SPACE CONCEPT

The A7 body concept combines the best of all worlds – the design of a coupé, the spaciousness of a sedan and the versatility of an Avant. The luggage compartment holds up to 1,390 liters (49.1 cu ft). The interior is extremely quiet thanks to highly advanced aerodynamics and aeroacoustics.

Body

The new Audi A7 Sportback has a larger interior despite the same exterior dimensions. It transformed 12 millimeters (0.5 in) more wheelbase into an additional 21 millimeters (0.8 in) interior length. The same applies to leg room, knee room and head room on the rear seats.

In the base configuration, the luggage compartment of the large, four-door coupé holds 535 liters (18.9 cu ft), despite a sloping rear hatch. This increases to 1,390 liters (49.1 cu ft) with the split rear seatbacks folded down. The loading sill is just 669 millimeters (2.2 ft) above the road surface. The extended load-through width now measures 1,050 millimeters (3.4 ft) so that two golf bags fit laterally in the luggage compartment. The long rear hatch – another unique feature – opens and closes electrically as standard or via foot gesture with the optional convenience key.

Due to the increased torsional rigidity and increased space in the interior, the body of the A7 contributes significantly to the increased sportiness and increased comfort level. The body of the new Audi A7 Sportback consists of an intelligent mix of materials. As an ultra-high-strength composite, hot-formed steel components form the backbone of the passenger compartment, accounting for 23.9 percent of the weight of the structure. It is used primarily in the lower section of the front bulkhead, the side sills, the rear cross member, the B-pillars and the front zone of the roof line. Here and in other areas of the body Audi uses sheet metal blanks in many places with variable wall thicknesses between 0.75 and 2.05 millimeters (0.03 and 0.1 in). They combine low weight with high strength. These tailored blanks (custom-made sheets) are created by partial tempering and by complex processes during rolling or welding.

The aluminum components in the body-in-white together weigh 10.9 kilograms (24.0 lb). The strut dome and reinforcements in the roof frame are made of cast aluminum, the strut brace in the engine compartment and the central cross brace under the floor of extruded sections. An aluminum sheet supports the B-pillars, and the upper shell of the rear roof frame is made of a new steel/polymer mix. Doors, hood and trunk lid are made entirely of aluminum. The new Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI weighs 1,815 kg (4,001.4 lb) without a driver.

The body of the new Audi A7 Sportback is also improved in numerous criteria compared with the previous model. The newly designed structural front end and the torsion rings have a positive effect with respect to rigidity. The significantly stiffer connection of the front axle improves handling and the acoustic behavior of the body. Hydraulically switchable engine mounts eliminate vibrations at idle. In a head-on collision, the three stress planes in the front end absorb the forces. The reinforcements of the longitudinal members have variable wall thicknesses, which leads to controlled deformation.

Aerodynamics and aeroacoustics

The new Gran Turismo from Audi has a drag coefficient of 0.27. The Audi Aerodynamics team put in a lot of work in all areas, including on the exterior mirrors and the rear axle trim. Small spoilers, including in front of the wheels and the bow capsule, direct the flow at the underbody. The outer areas of the air inlets feature additional openings – they guide a portion of the air flow into the wheel housings, where it flows past the wheels. When the spoiler extends electrically at a speed of 120 km/h (74.6 mph), it provides additional downforce on the rear axle – roughly 50 kilograms (110.2 lb) at top speed.

The new Audi A7 Sportback maintains the top level of the previous model with respect to aeroacoustics. Despite the frameless doors, it spoils its passengers with extraordinary acoustic comfort. The seal concept for the doors and rear hatch is sophisticated. Audi offers optional acoustic glazing 6 millimeters (0.2 in) thick for everything except the rear window. Tinted privacy glass for the rear, a heated windshield and rear blinds are also available.

Comfort and convenience features

New comfort features enhance the sense of well-being on board the A7 Sportback. The newly developed seats play a large part in the interior’s lounge character. They are slim and lighter than in the previous model. The structure of the seat cushions and backrests guarantees excellent comfort and good lateral support.

Audi offers the front seats in three versions: standard seats, sport seats and customized contour seats. The top seats feature multi-way power adjustments, with pneumatic side bolsters and lumbar supports. They can optionally include 3-stage heating and ventilation and a versatile massage function. Each backrest contains ten bubble-shaped air bodies. These massage the back according to seven programs and with three intensities. Two individual seats are standard in the rear; a 2+1 unit is available as an option. Customers can choose between four multifunction steering wheels – with three of four spokes, round or flattened at the bottom, with or without shift paddles and a heated rim.

The standard two-zone automatic air conditioning system can be replaced by an optional four-zone unit. Its filter eliminates the bulk of the gases and particulates, and also neutralizes many allergens. Another innovation is the www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/technology-lexicon comprising an ionizer and a variable intensity fragrancing unit.

The optional windshield wipers for the A7 Sportback have also been newly developed and are intelligently controlled. The spray nozzles lie in their arms, and the water is sprayed directly in front of the blades, always at the correct wiping angle. This uniform wetting, which also takes into account the driving speed, the outside temperature and the degree of soiling, cleans the windshield fast, efficiently and reliably. Other attractive equipment options include the pre sense rear package with side airbags and illuminated seatbelt buckles, the storage package and the particularly large panoramic glass sunroof The fuel tank of the four-door coupé comes standard without a screw cap.

All terms marked in the text are explained in detail in the technology lexicon at www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/technology-lexicon.

The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.