Carrina / Auto Consept

Upmarket Sportback concept uses next A6's platform and is on sale in 2011 as the A7

AUDI launched this Sportback concept at the Detroit Show. It is expected to go into production in 2011 as the A7, but it also previews the styling of the A5 Sportback, due later this year.

In contrast to the American car maker's more austere displays, Audi put on a lavish stage show to launch the Sportback as it celebrates its centenary year.

The car's elegant sportback body style will feature heavily in Audi's future design strategy. The firm want to extend its ranged of five-door hatchback (started with the A3 Sportback), with the A5, the A7 and finally the A1 Sportback. Sources say its shape is very close to production reality.

The four-seater is just under five metres long and gets panoramic roof to maximise the amount of light entering the cabin. The cabin , which os almost entirely build from existing Audi components, is trimmed in cream leather and a Volvo-style light wood veneer that extends to the steering wheel trim.


On the outside, the Sportback's headlight are more aggressively tapered than we've seen on Audi's offering before now. The car's large metallic grille is likely to be toned down for the real A7.

Power is provided by Audi's 3.0 V6 TDI, with a seven-speed S-tronic gearbox. It has regenerative braking and low-resistance tyres to boost economy; the car should be capable of more than 16km/l.

The A7 is also significant because it uses the nest version of the A4's chassis and due to form the basis of the next A6.