2019 AUDI A7 SPORTBACK GOES MILD HYBRID WITH NEW 48-VOLT PRIMARY

[SoRrY.]

The 2019 Audi A7 Sportback is 16.3 feet long, has a wheelbase of 115.2 inches and is 75.6 inches wide, but stands just 56.4 inches tall.
PHOTO BY AUDI

Audi introduced the new A7 Sportback at an event in Ingolstadt, Germany, on Thursday. The coupe-like sedan sports all of the company’s new design cues and sharp edges from the company’s Prologue Concept from a few years ago. All versions will arrive with a mild hybrid system including the V6 3.0-liter, which will initially be the only choice for power. “Additional six- and four-cylinder engines, both gasoline and diesel, will follow shortly after the start of production.”
In the front, we can see narrower headlights with sharper lines on the Singleframe grille. The lights feature 12 lighted segments with spaces in between that Audi says evoke the binary digits 0 and 1. Like most of these coupe-ish sedans the A7 looks long with short overhangs. The rear is tapered and features an integrated spoiler that extends automatically at about 75 mph. The taillights have 13 different segments that light up and move when the car is locked and unlocked.
The A7 Sportback will be offered in 15 colors, eight of which are new. Like the rest of the stable, an S line package is available with changes to the grille, front air inlets and elsewhere.
Inside, Audi says, the A7 gets a minimalized design, optional ambient lighting and a 10.1-inch upper display with Audi’s new MMI touch infotainment system that replaces the rotary pushbutton and other controls. An 8.6-inch lower display includes controls for climate, comfort and text input. Audi’s 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit in the gauges is also optional.

Compared with the previous model, interior length has increased 21 millimeters (0.8 inch), resulting in more rear knee room. Rear passengers also enjoy more head room. The loading width has also increased compared with the previous model and now measures 1,050 millimeters (3.4 feet).

Remote parking and remote garage pilot will be available in 2018. Those features can autonomously move your car out of its parking space or out of your garage. Top A7 models will get five radar sensors, five cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner. In total, the A7 Sportback gets 39 driver assistance systems split into three packages: the Audi AI parking package (gradual introduction beginning 2018), the City assist package with the new crossing assist and the Tour assist package. “The latter includes the efficiency assistant, which facilitates a driving style conducive to reducing consumption, and the adaptive driving assistant (ADA), which supplements the adaptive cruise control (ACC) with helpful steering interventions to maintain the lane.”
Much of the front and rear suspension has been developed from scratch, says Audi. The A7’s standard progressive steering becomes even more direct, and customers can choose between four setups: a conventional steel spring suspension, the sport suspension that lowers ride height by a half inch, electronically controlled damping and the self-leveling adaptive air suspension. All-wheel steering is offered as well, with the rear wheels turning as much as 5 degrees. Buyers can also get a sport rear differential, complementing the quattro system.

The top A7 trims gets the HD Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light.

The engine on launch will be a turbocharged V6 making 340 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. That’s good for a 0-60 time of 5.3 seconds with a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch transmission. It uses a 48-volt primary electrical system with a lithium-ion battery that can recover up to 12 kW when braking. At speeds between 34 and 99 mph, it can coast to save fuel, restarting with a belt alternator/starter.

From HybridCars.com:

“The belt alternator starter concept is to replace the belt driven alternator with an electric motor that serves as a generator and a motor. Thus when the engine is running the motor, and acting as a generator, the system will charge a separate battery. When the engine needs to be started, the motor then applies its torque via the accessory belt, and cranks the engine instead of using the starter motor.”

The 2019 A7 will be built at Audi’s plant in Neckarsulm and launch in Germany in February. We’ll see it here late 2018 or early 2019, according to Audi.