially considering that the A7 is still a niche automobile.

Unveiled back in 2010, the funky five-door fastback received a mid-cycle facelift in 2014, with the second generation not only being greenlighted, but its design has been already signed off by the new Audi head of design, Marc Lichte. Set to be launched sometime in 2017 as a 2018 model, the second Audi A7 will apparently get an all-new design that is supposedly much more radical than the current model.

Naturally, "radical" and "design" in the same sentence when talking about an Audi may sound like a bit of a stretch, but this is what the brand's evangelists are saying. According to Marc Lichte, some of the visual motifs featured by the Audi Prologue Concept will find their way on the future A6,->ke934 A8->ke1089 and the A7,->ke1687 with each model apparently having its own visual identity. Not only that, but the new Audi head of design has also said that we should expect a more thorough look differentiation not only with other distinct Ingolstadt models, but between the A7, S7->ke3481 and RS7->ke3727 as well.

Note: Current Audi A7 pictured here.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2017 Audi A7.

2017 - 2018 Audi A7

Specifications

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• Model: 2017 - 2018 Audi A7
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Pros

Cons

Exterior

Except for the introduction of the single-frame grille and a little bit of playfulness in the interior shape of certain LED headlights, Audi's design language has been rather stale in the past two decades, with just about every generation of a model being a derivative of the one it replaces. If Marc Lichte is to be believed, we may finally get to see something new in the Igolstadt lineup, and the second generation of the Audi A7 will be a pretty good example of that. Lichte actually went as far as calling the design of the model "radical," but that should probably be taken with a pinch of salt.

With Quattro being one of Audi's best known trademarks, it is expected that the technology will actually somehow find its way into the design language of future Audi cars, and the future Audi A7 is one of the models which will emphasize this the most. The much criticized long front overhangs are actually here to stay, but instead of the side view showing a cab-forward look it will be more centered for a more balanced overall proportion.

Unlike on the current model, the single-frame grille of the next A7 will be more horizontal, like on the Prologue Concept, with most of the exterior lines suggesting a wider, longer and lower look. The all-wheel drive system will not only be suggested by the overall proportions, but by the wheel arches, which will offer a subtle throwback to the ones from the Audi Ur-Quattro. All in all, I don't know if it should be exactly radical, but the 2017 Audi A7 will definitely be something else compared with the first generation.

Interior

If the aforementioned Audi Prologue Concept is anything to go by, the interior of the next Audi A7 will be a lot more austere from a design perspective, with the exterior horizontal lines being incorporated inside as well, to visually "stretch the length of the dashboard" and create more pronounced sense of space. It is not yet clear if the driver-oriented center console will be making a return.

The Audi MMI controller may be replaced by a number of integrated touchscreen displays which will be home to most of the controls, while the tablet-like center display screen will disappear completely, as it did on the 2015 Audi TT. Of course, it will not be removed entirely from the car, as it will actually replace the current instrument panel behind the steering wheel. On top of that, natural leather should be abundant on just about every surface, while aluminum will be making a strong comeback as subtle inserts here and there to symbolize the Audi aluminum spaceframe technology.

Drivetrain

Previewed by the Audi RS5 TDI Concept, a triple-charged high-performance diesel is currently in the works, with the 2018 A7 to also receive a version. In essence a twin-turbocharged V-6 diesel, the engine is also augmented by an electric supercharger which should offer lag-free acceleration credentials. With an output of 385 horsepower and a healthy 553 pound-feet of torque on the RS5 TDI Concept, this powerplant will probably make for a pretty interesting top of the range version on the diesel front, albeit it is not yet clear if it will be offered in the United States.

Based on the upcoming MLB (Modular Longitudinal Matrix) Evo architecture, the second generation of the A7 should sport a much lower weight compared with the first model, while a plug-in hybrid variant isn't out of the question. This is despite the Ingolstadt manufacturer is currently quite a bit late to the plug-in hybrid game compared with Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The S7 and RS7 variants are also in the works, both to be powered by new versions of the 4.0 TFSI V-8 powerhouse.

Prices

Even though it will offer a much heftier amount of technology and comfort features, the 2018 Audi A7 is expected to be priced similarly with the first generation of the model. In other words, you should expect the base model to start at around $65,000 for the V-6 base model, if not even lower than that if Audi decides to offer a turbocharged four-cylinder as the entry-level variant.

Competition

Mercedes-Benz CLS

The car which started the entire four-door coupe frenzy among German car makers, the Mercedes-Benz CLS will reach its third generation by the time that the Audi A7 will reach its second. To be based on the new Mercedes-Benz MRA (Modular Rear-Wheel Drive Architecture) platform, the 2018 CLS is expected to shed some weight, receive and entirely new engine family and integrate its design better into the current Mercedes-Benz design language.

Engine-wise, it is expected that the current V-6 model will be replaced by an all-new inline-six that will first see the light of day in the 2016 E-class, while the top of the range and AMG variants will all be based on the 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 from the AMG GT and the AMG C63. On top of that, a plug-in hybrid variant is also in the works. Expected to also increase in size to make way for a yet-unconfirmed CLE Model, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS should be a lot more luxurious as well, with many of its features being borrowed from the S-Class flagship. Unlike the Audi A7, the CLS also has a Shooting Brake variant, something which the Audi model will probably not receive, as it is already practical enough thanks to its wide-opening rear hatch.

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

The least coupe-looking model of the German trio, the BMW 6 Series Grand Coupe is credited as as being the most fun to drive of the bunch, and its second generation is expected to improve its credentials. I say this because its will be based on an all-new platform that should be much lighter than the rather porky 5 Series F10, for example. Thanks to a lot of money pumped into the research and production of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics), the 2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe should benefit from a pretty drastic diet, while its engine lineup is expected to also include a plug-in hybrid variant to battle a similar model from the Mercedes-Benz CLS lineup.

Conclusion

There aren't many ways in which the second generation of the Audi A7 can reinvent itself, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing, especially for die-hard fans of the current model. Although it was design to battle the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe subsequently, the A7 actually created its own little sub-niche thanks to the hatchback solution, something which is expected to be kept on the 2018 model.

Although Audi insiders are trying to make everyone believe that the next-generation Audi A7 will benefit from a radical design, with some of its visual motifs to be borrowed from the Prologue Concept, most of the elements that are successful on the current model will probably remain unchanged. I am obviously talking about the overall clean look and the rear hatch, as everything else will probably be reinterpreted in a slightly more progressive way if the current head of design at Audi is to be believed. All in all, it will be the design and not the necessarily the technical facts which will help sell the car, so hopefully it will be as pretty as the current model.