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• Audi's latest S7 Sportback is now available in South Africa.
• It sports an S model design language.
• Power output of 331kW and 600Nm of torque is derived from a 3.0-litre turbocharged engine.
• Quattro four-wheel drive is standard and an eight-speed automatic does duty.
Audi is squeezing in as many new models before 2020 reaches it close. The German carmaker debuted its Q3 Sportback and updated Q7 to the local market in the past few weeks.
The latest model to land in South Africa is a performance four-door coupe model, the S7. It joins the A7 55 TFSI derivative and is the most powerful A7 until the RS7 arrives in 2021.
The S7 uses the brand's familiar 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged TFSI engine producing 331kW and 600 Nm. Transmission is controlled via an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox and power is sent to all four wheels. Top speed is governed at 250km/h and acceleration is stated at 4.6 seconds.
Pricing is pegged at R1 500 500, including all taxes.
Styling wise, the S7 features wide sills and rear diffuser with four tailpipe trims. S trim elements in dark chrome and aluminium on the radiator grille lamellas, the front blade, the side air inlet, the exterior mirrors and the rear diffuser.
The S7 is fitted with HD Matrix LED headlights and 21-inch wheels in an S-specific wheel design as standard.
Standard equipment
Step inside, and the S7 features black colour schemes and colour-contrasting stitching.
Standard equipment includes the virtual cockpit with 31cm, MMI navigation plus, four-zone automatic air conditioning, HD touch displays with haptic feedback, contour ambient lighting with up to 30 colours, Audi phone box and smartphone interface, Bang and Olufsen premium sound system with 3D sound and a panoramic glass sunroof.
The full suite of the brand's connect technology around connected infotainment, remote services, safety and convenience features are a few of the key standard specification.
S sport seats with integrated head restraints, embossed S logo and rhombus pattern come standard. For additional comfort, the carmaker offers multi-adjustable customised contour seats optionally with ventilation and massage.
Sporty inserts
The steering wheel with flat-bottomed rim is offered as standard. The footrest and pedal caps are in stainless steel, and illuminated aluminium sill trims with S logo.
There are comprehensive comfort and driver assistance equipment is available, including 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, night vision assistant, lane change warning and quattro with sports differential as optional extras.
The S7 boasts a boot capacity of up to 1390 litres.
"Clean power" – coasting for up to 40 seconds: the 48-volt mild-hybrid system
The V6 motor in the S7 benefits from a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (MHEV) to improve fuel efficiency. Audi says. The 48-volt MHEV system comprises a belt alternator starter (BAS) and a lithium ion battery with a capacity of 10 Ah.
The BAS is connected to the crankshaft. During deceleration it can recover up to 8kW of power, which it then stores in the lithium-ion battery.
When the driver accelerates again, the BAS reacts instantly by restarting the engine. MHEV technology allows for start/stop operation from a speed as low as 22km/h, says the brand.
Adaptive air suspension
The air suspension version with adjustable damping – makes its appearance on the vehicle as an explicitly comfort-oriented alternative. It can be set to three modes and includes a "lift" position for poor roads and automatic leveling.
In the "auto" mode, Audi says, the body is lowered by a further 10 millimetres (at speeds of 120km/h) upwards, and in the "dynamic" mode the vehicle remains always at this low ride height.
The driver can adapt the sport differential's control strategy via drive select. Five different modes are offered including "comfort", "auto", "dynamic", "efficiency" and "individual".
