Awesome A7 the best Audi ... apart from R8

After a morning of swanning through the winelands of the Western Cape like a couple of millionaires, my driving companion - a knowledgeable and respected motoring journalist - turned to me and said: "I reckon this is the best car Audi have ever produced."

Rocked by this, and thinking he may have had a couple of glasses of chardonnay on the sly at one of our pitstops - I referred to the awesome R8.

"The best car apart from the R8," was his response.

We had just got out of the new Audi A7 Sportback that was launched last week and which had many of those attending searching for superlatives.

The Sportback concept is not new.

It first surfaced back in 2003 with the A3 and last year the German manufacturer brought out the A5 Sportback which made many sit up and take note of the direction Audi was moving in.

The A7 Sportback is simply another step forward - maybe that should be a leap forward - in the progression of their cars.

Two years ago the A7 Sportback was simply a concept car that did the rounds of the world motor shows.

Today it is a reality ... and thank God Audi had the conviction and foresight to act on their beliefs.

So how does it look?

Well for those who are young enough and with good memories, think back to the stylish Coupe S of 1941 ... then add forty years of progression, technology and styling and you kinda get an idea of how stunning the A7 really is.

With its aggressive low stance, muscular front bumper, bi-xenon headlights, single frame grille and frameless doors, it definitely rocks in the looks department.

And to go with the looks is a ticker to die for.

On offer for the local market will be two engines - both 3.0 litre brutes - one supercharged petrol, the other a high-tech diesel.

After giving the exterior the once-over it was time to fire up the petrol with the start-stop button, wind our way through a bit of early morning rush-hour traffic and head for the laid-back town of Franschoek.

Don't expect too much with round-town driving apart from a very comfortable ride but, release the shackles and confines of urban driving, and the A7 comes in to its own.

Those gear changes from the seven-speed S-tronic dual cluth transmission are seamless and give it the message and in no time at all you are up to 120km/h yet pulling less than 2000 revs.

The interior styling matches the exterior looks and expect to find a number of goodies as standard features.

First up you will find electrically adjustable seats covered in Milano leather hide.

Next there is dual-zone climate control, a four-spoke leather trimmed steering wheel with multi-function controls, keyless entry, park distance control with rearview camera. A impressive sound system (with iPod, MP3 and Bluetooth functions) also come standard.

A big vehicle - a shade under five metres long - equates to acres of interior space as well as a large boot (535 litres) which is opened and closed thanks to the push of a button.

It must be noted though, that the A7 is a four-seater with a large surface separating the rear seats.

The A7 also produces a couple of firsts for the German manufacturer, the most important being on the safety front where the coupe is equipped with active counter-steering assistance that comes in to play in "critical handling situations".

Audi's words, not mine!

Basically it serves as a steering guide when the car senses the driver is in trouble and stabilises the vehicle. Needless to say ABS braking system is also part of the deal.

But if you are not happy with the impressive standard version of the vehicle, then you can up your game with the selection from three additional packages that combine a number of functions you will not normally get.

The packages include Sophisticated (R43400), Progressive (R51500) and Sport (R50500) and all come with a long list of additions.

So who is the Sportback aimed at?

Well according to those at Audi it's for motorists who love the coupe style of commuting but find two doors impractical.

To conclude, with the A7 Sportback Audi have managed to blend the comfort of a saloon, the practicality of an estate and the sporty elegance of a coupe. As my friend said, "the best car Audi have ever produced ... apart from the R8."

THE SPECS

Engine: 2967CC TFSI V6 petrol

Power: 220kW at 4 250rpm

Torque: 440Nm at 2 900rpm

0-100km/h: 5.6 seconds (claimed)

Top speed: 250 km/h (limited)

Fuel consumption: 8.2l/100km (claimed)

CO2: 190g/km

Price: R728 000

We like

Stylish, luxury driving

Kick of a mule

We don't like

Nothing at this point