Audi A7 Sportback first drive

Motorists purchasing an Audi A7 Sportback from car dealerships over the coming weeks have been advised to invest in adaptive air suspension technology.

Audi's new model has also been praised for its "instant responses", although the test driver proved that the car is also "very quiet and fuel efficient".

A sales target of 3,250 units is scheduled for UK customers in 2011.
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Audi’s model expansion programme continues onwards and it’s not loosing pace despite the economic climate. Fleet customers will take 55 per cent of sales, diesel powered models 90 per cent and conquest customers will be around 45 per cent of A7 owners. The A7 has a lightweight aluminium and steel composite bodyshell to help reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emission in conjunction with the latest fuel efficient engines and ‘smart’ low friction transmissions. The naturally aspirated 204PS 2.8-litre FSI and supercharged 300PS 3.0-litre TFSI petrol units are complemented by two versions of the acclaimed 3.0-litre TDI in 204PS and 245PS forms. Three of the four engines are combined with quattro all wheel drive and only the 3.0-litre TDI 204PS unit has front wheel drive.
For the first time in Audi models at this level, these will be combined with the rapid-shifting seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch sports transmission wherever quattro four-wheel-drive is installed. The Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system is fitted as standard to all models, enabling the driver to fine tune steering weighting, throttle response and transmission shift points at the touch of a button. Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI quattro SE S tronic. Price: £47,200 (£63,325 as tested). Performance: 155mph (electronically limited), 0-62mph 6.3 seconds, 47.1mpg (38.2mpg on test), CO2 158g/km, VED road tax £155, BIK company car tax 23%.
Audi gets quite precious about other car makers using the word premium, believing that too many imposters are claiming their latest models fall into that category.
Of the quartet only the front wheel drive, lower power diesel doesn’t feature Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, instead using the company’s multitronic automatic transmission as opposed to the quattro’s seven-speed twin clutch S tronic box .
Speccing the car up is very tempting, and doesn’t come cheap. For instance the 3.0 TDI quattro SE model I drove was fitted with 20 individual options, adding an extra £25,765 to the tab.