Audi has been on a relentless new car introduction path as of late and 2007 will be no exception. The manufacturer will debut its B8 A5 and S5 variants at this year’s Geneva Motor Show in March, to be followed by the all new B8 A4 at the enormous Frankfurt show in the fall.

In 2008 Audi continues by introducing a mid-sized "coupe" model for the very first time. According to those familiar with the program the debut will take place at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show with the vehicle – to be named the Audi A7 – going on sale for model year 2009 in Europe and shortly thereafter in calendar 2009 in North America.

The Audi A7 will initially be offered as a four-door "coupe". Today only one manufacturer has an offering in the luxury four-door coupe segment: Mercedes-Benz with its CLS.

Audi’s case for building the A7 is bolstered by the CLS’ strong sales and the healthy ongoing global forecast for luxury vehicles. In fact Audi is not the only manufacturer with plans in this area, as both Jaguar and Volkswagen have been working on their own rivals for the CLS. In Jaguar’s case it will be the upcoming XJ replacement, however we have to wonder if new VW Group boss (and former Audi Chairman) Dr. Martin Winterkorn will keep the supposedly Passat-based VW project alive.

The Audi A7 will not readily compete with BMW’s 6-series as previously speculated by other publications. The vehicle has been designed specifically with rear occupant comfort in mind – a noteworthy differentiator from the traditional luxury coupe. The wheelbase, while very close to the Audi A6’s, will be an all new design. This so-called “large car wheelbase” will not only ensure the aforementioned rear passenger comfort, but will make the car look bigger than the A6. Expect to also see less front overhang than in the A6 range.

Although not the first to take advantage of Audi’s new powertrain architecture (the upcoming A5/S5 coupes and Q5 “small” crossover will be the very first Audis to do so), the A7 will benefit from the relocated engine and transmission. This MLP (Modular Longitudinal Platform) platform gets its name from its ability to service many vehicles within the Audi lineup (the aforementioned A5/S5, Q5, next generation A4 as well as the A6, A7 and A8). Everything from electronics to drivetrains can be interchanged to allow for customized architectures for each model as required.

The A7, as with all MLP vehicles, will see the engine and transmission moved further back behind the axle which in turn will provide significantly improved handling and driving dynamics.

Powerplant decisions have not been finalized at this time, but both gasoline and TDI offerings will definitely be available at launch. The most sought after European engine is thought to be a 4.2-liter TDI with its 326 horsepower and massive 650 Newton meters of torque available between 1600 and 3500 rpm. Closer to home, despite Audi’s recent North American diesel powerplant announcements, we hear that the Audi A7 will initially come to the US with only the 4.2-liter FSI gasoline powerplant. In addition to the 4.2 TDI expect both a gasoline and a V6 TDI offering at launch in Europe (and for the all-important Chinese market) with a V6 TDI available in North America approximately six to nine months after the initial gasoline-powered Audi A7 4.2 goes on sale here.

Plans are already well under way to also offer an S-version of the A7. The S7 will benefit from the S6’s Lambo-derived V10 powerplant, and will include larger high performance wheels and tires, an adjustable sport suspension and unbeatable performance in the segment. The S7 will be available in 2010.

Audi believes it can nearly create the illusion of a true two-door coupe vehicle while still retaining all four doors in the A7. The use of frameless door glass is a big contributing factor here, but Audi is also looking at ways to hide the rear door handle by integrating it into the black triangle assembly behind the rear window. With no traditional rear door handle and the appearance of a “single piece of glass” uninterrupted by a B-pillar the vehicle presents a credible coupe façade.

A recent mock-up of the A7 actually included a conventional rear door handle on one side and a hidden door handle on the other in order to give executives and designers better means to evaluate the concept.

The exterior of the A7 will of course employ Audi’s corporate “face” with a single frame grille. Highlighting the front, however, will also be the liberal use of LED lighting not only for the integrated fog lights, but also for the headlights themselves (as in today’s R8 sports car). An all-glass roof much like the open sky system available in both the A3 and Q7 models has been considered, although we hear that this option may not be available until (or rather “if”) the A7 is sold as a true two-door coupe. All new colors are being developed to specifically highlight the A7’s graceful shape, with both a metallic white and a highly speckled metallic black looking particularly striking.

Inside the A7, Audi will continue with its absolute mastery of interior beauty and comfort. Given the positioning of the A7 we will be seeing A8-like colors and materials utilized throughout. The rear seats will not be bench style, but rather multi-function, bucket-type seating for improved passenger comfort.

There has been ongoing speculation regarding two-door coupe and convertible A7 variants. Audi seeks to fill a specific market opportunity with the four-door coupe A7 and will not make decisions regarding variants until initial sales performance of the four-door coupe is measured. Both a two-door coupe and convertible A7 have of course been designed in concept, but Audi’s current production plans do not yet include either.

It is difficult to predict pricing for the Audi A7 this far in advance of its availability, but one need only look at the current premium between the Mercedes-Benz CLS and E-Class to get guidance that the Audi A7 will sell at a premium of 15-20% above the A6 range.

Completing CAR Online's hat-trick of Audi scoops is this - Ingolstadt's slinky answer to the Mercedes CLS. The A7 is due to land in showrooms in September 2009 and will be previewed by a concept at the 2008 New York Auto Show.

For any manufacturer to launch a successful model against the CLS, it must turn heads like a scantily-unclad A-list catwalk model. So the A7 will be a sleek, four-door based on the mechanical package of the next A6. And our world exclusive official design sketch, leaked to CAR Online by Audi moles, shows precisely how the Audi will look, with a low-slung profile and a gracefully swept-back stance.

Audis are slowly garnering a reputation as better drivers' cars, after a succession of smash hits (RS4, R8... is the jury still out on the A5?) and from what we know about the new A6/7, it looks like they should be more alert handlers than today's exec. Like on the new A4/A5 family arriving this year, the A7 will get a new steering rack, multi-link suspension and a rear-bias quattro system to quell the apex-busting understeer that's blighted Audi saloons for decades.

Four-cylinder power is off limits in the A7, and so is W12 propulsion. Six- and eight-cylinder power is flavour of the day, with as many as six different engines expected: 3.0-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 FSI petrols, topped by Lambo-sourced V10 in normally aspirated and twin-turbo form for the S7 and RS7. Prefer filling up at the black pump? Then expect 3.0-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8 TDI units.

Pricewise, the natural home for the A7 is the middle ground which separates the A6 from the A8, so the bulk of the models should be positioned in the £35,000-£50,000 bracket. Naturally, in this niche-filling, expansionist era at Ingolstadt, there could be a soft-top, too.

This single image, leaked from top brass at Audi exclusively to CAR Online, suggests Audi could have an attractive big coupe on its hands. But it won't have it all its own way; Mercedes is readying a facelift for the CLS in 2008, before an all-new replacement arrives in 2011.

Fresh new renderings of the upcoming Audi A7 have come out. The 2+2 seater, four-door coupe, which will be ready for production in 2009, is already testing, hidden under thick plastic as a mule.

Several models, as per Audi model pyramid, will go under the name A7. The most obvious of them are V6 petrol and diesel offerings, ranging from a 3.2-litre 200kW/268 bhp up to a storming 5.0-litre bi-turbo V10 of some 426kW/570 bhp. A surprise package will be the 368kW/ 493 bhp V12 TDI, which is already testing in the R 8 and is being eyed for inclusion as the flagship engine for the Q7 SUV.

Both front-wheel-drive and Quattro will be on offer, the latter on a 60:40 rear-biased split for the extreme-performance models such as the RS 7. The car will share its underpinnings with the next A6, although it will slot in slightly higher than the five-seater, but below the A8, as WCF has repeatedly reported.

The A7 could make its debut at the New York International Auto Show from March 21 – 30, 2008. This makes sense since Audi, like everyone else, is gunning for the US market in a big way, and as our renderings clearly show, the low-slung roofline should be a hit among Americans. The most recent hit car, at the time, to offer such a roof design was the Chrysler 300C and to good effect.

This makes sense since Audi, like everyone else, is gunning for the US market in a big way, and as our renderings clearly show, the low-slung roofline should be a hit among Americans. The most recent hit car, at the time, to offer such a roof design was the Chrysler 300C and to good effect.

Audi A7 Sportback

We have heard of the all new A7 model in coupe and cabriolet form, but this leaked document brings to our eyes for the first time the A7 Sportback. With only petrol and diesel V6 engines available from June 2010, a new 8 speed automatic transmission will be introduced on the 3.0-liter TDI model which launches in November 2010.

We are still 2 years from the launch of the Audi A7, but that doesn't do anything to hinder the anticipation of the vehicle. The new model will be positioned to do battle alongside the Mercedes CLS-Class and BMW's upcoming 8-Series and will feature the crème de la crème of Audi's technology.

A new platform is being developed for the A7 (to be shared with the next gen A6) based on the A5's MLP (Modular Long Platform) which focuses the bulk of its weight within the wheelbase for optimum weight distribution. An updated version of the R8's ASF (Aluminium Space Frame) body construction will make its way to the Audi A7 resulting in 50% body shell weight loss but whilst the A6 will retain the coil-sprung suspension, the A7 will get new air springs to provide an optimal driving experience – a similar system can be found in the Mercedes CLS class.

Under the hood Audi will offer three direct-injection petrol engines: 2.8 FSI, 3.0-litre TFSI V6 and a 4.0-litre TFSI V8, diesel options start with the 2.7-litre V6 unit whilst there will also be a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine. A little further down the line we are likely to see the RS7 launched with a tuned version of the RS6's 4.2-liter TwinTurbo V10 FSI and judging by the way the power wars are going, we wouldn't be surprised to see in excess of 600 horsepower coming out of this one.

The A7 is likely to continue Audi's reputation for class leading interiors with sources stating it will be “a cut above the four-door coupe competition.” It will feature an updated version of the MMI (Multi Media Interface) controller and a higher quality of materials.

Audi will be looking to sell 40,000 units of the A7 per year when it is released in 2010 which is a relatively low number, but will play its part in boosting the brands image.