At one point in time, people may find themselves dreaming about the absolute best car they could ever imagine. Nowadays, there would not be any better candidate in the world than a nice luxury coupé. And in our world today there would not also be any other equivalent for the words “luxury coupé” other than Audi. This German Company has been making quality luxury cars for years and years, and finally one new car in the market is the 2012 Audi A7.
Performance
The Audi A7 is a five-door coupé fitted with a 3.0-Liter V6 engine. The engine is capable of eight-speed automatic transmission and has the Quattro all-wheel drive system. The design highlights the addition of three prominent lines that define the whole coupé. The Tornado line is the shoulder detail that creates a rigid feel. The dynamic line is the detail that runs along the Singleframe grille, and along the side sills and air inlet towards the tail, which gives a lunging impression.
The last line is called the roofline, which gives the accent and assertion of the whole statement. Other than the designs, the car has a recognizable LED light system that is also suitable during daytime. Users have the chance to choose between a set of 18-inch seven-spoke wheels, a set of 19-inch ten-spoke wheels, the sports package of 19-inch five-double-spoke wheels, or the 20-inch ten-parallel-spoke wheels specially-made for summer. Finally, it has an S-line exterior on the front and rear bumpers.
The A7 is relatively new in the market; hence, it has not yet been subjected to all the necessary tests by the government. In terms of the car’s performance, the handling is very impressive and fluid. This is even improved by the Quattro all-wheel drive, which significantly improves handling. The only thing that would seem about its performance is the spongy feel of the brakes.
Exterior & Interior
Upon first look on the exterior, this new car looks absolutely stunning, to the point that it may even be considered as the new face of the Audi brand. The prominent lines are clean, smooth, and sophisticated.
The same could not be said about the interior, unfortunately. The interior is constructed with high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship. However, the interior design fails considerably because the back seat seems to lack space for comfort. The safety tests have not yet been conducted on the A7, but the car has been apparently fitted with the standard safety measures such as anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and front, front-side, front-knee, and side airbags.
Safety
There are also optional safety measures such as the blind spot monitors, rear-side airbags, rearview camera, and adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning system. In terms of reliability, the results from the tests are soon to be confirmed, but currently the car is backed by a four-year or 50000-mile warranty.
The Competition
In case users may want to find something else, there are other similar alternatives. Likely candidates may be the Jaguar XF (MSRP $52,500; 16 city / 23 hwy) and the Mercedes Benz CLS550 (MSRP $71,300; 16 city / 24 hwy). It has a V8 engine that could provide up to 385 horsepower, which is significantly better than the A7, and a beautiful exterior like it. However, it does not have the huge trunk space of the A7 and its Quattro all-wheel drive system. It also has the backseat problem of the A7, but it has a navigation system. For comfortable seating and the optional all-wheel drive, the BMW 535i (MSRP $58,300; 19 city / 28 hwy) may be a good choice.
Pros & Cons
The 2012 Audi A7 may have tight rear seats and spongy brakes, but it has the Quattro all-wheel drive for better handling, the large-capacity trunk, and the beautiful interior and exterior that highlights this product thoroughly.
Overall Rating
75 out of 100
What others say:
“A7 is a superb premium-midsize sedan that does most everything well. It’s supermodel gorgeous, with svelte exterior styling and luxury finishes inside.”Consumer Guide
“Based on the next generation A6, the A7 is designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 5-Series GT.”Consumer Report
“The new 2012 Audi A7 hatchback is based on the redesigned A6 sedan, and offers welcome versatility and lots of style. It’s pricier than the A6, though, and seats only four passengers.”Edmunds
Specifications
| Vehicle Type: Luxury Sedan | Base Price: $59,250.00 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity: 19.8 gallons | Miles Per Gallon: 18 city / 28 hwy |
| Length: 195.6 in. (496.9 cm) | Width: 84.2 in. (213.9 cm) |
| Height: 55.9 in. (142 cm) | Curb Weight: 4210 lbs (1909 kg) |
| Wheel Base: 114.7 in. (241.9 cm) | Ground Clearance: NA |
| Luggage Capacity: 24.5 cu ft | Maximum Seating: 4 |
| Engine: 3.0L Supercharged DOHC V6 FSI | Displacement: 182.8 cu in(2995 cc) |
| Horsepower: 310 hp | Max RPM: 6500 rpm |
| Torque: 325 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm | Transmission: 8-Speed Tiptronic® Automatic |
| 0-60 mph: 5.4 seconds | 1/4 Mile: NA |
