Audi A7
Audi has come a long way since it was the "other German manufacturer". While BMW and Mercedes have campaigned to erode each other' s customer bases and win affection by a thorough delve into brand confusion, with hard-core Mercedes sports models and ultra comfortable, minimalist, plutocrat BMW's, Audi has quietly plugged away on establishing it's own ground. There is a distinctive Audi interior design that has emanated, in many ways and in my opinion the most stylish and ergonomic of the trio. Somehow getting the number of buttons and the user interface just right. In a modern car, knowing what functions are available at the press of a button and which are found buried deep in a menu on the onboard computer is a very important decision. Audi has this just right. Sexy design both in and out in a constant evolution is certainly not hurting them at all, while the other two manufacturers have, in recent years, gone from nostalgic design cues to innovation, winning and losing their customer base as they go along. Interestingly, Audi's traditional Achilles heel, resale value seems a thing of the past, with Audi's fetching a premium in the used market.
Following Audi's iconic and sexy A5 is the A7. The same, but bigger. And more comfortable. This is one seriously sexy and comfortable car. Another of the coupe styled sedans, this four door has plenty of space and an enormously wide and deep "boot" that is not enormously tall, but spacious indeed. Generous in interior space too. This seats 4 even American Junk food eating sized adults with some serious elbow and legroom. About my only interior "complaint" is the lack of the diamond stitching patter that adorned the seat padding on their A8.
Dynamically, the Audi rides on the same magnetically adjustable suspension components as the rest of the sporty Audis get. Comfort mode is just that, Sport, just the opposite and the auto setting offers a good and adaptive compromise. Handling is in the excellent range especially when pushed hard. I must note with 220kw on offer with 440Nm via the superb 7 speed DSG box, the 5.6 claimed 0-100 time is irrelevant. It just feels quicker. It is one of those cars where the numbers are less than the reality. This car in spite of its capaciousness can really hustle. The odd mountain pass was turned into a series of entry and exit points with a rictus grin from pleasure not fear, tying them together. The car is simply brilliant.
The optional Bose sound system is a worthwhile temptation at around 12k but five and a half thousand Rand for a cd changer is bizarre in the age of iPod. You could buy an iPod and a laptop with more capacity for less than that!
At R728 000 the only question you need ask yourself, is the Audi or the Porsche Panamera? The Panamera is about 30k more, a tad slower, In stock form, not as well equipped, with the same engine output, but there is that Porsche name....
