Spy photographers have snapped the A7 Avant undergoing testing on multiple occasions, in both regular and cold weather conditions. Essentially a renamed and redesigned version of the A6 Avant, following Audi’s decision to designate EVs with even numbers and ICE versions with odd numbers, the A7 Avant sports a streamlined design that echoes the smaller A5. While most of the details are hidden by camouflage, we can see a honeycomb mesh grille that is flanked by angular headlights and vertical air curtains.
Things are more evolutionary further back,
but the wagon adopts flush-mounted door handles and curvaceous bodywork.
They’re joined by a familiar greenhouse and an upward sweeping beltline. The
rear end is heavily disguised, but the model has slender taillights that are
connected by a thin illuminated strip. That isn’t the only thing notable about
them as they have vertical elements at the outside edges. We can also see a
rounded rear bumper and a dual exhaust system.
Technical specifications for both the
sedan version of the A7, to be named the Sportback, and the pictured Avant
wagon are limited at this point. However, they’re expected to ride on an
updated version of the MLB platform called the PPC (Premium Platform
Combustion). The A7 should also be slightly larger than its predecessor. For
size comparison, the current A6 estate it replaces measures 4,939
mm long, 1,886 mm wide, and 1,467 mm tall. We have
yet to catch a glimpse of the interior for the A7 Sportback and A7 Avant, but
the new luxury model is expected to transition from the current model’s
twin-screen MMI system to a single curved bezel housing both the OLED gauge
cluster and infotainment touchscreen, similar to the setup found in the newer
Q6 e-tron. This setup will likely include the addition of a third screen for
the front passenger.
Audi is expected to place a greater
emphasis on hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains for the new A7 series. The
PHEV model will likely utilize the company’s 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery,
offering an electric-only range of about 60 miles or nearly 100 kilometers. On
the more performance-oriented side, an S7 Sportback and Avant are under
development, as is the range-topping RS7. Prototypes of the latter have already
been spotted in Sportback form, with the model expected to pack a PHEV
powertrain sourced from the Porsche Panamera. This setup could include a twin-turbo
4.0-liter V8, an electric motor, and a 17.9 kWh battery pack, delivering close
to 700 horsepower.
Audi will kick off the revamp of its
mid-size luxury range with the launch of the electric A6 e-tron this summer,
followed by the A7 in both Sportback (sedan) and Avant (wagon) forms sometime
in early 2025, possibly as 2026MY in North America. Expect to hear more details
on Audi’s gasoline-powered competitors to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz
E-Class in the coming months.
