Poise and balance
A reflection of a car’s poise and balance can be found in how smoothly and precisely it responds to inputs – be they throttle, brake or steering related. The A7 is the poster-car for getting it right.
Unlike some vehicles which are tuned for over-responsiveness in the guise of performance, the A7 feels purposeful yet harmonious in every aspect. It’s an easy car to drive with divine smoothness when the Comfort mode is selected and it’s an inspiring car to drive spiritedly when the Dynamic mode is active.
Various driving modes alter the calibration of the underpinnings while also re-mapping throttle response and revising shift points in the A7’s 8-speed autobox. Steering wheel-mounted paddles reinforce the A7’s athletic disposition.
With all the proper pieces in place to ensure the vehicle’s handling prowess, we’re left to contemplate power and performance – and that perspective provides supercharged inspiration.
V6 with V8 guts
It’s a generally held principle that large sedans need V8 power if they are to be considered performance machines.
More and more these days, that notion is being shown the door, and this is another example. Audi has fitted the North-American A7 with a supercharged 3.0-litre DOHC V6. The stout and wonderfully refined mill dishes out 310 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm along with a hefty dose of torque rated at 325 pound-feet @ 2,900 rpm.
Perhaps it’s the wealth of low-end might or the broad range of gearing, but the A7 launches itself with astounding ferocity. Digging in at all four corners, thanks to Audi’s Quattro drive, the 20-inch rubber doesn’t mess around when it comes to grip and traction.
Acceleration remains robust as the A7 sails through its gears with deft precision. The ability of this sizeable sled to hit triple digit territory was greater than I expected from its 310 horsepower. Audi motions a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.4 seconds, and I second that motion—passed unanimously.
A reflection of a car’s poise and balance can be found in how smoothly and precisely it responds to inputs – be they throttle, brake or steering related. The A7 is the poster-car for getting it right.
Unlike some vehicles which are tuned for over-responsiveness in the guise of performance, the A7 feels purposeful yet harmonious in every aspect. It’s an easy car to drive with divine smoothness when the Comfort mode is selected and it’s an inspiring car to drive spiritedly when the Dynamic mode is active.
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| Audi has fitted the North-American A7 with a supercharged 3.0-litre DOHC V6. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |
Various driving modes alter the calibration of the underpinnings while also re-mapping throttle response and revising shift points in the A7’s 8-speed autobox. Steering wheel-mounted paddles reinforce the A7’s athletic disposition.
With all the proper pieces in place to ensure the vehicle’s handling prowess, we’re left to contemplate power and performance – and that perspective provides supercharged inspiration.
V6 with V8 guts
It’s a generally held principle that large sedans need V8 power if they are to be considered performance machines.
More and more these days, that notion is being shown the door, and this is another example. Audi has fitted the North-American A7 with a supercharged 3.0-litre DOHC V6. The stout and wonderfully refined mill dishes out 310 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm along with a hefty dose of torque rated at 325 pound-feet @ 2,900 rpm.
Perhaps it’s the wealth of low-end might or the broad range of gearing, but the A7 launches itself with astounding ferocity. Digging in at all four corners, thanks to Audi’s Quattro drive, the 20-inch rubber doesn’t mess around when it comes to grip and traction.
Acceleration remains robust as the A7 sails through its gears with deft precision. The ability of this sizeable sled to hit triple digit territory was greater than I expected from its 310 horsepower. Audi motions a 0-100 km/h time of just 5.4 seconds, and I second that motion—passed unanimously.
 |
| Digging in at all four corners, thanks to Audi’s Quattro drive, the 20-inch rubber doesn’t mess around when it comes to grip and traction. (Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com) |