Too CLS for comfort

Bijoy Kumar Y drove the all-new Audi A7 Sportback on the splendid Italian island of Sardinia. You’re supposed to say ‘Wowww’

Little jet planes are pretty
My little soul quite chirpy
Short flight of fantasy and
a drive meant for intimacy
In the backdrop of the isle
Gunning a Sportback with a smile
Great country, great weather, exceptional stay and, of course, a marvel of a car. But something was missing… an exhaust that made its own music. When I read about the A7 Sportback last month, I was under the impression that at last Audi has taken on the CLS 63 AMG and other modern rivals like the Porsche Panamera and even the Aston Martin Rapide. One that sounded like one of those old Audi-powered Spyker Le Mans entries. C’mon, what is the point of a car this gorgeous if it can’t wake up neighbours in the wee hours of the morning? It competes with the traditional estates, SUVs and even four-door sedans — a cracker of an exhaust would have elevated the car to its mates from Stuttgart, but for the time being, the machine is considered for mass production and meets all European norms.

Like a piece of red hot metal
Giving form to something mental
Sensuous all the way to the
bumper
With a waistline that does not
run for cover
Why didn’t you give her wider
rear arches
With rubber to fill in and burn
as you desire

The best angle to see the A7 is from the rear-three quarters and especially so when painted in Quartz Grey and catching the last rays of the sun. From that angle, the only indicator that it is an Audi is the patented tail-lamp design. Other highlights are the huge arches, the ‘tornado’ waistline that runs the distance and, of course, the coupé silhouette that makes you want to think of everything from Camaros of yore to Jaguars and Astons from not so far ago. Walter Da Silva was still in charge of design when the A7 was frozen and that should explain the grille area of the car, which is the carried-on signature element of one of the successful grilles of our time. The car looks oh-so-bold and more so since it has more character than what any Audi is supposed to have. Okay, except the R8. That said, a slightly more muscular rear wheel arch would have got Porsche owners sweating and panting. Period. While bi-xenon headlights and LED tail-lamps are standard, the A7 can be ordered with LED headlamps too.

Plastic, metal and wood
Fuse together to make a
thoroughbred
An interior so sophisticated
Slim console to be highlighted
And the lowdown driving position
MMI, that can justify my decision
Inside the A7, a thin dashboard seems to float on top of the gear tunnel. The lightweight feel is accentuated by the use of crafted wood or aluminium inserts. The newest wood veneer has been inspired by classic boats and features a layered design. The low-set front seats can be ordered with a massage function, while the MMI operating system is standard. Also available as options are the head-up display and ambient lighting package. The rear seats are comfortable and cocoon you the moment you slam shut the sculpted rear doors. The top-end music system comprises the Audi interface and 15 Bang & Olufsen speakers. This is indeed a cosy place to cross small countries in — terrible shame then, that it is not called a GT.

Four V6s to the fore
From petrol to the diesel core
Purring at a 100 k’s or hunting
apexes
on Sardinian roads for effects
Pray Audi, when will she come
The angry one wearing the RS7
badge

We were handed over the keys to the A7 at the Olbia airport itself and soon we were driving on the narrow but challenging roads of Sardinia in a 3.0-litre TDI S-line developing 245 bhp. Mind you, the A7 is a wide car and needs getting used to, especially at right hand corners. The initial impression is that this is a soft car — but unlike typical soft cars, this one was fast. Exceptionally fast and much more isolated than any car that can look and feel the same. It goes around corners as if it is aided by a cushion — half of Indian prospective customers would love that! This is a dynamically correct car that refuses to allow you to indulge in some unruly driving. Not with Quattro all-wheel drive and a host of other technologies.

Later in the day we found the ‘lonely’ road that allowed us to turn up the wick — this time that of an A7 powered by a 3.0-litre TFSI Quattro developing 300 bhp and mated to a seven-speed S-tronic tranny. The ‘softness’ issue remained even with the car running on dynamic settings. Perhaps it is to do with the adaptive air suspension of the test cars and perhaps it is the electric power steering that refuses to let you have the ‘biting grip’ feel that you are used to in the performance Quattros.

While Audi is certainly planning a top-end variant with the V8 turbo engine, there are no plans for the Lamborghini-derived V10 that does the cooking with the RS6. And unfortunately it is the RS6 feel and power delivery I was expecting with the A7 — instead, I got a sportier looking (and going) A8. Perhaps I am not the buyer Audi has in mind for this car! But hey, an S7 version with more feel is exactly what can cure the issue.

To cut a long one short, the A7 is a pretty looking car that makes its owner feel younger by at least a decade. It drives flawlessly and is quite fast too. Its got all the safety features of the A8 flagship going for it, in case you are wondering.

The A7 joins the sportscar stable of Audi that already has some excellent nameplates like the TT and the R8. Watch this space for a test soon!

(The writer was on a media invite from Audi to drive the new A7 in Sardinia)