Audi unveils its supercoupé

By Jack Rix

21st January 2009

Every motor show has its star – and in Detroit it was Audi’s latest stunner which shone the brightest. The German firm captivated the crowds with its luxury Sportback Concept, designed to tackle the top-selling Mercedes CLS head-on. Longer, wider and lower than an A6, it combines the prestige of a large saloon with the graceful style of a coupé, while offering the versatility of a hatch.

The razor-sharp styling not only previews the forthcoming A7, but with its oversize grille and slot-like headlights, it continues the theme first seen on the A1 Sportback Concept and offers a glimpse at the design language for future models. Under the skin, it’s fitted with a new, ultra-clean diesel engine.

This is a development of the familiar 3.0-litre V6 TDI unit, and it produces 222bhp and 550Nm of torque, while returning 47.8mpg and 156g/km of CO2. It will be introduced across the rest of the Audi range later this year.

Other economy-boosting kit includes a stop-start function – a first for Audi – and regenerative braking, while low-rolling-resistance tyres are also fitted.

To highlight the car’s sporting pretensions, fade-free ceramic brakes, LED lights and quattro four-wheel drive also feature. The interior is more production-ready and functional than on the average concept, featuring swathes of leather and genuine oak inlays.

A production version of the A7 won’t go on sale until 2011.