Audi A7 spied

Text: Sam Hardy / Photos: Automedia

11th February 2010

A stunning new luxury Audi is about to come in from the cold. The launch of the German firm's A7 four-door coupe is just a few months away – and Auto Express has got the latest spy shots.

Caught undergoing winter testing in snowy Scandinavia, the A7 is Audi's answer to the Mercedes CLS, Porsche Panamera and even the Aston Martin Rapide. Based on the new A8, it gets a rakish hatchback tail and ample seating for two rear passengers thanks to a pair of individual seats.

The head-turning machine will offer a more stylish and extravagant alternative to its A8 sister car, with punchy engines backing up its sleek looks. Choices will range from a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 from the S4 to an all-new turbocharged V8.

Diesel engines will include a 4.2-litre TDI V8 with 800Nm of torque. All models will feature quattro four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Gadgets will be carried over from the A8, with infra-red night vision and an updated MMI control system that boasts a touchpad onto which owners can 'write' their destination into the satnav.

With the A1 debuting at Geneva next month, expect the A7 to make its first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show in September with UK sales beginning in 2011.