It took a celebration in Audi’s hometown of Ingolstadt, Germany to reveal the carmakers new 2019 A7 Sportback. For Audi fans, the hatchback is a welcome addition with a varied array of semi-autonomous driving features and a duplicate multimedia system to the new A8 full-size luxury sedan.
The A7 maintains the same coupe-like roofline as the previous iteration of the hatchback, making it a formidable competitor to the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class and the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo. New for 2019 are full-length LED taillights, sleeker LED headlights, a larger trapezoidal grille, and bigger openings in the bottom front fascia in the S line model. The outside of the vehicle is much more in line with the redesign of the A8 that was released earlier this year.
On the inside, the A7 also pays homage to the A8 with all the luxurious touches of a larger vehicle. Two large touchscreen at the center of the dash take pride of place as a command center, while the A7 retains its sportiness with a three-spoke steering wheel. Audi’s tech-savvy virtual cockpit system replaces conventional analog gauges with a configurable 12.3-inch multi-information display.
The whole package is enhanced with the A7’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that’s revved up with 340 hp and 369 pounds of torque, paired with a seven speed dual clutch automatic transmission. The A7 also features a 48-volt primary electrical system and a belt alternator starter that operates in conjunction with a lithium-ion battery to enable regenerative braking and enable the car to coast at speeds up to 99 mph with the engine switched off. The A7’s innovative start/stop system activates at speeds up to 14mph and will restart once its front camera sees vehicles in front moving.