The cherry atop this sundae is named Competition
Overview
With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Audi has introduced a Competition model for the sunset years of its A7 (a fresh design is due for 2019). Blame BMW for provoking this behavior with the Competition packages it has offered on various M models over the years. The pity is that none of these hotties is eligible for American Le Mans, Trans Am, or World of Outlaws racing. All, however, are tasty bait for enthusiasts who prize lively street-legal performance.
Before we delve into the fine points of the A7 Competition, let’s put it into perspective with Audi’s alphabet soup of models. The A7 is essentially the hatchbacked version of the A6 sedan. Truth be known, hatchbacks are a touchy subject, at least in the United States. Asked why everyone doesn’t love them as much as we do, well-spoken shoppers say that a sedan’s cargo space is more secure, hatchback interiors can be noisy over rough surfaces, and opening the hatch in wintry weather sends cold chills down the necks of rear-seat occupants. But put those thoughts in the context of buyers rushing headlong to crossovers, all of which are . . . hatchbacks. This makes us hopeful that brighter days lie ahead for eminently useful hatchback passenger cars.
What’s New
Although the base A7 is unchanged for 2017, paying $7750 more for the Competition trim level buys an extra 7 horsepower—340 in all—plus a few chassis and appearance upgrades. The power gain is attributable to recalibrated engine-management software, not any new hardware; for that you’d have to drop at least $3350 more to step up to the S7. The A7 Competition adds sport suspension tuning and 20-inch wheels wearing Continental ProContact TX 265/35R-20 all-season tires as standard, and high-performance summer rubber is available as a no-charge option. The Competition exterior sports minimal brightwork, with the grille surround, window trim, and mirror housings finished in matte black. The 10-spoke aluminum wheels are cloaked in dark-gray paint except for their brightly machined outer surfaces. The car we drove for this review also was embellished with a $500 Cold Weather package and a $2450 Driver Assistance package that includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam control, and corner-view cameras, as well as automated braking to help avoid collisions. Thankfully, no fights erupted between the Competition equipment and the safety gear during our evaluation.
What We Like
The A7 impressively blends artful exterior design with a beautiful, highly functional cabin. The formal black-with-red-accents interior décor is tastefully top shelf. The Google Earth–based navigation zooms in with sufficient resolution to reveal the number of cars present in your driveway during the satellite’s last pass. Audi wisely fits only two comfortable seats in the back of uplevel models, endowing them with a generous complement of power plugs, HVAC vents and controls, armrests, seat heaters, and cupholders. There’s plenty of room under the sleek roofline, and no gymnastics are necessary climbing aboard. Folding rear seatbacks and a large opening via the hatch let you haul home bulky objects that conventional sedans are forced to leave behind. Audi’s Quattro driveline, evolved for the past 35 years, is transparent in use. The center differential utilizes a multiplate clutch set for a rear-biased 40/60 torque split, although the actual distribution varies according to available traction. The rear differential included in the A7 Competition has one computer-controlled clutch and a planetary gearset per rear wheel to provide torque-vectoring assistance in corners. The net result is a sporty car that attacks your favorite roads with utmost vigor. Rippled pavement edges rarely shake the tires’ grip, and there’s surprisingly little understeer diving in or powering out of tight bends. This is a stealthy speeder that surreptitiously builds and maintains major momentum.
What We Don’t Like
Some road noise crawls up through the all-season tire treads, past the sound deadening, and into the cabin. The automatic transmission won’t hold gears at the redline, and there’s minimal engine braking when you tap a shift paddle to select a lower ratio. Your radar-detector cord must be stretched to its limit to reach the 12-volt plug located inside the center-console storage bin. In spite of the extensive use of aluminum throughout its unibody, the A7 still tops two tons by more than 300 pounds.
Verdict
While Mercedes-Benz created the four-door-coupe category in which BMW and Porsche also compete, the Audi A7 wins our acclaim for the best execution. Early in its life, the A7 earned 10Best Cars awards for 2012, 2013, and 2014; we’re anxious to see what the next edition brings. Source By caranddriver.com
0 Comments For "2017 Audi A7 Finishing On The Podium"