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Expert view: Audi A7

A NEW type of Audi is coming: the Audi A7. It’s a hatchback style executive car that provides business car buyers with an alternative to the BMW 5 GT and the Mercedes-Benz CLS. But will it be worth it? Richard Crosthwaite, the prestige car editor at Glass’s Guide, gives us his verdict.
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New Audi A7: executive hatchback due 2011

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11 January 2011

Audi A7 to provide an alternative to Mercedes CLS and BMW 5 GT
New Audi A7: executive hatchback due 2011

A NEW type of Audi is coming: the Audi A7. It’s a hatchback style executive car that provides business car buyers with an alternative to the BMW 5 GT and the Mercedes-Benz CLS. But will it be worth it? Richard Crosthwaite, the prestige car editor at Glass’s Guide, gives us his verdict.

 

A NEW Audi, the Audi A7, will be landing here early in 2011. The new A7 will take Audi into a new segment that includes rivals such as the highly successful Mercedes CLS – the coupe styled four-door saloon.

However, the design of the A7 is different. Audi has styled its new car to appeal to business car buyers not so much as a luxury coupe but as an executive hatchback – which makes it subtly different to the CLS but at the same time sleeker than the BMW 5 Series GT hatchback.

One thing’s for sure, though, the Audi A7 is not a ‘safe bet’. This, though, is maybe no bad thing: several Audi models introduced over the past 24 months have been a bit little too formulaic in my opinion; this car sees Audi trying something different.

In common with most of the current Audi range, I would expect the new A7 to hold its value very well; in fact I suspect it will become the new benchmark within this small niche sector although I do have a couple of words of warning: specification and volume.

The Mercedes CLS was a real head-turner when it was launched in 2005. Its coupe styling was a big hit, and initially so were its residual values. But because of this success, Mercedes pushed CLS too hard, which were combined with a tranche of cars sent to market via leasing deals with inappropriate spec for this sector – many cars had no COMAND satnav which is an absolute must for this sector – and it spelt trouble for the CLS and its used car values.

Audi has taken care of one of these issues with a 6.5 inch satnav system included as part of a very high standard specification package. But what of volume?

As things stand, 2011 is set to be the peak in the A7 lifecycle and it’s being pegged at 3250 units, which seems sensible against the CLS peak year at approx 4500 units. It’s sensible to have the first year as peak, when the demand is at its greatest (trouble usually comes when volume is pumped later in a model’s lifecycle when demand has subsided) – so long as this turns out to be the case it’s likely we will see more than respectable RVs in three years’ time. Which should make it an attractive proposition for businesses, whether they buy or lease their cars.

Audi A7 key points

  • Can be ordered now; first deliveries early 2011
  • Prices start from £44,000: SE and S line specifications
  • Lighter weight construction thanks to aluminium and steel body construction
  • Measures 4.97 metres in length (A6 4.93m), 1.91 metres wide (A6 1.86m) and 1.42 metres high (A6 1.46m)
  • Two petrol engines and two TDI diesels at launch: 2.8 FSI with 204PS and 280Nm; 3.0 TFSI with 300PS and 440Nm; 3.0 TDI with 204PS and 400Nm; 3.0 TDI with 245PS and 500Nm
  • Multitronic CVT automatic for front-wheel-drive versions; seven-speed S tronic twin-clutch transmission for quattro models
  • Satnav, leather, cruise and parking controls, powered tailgate operation, DAB digital audio, alloy wheels plus xenon headlamps all part of an extensive spec list

Audi A7 prices OTR

  • Audi A7 2.8 FSI quattro SE £45,220
  • Audi A7 2.8 FSI quattro S line £47,010
  • Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro SE £48, 070
  • Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro S line £49,860
  • Audi A7 3.0 TDI SE £43,755
  • Audi A7 3.0 TDI S line £45,545
  • Audi A7 3.0 TDI quattro SE £48,000
  • Audi A7 3.0 TDI quattro S line £49,970

Further information

You can read more of Richard’s views on the prestige car market here: glassguide.co.uk/Editors-Blog.

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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