Motoring Lifestyle
Audi A7 50 Quattro S Line Engine: 3.0TDi V6 Power: 286bhp 0-100km/h: 5.7 seconds Top speed: 250km/h Annual tax: €290 Price: €104,527 as tested (€81,000 minus extras)
hybrid system with regenerative braking feeding power to a lithium ion battery and a starter motor. Four-wheel steering is another nifty first – the front and rear wheels turn in opposite directions for easier parking, manoeuvring and handling at speeds of up to 60km/h. Beyond that they turn in the same direction for greater stability. It might cost €2,892 to equip but it’s very handy in a tight spot. While the new A7 is a big improvement on the model from the outside, I think the biggest draw of the second generation is its interior. Audi really does know how to make them and this is best-in-class, with utterly comfortable seats and a fabulously sculpted dashboard with design elements echoed in the door panels – stylish, modern but minimalist. One of the standout features is the integrated two-level screen system that results in a much tidier affair without too many buttons. Top marks for safety too, with a range of tools keeping you on the straight and narrow from Audi Pre Sense City (which scans the road for other vehicles and pedestrians) to a system that detects if the driver is ‘inactive’. It’s quite practical too – the A7’s wheelbase has increased by just 10mm but passengers have an extra 21mm inside the cabin, without eating into the boot space. Prices for the new A7 start from around €78,150 but if you’re already spending that kind of money you’ll be tempted to throw in a few extras too. If you pick one, opt for the Tech pack (MMI Nav, reversing camera, Audi phonebox with wireless charging and the virtual cockpit) for a cool €2,900. Overall, it’s a cracking car that looks the business, provides a fun and engaging drive and is packed with as many technological gizmos and safety features as you could ever need, not to mention your money’s worth in miles per gallon. If this was a restaurant, it’d be Michelinstarred – a success story in the making. SFA | BETTER BUSINESS 77
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19/10/2018 10:39