2011 Audi A7 Sportback First Impressions

[ahmed_7erzon]

Chances are, the most arduous duty the new Audi A7 Sportback will face is the occasional slippery on-ramp. The majority of its well-heeled drivers, gliding home through tree-lined boulevards, will be blissfully unaware of the technology underpinning its sleek frame.

Although the A7 Sportback represents sumptuous luxury at its best – it’s also the culmination of 30 years of engineering. Audi presented its first permanent all-wheel-drive vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980. Today, that technology is available on every model from the A1 on up.
Audi recently held a “Fascination of Quattro” event at the Mecaglisse Testing facility near Mont Tremblant, showcasing a lineup of the latest models to feature its quattro all-wheel drive system. Participants drove a winding test track that resembled a rally stage; thanks to cold temperatures and little snow cover, the surface was a glistening icy ribbon of changing elevations and treacherous turns.

We were treated to a thrilling display of Quattro prowess, riding along with three-time North American Rally Cup Champion Frank Sprongl in his Group B Audi Quattro before heading onto the track under our own steam.

Crisp, clean, with flowing lines and beautiful proportions, the A7 makes a pleasing first impression. The sloping top line ends in a sharply truncated rear end and the sheet metal is sensuously sculpted.

Slotted between the A6 sedan and the range-topping A8, the A7 borrows much of its architecture from the A6. There’s less costly aluminum used in its structure than the A8, and more steel.

Under my tester’s long hood is a 245 hp, 3.0 L V6 TDI, that with any luck, will make it into the Canadian lineup. Other engine choices include the 300 hp TFSI found in the A6 and A4 – and a 4.0 litre turbo-charged V8 in the upcoming S7.

The cabin is a beautiful combination of opulence and simple good taste. The seats are butter-soft leather. Particularly striking is the use of real oak trim – subtly finished with an interesting grain, it adds a sense of timeless, hand crafted luxury.

Occupants will ride in splendour with plenty of legroom, and that hatchback-like sportback adds practical utility. As expected, there’s an extensive array of gadgetry – from Multi Media Interface (MMI) featuring touchpad control and Google 3D nav mapping, adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and a new park assist feature which looks after parallel parking for you. It almost seems sacrilege to throw such a luxurious vehicle around the equivalent of a rugged logging road. But the A7 loses none of its serene composure over the rough surfaces. Heading onto a large, icy skid pad, I anticipated some heavy understeer from the large car. But it remained neutral through the corners, with 60 percent of its power channeled through the rear wheels, the Quattro system quickly redirects as much as 70 percent to the front when it sensed slippage. My tester is equipped with the optional “sports differential” – the technical explanation of which left most of the attending media looking like frightened deer in the headlights. Simply put, the state-of-the-art differential can split the torque between the rear wheels with lightening fast accuracy. Along with Audi’s wheel-selective torque-vectoring which can send extra power to the outside wheels throughout the turn, the A7 can be pushed really hard through the corners without losing grip. Even with the sports differential turned off, the amount of understeer is fairly negligible and it recovers quickly without resorting to counter-steering correction. The A7’s style will distinguish it in a segment that includes the Mercedes Benz CLS and the Porsche Panamera V6, but its prowess when the going gets rough and slippery is what will really set it apart.