When you have a topic such as the 2019 Audi A7, you can’t go further without asking one question. Has the A7 become an iconic vehicle? Well, the icon part might be a little far-fetched, but when you look at its lines and design, that by the way came from the A6 sedan, then you see that the four-door car can also be a thing of beauty in its own way. But that beauty doesn’t come easy and redesigning something like that “It’s not an easy task” as it was confirmed by Audi chief designer Marc Lichte.
2019 Audi A7 Exterior
What we’ve seen lately is only a proof how magnificent Lichte’s team is as they managed to create more than a successful successor to the original model, that looked the best after its mid-cycle facelift. The next gen A7 will host new, wide signature grille (taken from the Prologue concept shown in 2014), the daylight opening (DLO – the outline of the side windows) that will be similar to what we have on the current version, and the tail lamps which have become wider and slimmer.
The interior of new A7
Since the Prologue concept is in the center now, when new designs are considered, be aware that the inside of the 2019 A7 will be inspired by the said concept but with the addition of being “even more futuristic” as Lichte said. Forward facing elements will include swiping functions for the screen and several TFT displays that may use OLED technology. As for the assistance systems, they will surely get updated with an addition of a function that will summon the car for you from, let’s say, a tightly spaced garage or similar, which is a widely popular trick that is being taken from the Tesla models.
The platform
The next gen A7, which is due to be unveiled in late 2017 and marketed in 2018 (probably as a 2019 model year) will sit on top of the Audi’s MLB Evo platform. This new platform that the company developed is almost 200 pounds lighter than the platform it replaces, while on the other hand, it can offer more support for wide range of telematics, infotainment, and driving assistance technologies. We could see this one already in action as it already carries models such as A5, A6, Q5, and Q7 as well as the next-generation A8 which will come before the A7 to the market.
Powertrain of 2019 Audi A7
As it has become a trend lately, downsizing will be something that the A7 will adopt as well. The, let’s say, “starting” engines, at least in EU markets, will be turbocharged 2.0 L four cylinders both petrol and diesel. Audi will also offer its 3.0 L V6 in different power levels and with both fuel types as well. As for the US market, after the TDI cheating scandal, that market will not see the 6 cylinder diesel units, but will probably get the range of forced induction V6 gasoline engines in the A7 and its S7 and RS7 performance variants.
One more news is that there is a possibility that all of the V8 engines will be a thing of the past, but hopefully, if the demand shouts loud enough that might change. As for the drive distribution, all US market bound A7’s will come with AWD as standard and will be attached to the eight-speed automatic transmission with torque converter. Some talks about a hybrid powertrain are circling around, and it is OK to expect one, but no one knows when it will hit the US market, but one thing is for sure, it will not be soon, thanks to poor hybrid sales in the US lately, at least in this segment.
The competition
As it has been so far, the A7 will continue to fight it greatest rivals the Mercedes-Benz CLS-class and the BMW 6-series Gran Coupe, and some battle it is going to be, especially when we know that all three are developed with one purpose only – to be a beautiful derivative of higher-volume executive sedans.
