Audi A7

Audi has revealed the A7 Sportback, a five-door vehicle built on an all-new platform. The new car, previewed in concept form at the 2009 NAIAS, is said to employ the sporty elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon, according to the Ignolstadt firm.

The A7 Sportback is nearly identical the current A6 sedan in size, with a length of 4970mm and width of 1910mm, but the new car features a plunging roofline making it stand only 1420mm tall. The slim and athletic design (both keywords in the design process) is characterized by dramatic, flowing lines and a negative rear end shape inspired by the Audi 100 Coupe from the late 1960s. The A7 Sportback also has an impressive 0.28Cd and features a high proportion of aluminum for increased rigidity and lighter weight.

Inside, the A7 features a wraparound theme, inspired in part by yacht design: a horizontal line encircles the driver and front-seat passenger to provide a feeling of safety and security. The wave-shaped application strip is the salient element of the dashboard, which further emphasizes the lightweight theme of the exterior.