Why make the A7 Sportback — a five-door fastback — the new Audi A7L , an elongated and more traditional three-volume, four-door sedan? Well, every market has its specifics and China is no different.
Space for passengers in the back is highly valued in China and the use of private drivers is more frequent than in other markets, so it is not that uncommon to have long bodies of several of our well-known models sold exclusively there. And they're not exclusive to high-end saloons like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but you can also find them in smaller sedans like the Audi A4 or even SUV/Crossover like the Audi Q2.
It's time for the A7 to win its long version. However, contrary to what is usual, the new Audi A7L was not only lengthened, it even gained a new silhouette.
The new Audi A7L saw its wheelbase grow 98 mm compared to the A7 Sportback, now having 3026 mm, an increase that was reflected in the length that became 5076 mm (+77 mm). Still it is shorter than the Audi A8… “short”, but the wheelbase is, curiously, superior.
If on the A7 Sportback the arched roofline falls uninterruptedly towards the rear, on the A7L it reveals a subtle difference in curvature after the second row of seats, falling more pronounced towards the rear and generating, in the process, a demarcated third volume.
The rear doors are longer and the windows a little higher, which should also bring benefits when getting in and out of the new model.
Otherwise, it's the A7 we already know. The interior is the same and the big difference lies in the rear accommodation, much more spacious than those found in “our” A7.
Launched in 2022
The launch of the new A7L will be made with a special and limited edition (1000 copies). Under the hood will be a 3.0 V6 gasoline-powered mild-hybrid turbo with 340 horsepower, with 500 Nm of torque being sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
It will also be equipped with a directional rear axle — with such a long wheelbase, thanks to its increased maneuverability — and the suspension will be pneumatic.
The new Audi A7L will be produced in China, by SAIC, and will be marketed in parallel with the A7 Sportback from 2022, with more affordable engines, such as the 2.0l turbo, four-cylinder, foreseen.