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Audi A7 (2009): the full story
By
Tim Pollard (artist's impression by Larson)
12 June 2008 19:37
STOP PRESS! We've updated our Audi A7 scoop with the world's first photographs of the new four-door coupe. It might be wearing the mother of all disguises – more of a tent, really – but this is the first sight of Audi's 'coupoon'. Read on for the full update...
Audi continues its quest to fill every possible niche in the motoring universe with this new A7 that arrives in 2009. CAR Online's artist's impression is based on the official design sketch we smuggled out of Ingolstadt last year (red car pictured) and reveals the new four-door coupe that will be shown at the Frankfurt motor show 2009.
Should we believe the marketing claims of four-door coupes? Essentially, they are slinkier, less practical, lower-roofed saloons – hardly cut 'n' thrust two-door sports cars. Whatever you call them, they're all the rage – with Merc enjoying success with its gangsta CLS, Jag continuing its low-slung theme with the XF and VW now muscling in at the budget end of the market with the Passat CC. BMW too is planning a four-door GT based around the Concept CS.
So tell me more about the Audi A7
We'll see the A7 in autumn 2009 ahead of a showroom debut in 2010. It's based on the next-gen A6 vehicle architecture, which means a new lightweight aluminium structure that uses steel reinforcements to cut weight. Our sources suggest it'll be 4900mm long.
As you'd hope with something that long, the A7 is a four-seater – but you'll buy one for its swoopy looks rather than roomy pews. Audi expects to flog around 40,000 copies a year once sales are in full swing.
Click 'Next' to read the lowdown on the Audi A7's tech package
