Following on from last year’s A5 Sportback, Audi has unveiled a larger, ‘grander’ version of the ‘rakish’ five-door coupé… in the form of the A7 Sportback.

We’re promised “saloon car versatility, hatchback practicality and coupé elegance for the executive class”; along with just 139g/km CO2 – from the 204PS 3.0-litre TDI model, anyway. But that’s just one of the four engines available when UK orders open on 16 August – though the first deliveries won’t be until early next year. There’s also a 245PS version of the 3.0 TDI, with a helpful 500Nm of torque, plus two petrol engines: a naturally aspirated 204PS 2.8-litre FSI and a supercharged 300PS 3.0-litre TFSI petrol. All four engines come with start-stop as standard, along with energy recuperation during coasting and braking – and electromechanical power steering (not electrohydraulic).

Transmission is multitronic CVT for front-wheel-drive models, and Audi’s 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic for the quattro models.

Audi says “executive class dimensions are reflected in executive class interior space” and that there’s enough room to seat “up to four adults”. Maxiumum luggage capacity, at 1390 litres, is certainly impressive for an almost-coupé. While the driving experience remains to be tested, if the A5 Sportback is anything to go by, it will be jolly comfortable… but, dynamically speaking, not quite up to the sporting nature of a full-on two-door coupé. The extra length needed to accommodate four doors and “up to four adults” means compromise somewhere along the line.

We don’t yet have the full set of official performance figures but, with such a powerful selection of engines in an aluminium-and-steel-bodied car (15% lighter than the all-steel equivalent), the new models won’t be sluggish.

The all-new A7 Sportback will be priced from £42,925 OTR (£43,745 OTR at the new 20% VAT rate). Options include parallel park assist, all-LED headlights, head-up display and adaptive air suspension.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Audi