AUTO
THE 2019 AUDI A7 GC takes a closer look at the new Audi A7 Sportback.
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n 2010, Audi debuted the A7 Sportback; a four-door, highperformance luxury grand tourer with the silhouette of a fastback. This was just the latest in a series of iconic fastback offerings from the Ingolstadt, Germany based manufacturer of icons such as the 100 Coupé S, the TT, and the all-conquering Quattro. In February 2018, Audi introduced to the world, the latest evolution of the successful A7 Sportback. It can be best described as a hybrid of sorts. It combines performance with luxury, sleek exterior with a roomy interior, and aesthetic beauty with practicality. One of its most outstanding features has to be the optionally available “dynamic all-wheel steering” system. Working in conjunction with “Quattro Drive”, Audi’s signature all-wheel-drive system, the all-wheel steering system simultaneously enhances the handling of the car, as well as the comfort and safety of the passenger. This is a practical compromise between the longrunning conflict between agility and stability. If the car is below 60 km/h, the electronic brain behind the system turns the front and rear wheels in the opposite direction. This can reduce the turn radius by up to 1.1 meters making the A7 Sportback manurer like a compact car on the busy city streets, or while going around bends on country roads. At speeds of 60 km/h or more, the front and rear wheels turn in the same direction giving greater composure while changing direction or during evasive manoeuvres.
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The driving experience is enhanced further by the electromechanical steering which achieves an optimal compromise between comfort and feedback. It is designed to convey information that the driver needs while filtering out the unpleasant ones. The driver also has a wide range of options when it comes to selecting the optimal combination of suspension types and suspension tunings. Overall, there are 30 driver assist systems to ensure that comfort and safety are kept at an optimal. Performance is delivered by the powerful and responsive 3.0 TFSI six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine working in conjunction with the new “mild-hybrid technology”. The A7 Sportback is therefore classified as a “mild hybrid electric vehicle” (MHEV). The engine is paired with a double-clutch, seven-speed “S tronic” transmission which has been re-engineered to deliver high torque and seamless gear-change. All of this performance is caged in a sturdy, well-balanced chassis that ensures stability and long-haul comfort. The A7 Sportback is enveloped in a new exterior design language highlighting expansive surfaces that are interrupted only by clean, sharp lines that play with the light and shade. It also features a redesigned grille and prominent air inlets that enhance the sporty character of the A7 Sportback. The 4.97 meters long profile is dominated by the large wheel arches, and of course, the continually sloping roofline that is the signature design element