Qatar, January 26, 2011 - Audi is targeting a new vehicle class with the A7. This large, elegant five-door model unites the emotion-packed character of a coupe with the comfort and prestige of a sedan and with the functional utility of a station wagon. With its lightweight body containing numerous aluminum components, the powerful and highly efficient V6 petrol engine, the sporty chassis and the advanced assistance and multimedia systems, it sets standards in many areas. The Audi A7 will roll into dealerships in the first quarter of 2011, with prices in the GCC starting at USD 71,662.

Audi is once again breaking new ground in design with the A7 , whose lines convey aesthetic athleticism and elegance on a grand scale. The five-door coupe measures 4.97 meters in length and 1.91 meters in width, but only 1.42 meters in height. Its long engine hood, the sportily flowing C-pillars and the sharply dropping rear create a dynamic overall impression.

The A7 is an Audi in new top form. Its low, dynamically drawn roofline lends it the character of a coupe. The design presents the aesthetics of modern technology in every detail - in the sharp, precise stroke of the lines, for instance, or in the athletically taut surfaces. Up front, optional LED headlights accentuate the distinctive expression. They use light-emitting diodes to provide all functions and consume little energy. LED tail lights are standard.

The sinewy sportiness of the exterior carries over into the interior of the A7, where Audi again gives proof of its leading role in automotive design. The salient element is the "wrap-around" - a horizontal line encircling the driver and the front-seat passenger.

The arc extends from the driver's side across the instrument panel to the passenger's door. The instrument panel has a wave-shaped application strip and generates significant tension.

In the interior, even the tiniest details document the care with which Audi builds its cars. The quality of the workmanship is on a craftsman's level. High-grade new materials such as layered wood veneers are a treat for the senses, and an optional ambient lighting system adds highlights to the interior. The front seats are available with optional ventilation and massage functions.

The five-door coupe from Audi combines supreme long-distance comfort with a sporty character. The interior noise level is very low even at high speeds, with the engine providing subtle acoustic feedback as their power unfolds. Behind the excellent acoustics are new structural design methods, the bundled use of high-end materials such as microfiber fleeces, and the systematic conceptual design of multifunction parts, such as acoustically active wheel well shells and underbody panels.

Cultivated atmosphere: excellent body characteristics
The cultivated atmosphere is due in part to the excellent vibrational comfort. This is the result of painstakingly tuning all components, systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings, and the extremely stiff body. Comprised primarily of aluminum and high-tech steels, it is exceptionally lightweight and very safe. The long rear hatch opens high to reveal a luggage compartment that is very easy to load and offers excellent functionality. Its ample standard 535-liter capacity swells to 1,390 liters with the rear seat rests folded down.

The A7 offers a new level of technical intelligence with logical, self-explanatory ergonomics. The optimized MMI operating system comes standard; among the optional equipment is a new head-up display that projects the most important information on the windshield. The MMI touch operating system combines a hard drive navigation system with the groundbreaking convenience of touchpad input. The driver can use the touchpad to perform numerous functions conveniently and intuitively, such as using his or her finger to write the letters of the destination or the digits of the telephone number.

Part of the fine range of hi-fi choices are the Bose sound system and the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen, which features 1,300 watts of power and 15 speakers.

The adaptive cruise control with stop & go function recognizes complex scenarios and combined with the Audi pre sense safety system can reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences. The Audi active lane assist, which will be available later on, helps the driver to keep the A7 firmly on course, and the new park assist system relieves the driver of the chore of steering when parallel parking.

Cultivated power: the V6 engine
Audi offers the A7 with a 300 hp 3.0 TFSI engine. Its efficiency sets new standards in the vehicle class and features a recuperation system and thermal management as a standard.

The sporty seven-speed S tronic sends engine power to all four wheels. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is state of the art. Featuring a crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring, it is particularly flexible and dynamic. The optional sport differential actively distributes the power between the rear wheels.

The chassis, too, combines sporty precision with luxurious comfort. The Audi
A7 rolls on large wheels measuring from 18 to 20 inches in diameter. Its links are made of aluminum; the newly developed power steering features a highly efficient electromechanical drive. The Audi drive select dynamics system is standard and can be supplemented by the optional adaptive air suspension with controlled damping. The dynamic steering system, which varies its steering ratio according to the speed being driven, will follow somewhat later.

- Ends -

The Audi Group sold around 1,092,400 cars of the Audi brand in 2010. In 2009 the Company posted revenue of €29.8 billion and an operating profit of €1.6 billion. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Györ (Hungary), Changchun (China) and Brussels (Belgium). Aurangabad in India saw the start of CKD production of the Audi A6 at the end of 2007 and of the Audi A4 in early October 2008. Production of the new Audi A1 has been running at the Brussels plant since May 2010. The Company is active in more than 100 markets worldwide. AUDI AG's wholly owned subsidiaries include AUDI HUNGARIA MOTOR Kft., Automobili Lamborghini Holding S.p.A. in Sant'Agata Bolognese (Italy) and quattro GmbH in Neckarsulm. Audi currently employs around 58,000 people worldwide, including 45,500 in Germany. Between 2010 and 2012 the Audi Group is planning to invest around €5.5 billion, mainly in new products, in order to sustain the Company's technological lead embodied in its "Vorsprung durch Technik" slogan. By 2015, Audi plans to increase the number of models in its portfolio to 42.

AUDI AG's commitment to the region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary in 2005: Audi Middle East. The current Middle East model range comprises the A3 Sportback and A4, the A5, S5 and RS 5, the A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet, A6, S6, the TT and TT RS Coupe and Roadster, the A8, the Q5, Q7, the R8 , the R8 V10, and the R8 Spyder V10.

© Press Release 2011