Spy Shots: Audi's important A7
by John Neff on Jun 13th 2008 at 11:27AM 
Click above for high-res gallery of Audi A7 spy shots
Spy photographers have caught the upcoming 2010/11 Audi A7 out testing in Germany, and while the car cover makes it look like Charlie Brown dressed as a ghost for Halloween, we think the pics are still important considering how significant this vehicle will be for the brand from Ingolstadt. We can see the smooth profile, sloping roofline and short rear deck of the A7 that are trademark styling cues of so-called "four-door coupes". This will place the A7 in direct competition with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, BMW's upcoming 8 series and even the next Jag XJ, according to Automotive News. Some of Audi's internal documents concerning the A7 have been leaked and reveal the automaker's big plans for this car that will borrow its aluminum spaceframe from the next-gen A6. In addition to the "four-door coupe" model, Audi is also planning a four-door soft-top convertible! As if that weren't enough, expect an S7, RS7 and hybrid model, as well. The RS7 model will reportedly use the RS6's twin-turbocharged 5.2L V10 pumping 600 horsepower to the quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi really wants to hit 1.5 million sales by 2015 (it's currently just shy of a million sales per year), and apparently believes the A7 will be a big part of it.
Gallery: 2010/11 Audi A7 - spy shots
[Source: KGP Photography, Automotive News]
KGP Photography
Our spies caught this covered Audi A7 prototype running on a European test track, providing the first visual proof that Audi is doing more than just talking about fielding a competitor to the Mercedes CLS. The A7 follows the four-door-coupe formula, with a sloping style-over-headroom silhouette. Based on the next-generation A6 (reportedly a new lightweight aluminum architecture), the A7 is expected to slot in between the A6 and A8--just as the Benz CLS sits between the E- and S-class.
Any comment on styling specifics beyond the A7's smooth profile shape, and the combination of its long and lean greenhouse and short rear deck design, would obviously be premature given the car cover, but this is a trademark trait of Audi's annoyingly thorough focus on security with its earliest prototypes.
The A7 is expected to make its public bow in Fall 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with an on-sale date sometime early in 2010. With A7 prototypes now in motion, those expectations look to be well on their way to being fulfilled.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Greg 11:33AM (6/13/2008)
By the way...
A few photos:
http://www.cardesign.ru/files/forum/part_2/26216/audi1.JPG
http://www.cardesign.ru/files/forum/part_2/26216/audi2.JPG
http://www.cardesign.ru/files/forum/part_2/26216/audi3.JPG
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EvolutionVII 5:28PM (6/13/2008)
Seen that somewhere else before... Mitsubishi RA concept:
http://www.dailyauto.ru/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/mitsubishi_ra_dailyautoru_17.jpg
Don't get me wrong; I somehow like Audi for their A5, but it seems like they just wanna get rich faster than Porsche does. Overpriced but yet unbeaten concerning public relations. They'd wipe your butt if you just give them a litte extra payment. I'm grown up so I can wipe my ass on my own and I prefer reasonable priced/puristic cars.
Paul 11:34AM (6/13/2008)
Audi always takes BMW's ideas. One day BMW releases the GINA Light Visionary, the next Audi starts covering their cars with fabric.
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DCragtop 11:42AM (6/13/2008)
ahh..you beat me to it. I guess now we now WHY BMW named it 'Gina-light' and why there was a slit in the hood. Looks like this is the newborn. Although, I'm concerned that it came out brown. Doesn't matter, it's grow to be BLUE according to DuPont.
dpb! 1:18PM (6/13/2008)
LOL! Nice one!
murphman 11:38AM (6/13/2008)
Car Mag has the real scoop:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/Audi-A7-2009-the-full-story/
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Sean Flanagan 11:45AM (6/13/2008)
What were they doing, filming an Enterprise commercial?
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DCragtop 11:53AM (6/13/2008)
ROFLMAO!
inteller 11:47AM (6/13/2008)
Dang, how is that thing breathing? It's going to overheat!
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DCragtop 11:57AM (6/13/2008)
Not sure why Audi went to this great length to put pantyhose on their car....all of their models look alike anyway. What's the big suprise? Will the snout be even bigger??? wooooh.
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Alex 12:04PM (6/13/2008)
Where were they taking these pictures? It looks like the road surface just goes on to infinity.
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Big Rocket 12:15PM (6/13/2008)
Real background was cropped out and replaced by a gradient fill in Photoshop?
jg 12:09PM (6/13/2008)
'This will place the A7 in direct competition with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, BMW's upcoming 8 series '
BMWs what? They're bringing back the 8? As a 4 door coupe? Vy?
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sTTickman 5:40PM (6/13/2008)
Got my Autoweek yesterday and had the A7 on the cover.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/FREE/786354616/1065
coolremo 3:03PM (6/13/2008)
yeah i didnt know that either. so its also gonna compete with the porsche panamera. this is going to be cool with all 3 models (audi, porsche, bmw) coming out at around the same time to compete with the CLS. what took them so long?
Eek 12:30PM (6/13/2008)
Best. Camo. Ever.
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Torrent 9:52PM (6/13/2008)
seconded. from what we can see, all we know is that the gas tank is on the right side.
martin 12:38PM (6/13/2008)
i dont get the market segment this is going into, audi is going to be as bad as mercedes with over-saturation.
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GreatSunJester 12:50PM (6/13/2008)
On my aching brain..... it is a car-burkha..........I wonder if women in Saudia would be allowed to drive with one?
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coolremo 3:04PM (6/13/2008)
haha. i didnt know john mccain reads autoblog.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp9qKSnRFCw