Introduction
The Audi A7 was introduced for the 2012 model year as a luxury sedan with a steeply raked hatchback design which the automaker calls a "sportback." Save for the addition of a few options, the A7 is unchanged for 2013. The A7 shares its interior, platform, and powertrain with the Audi A6, but has a noticeably different profile. It's based on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform, and competes mainly with the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, BMW 5 Series, and the Porsche Panamera. It's offered in three trim levels: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige.
Exterior Features
Black and white are the 2013 A7's no-cost colors; eight other colors are offered for an extra charge. The Premium (base) trim features rain-sensing wipers, sunroof, automatic headlights, LED taillight technology, rear fog lights, power-adjustable heated side mirrors with memory, built-in turn indicator lights, and 18-inch wheels, which can be upgraded to 19 inches. The Premium Plus trim features 19-inch wheels, a parking system with rearview camera, xenon plus headlights with LED daytime running light technology, and upgraded exterior mirrors. The Prestige trim includes adaptive headlights, cornering lights, and the Audi S line exterior appearance (S line front and rear bumpers and S line-specific Audi Singleframe grille).
Interior Features
The A7 features standard keyless entry and ignition, 3-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power front seats, lumbar adjustment, leather upholstery (in black, grey, beige, or brown), tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity, 10-speaker sound system, satellite radio, and iPod interface. The Premium Plus trim includes the Audi MMI Navigation Plus package, upgraded lighting, Bluetooth connectivity, automated 3-zone climate control, and heated front seats. The Prestige trim includes Audi Advanced Key entry, and features an 8-inch display, voice control, and a user-friendly touch pad that can recognize ordinary handwriting. The Prestige trim level also adds ventilated front seats and 4-zone automatic climate control. The sportback design provides 24.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats.
Optional Features
At the Prestige level, options include a Bang & Olufsen audio system, and adaptive cruise control. The Innovation package (Prestige trim only) includes power-folding, power-adjustable, auto-dimming, heated exterior side mirrors with memory, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, Active Lane and Side Assist, Night Vision Assistant with Pedestrian Detection and head-up display, and a Corner View camera. A Sport package that includes a lowered suspension, 3-spoke steering wheel with shift paddles, and 19-inch wheels is available for all trims, and can upgrade to 20-inch wheels on the two upper trims. Many of the enhancements of the Prestige trim are available to the lower trim levels as option packages or as individual features. The Cold Weather package provides the driver, front passenger and rear occupants with a multi-level seat heating system, which is designed to heat the entire surface of the seat. The package also includes a heated, 4-spoke, multi-function steering wheel, which provides easy access to volume control, radio station and CD track selection, navigation voice prompts, and telephone dialing. An optional 3-seat rear bench brings seating capacity up to 5 from the standard 4.
Under the Hood
Standard on the 2013 A7 is the Audi Drive Select package, which includes adjustable modes for steering, throttle, and transmission. The A7 is powered by a supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 engine that includes new-for-2013 start/stop technology. It's rated at 310 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque, and comes standard with Audi's Quattro AWD and an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel-economy estimates for the 2013 Audi A7 are 18/28/22 mpg (city/highway/combined).
Safety
Standard safety features on the 2013 Audi A7 include anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, front-seat and rear-seat side air bags, front knee air bags, and side curtain air bags. Other safety features are optional, including rear thorax side air bags. As of this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has rated the crashworthiness of the 2013 A7.
Technology
Audi's technology site allows users to sit in their vehicles and view tutorials about exclusive Audi technologies such as MMI and HomeLink. Audi MMI Navigation Plus features an 8-inch screen, voice control, CD and DVD compatibility, and dual SD memory card slots. New features for 2013 include Bluetooth streaming audio and Audi Connect, which adds Google search and Google Earth map overlays. Audi's proprietary Quattro AWD system combines with electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering.
