AUDI A7 DIESEL SPORTBACK S7 TDI Quattro Black Edition 5dr Tronic Auto

Audi's S7 Sportback switches to diesel power. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The second generation Audi S7 Sportback packs a massive 700Nm punch from its 350PS TDI diesel engine: yes, for the first time in an S7, there's diesel power - and it's the only option. The car also gets an eight-speed tiptronic transmission, quattro four wheel drive, adaptive damping and virtually all of the brand's latest performance technology into a practical but exclusively styled five-door coupe-style silhouette. It's a rare and tempting proposition for the money being asked.

Background

It wasn't very long ago that a car like this simply wouldn't have been possible. Ferrari-style pulling power stats, with five-door family versatility. Vanishingly rare exclusivity and a hand-built interior for less than £70,000. And, most tellingly, rest to sixty two mph in just five seconds, yet a 35mpg WLTP-rated capability. Welcome to the second generation Audi S7 Sportback. This, as you may already have guessed, is a performance flagship for the A7 Sportback range, this a 'five-door coupe' model line that Ingolstadt has created to challenge stylised executive contenders like BMW's 8 Series GranCoupe and the Mercedes CLS. I say 'a performance flagship': actually 'the' performance flagship of the A7 range is the 600PS RS 7 Sportback model, a car which looks tempting but costs vastly more than this S7 and also costs vastly more to run because it uses a V8 biturbo petrol engine to go, well, not all that much faster.

Driving Experience

The 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine used here with its electrically-powered compressor is basically the unit originally introduced in Audi's SQ7 large SUV, but has been embellished here with a 48-volt electrical system, which has taken the powerplant's total power output to 350PS. All of those braked horses are transmitted via an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission to the car's quattro all-wheel-drive system. The electrically powered compressor is the major reason for this S7 Sportback model's startling performance. 62mph from rest takes just 5.1s - which is virtually the same as was achieved by the far more powerful 4.0-litre petrol V8 of the previous generation model. And you get that performance here with far more pulling power this time round thanks to dual supercharging that sees the electrically powered compressor working in tandem with the exhaust turbocharger and producing 700Nm of torque. The standard-fit progressive steering comes with sports ratios in its basic configuration; the greater the steering lock, the more direct the steering is. There's also adaptive air suspension. And optional dynamic all-wheel steering which below 37mph, turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts for a tighter turning circle. At over 37mph, the rears move slightly in the same direction as the fronts to aid stability. For even more dynamic road behaviour, the quattro 4WD system can be supplemented with an optional 'Sport differential' on the rear axle. This literally pushes the car into the bend, producing a high level of agility.

Design and Build

You'll buy this car because of what it says about its brand and because of what it says about you, with a look that's measured, efficient, sporting and quietly exclusive. The long bonnet, the long wheelbase and the short overhangs create perfect proportions, while the swooping roofline is reasonably successful in giving this five-door model the character of a coupe. Subtle, eye-catching details set the S7 apart from its humbler A7 stablemates. The wide, low Singleframe grille features lamellas in aluminium and a centre section in dark chrome matt. The air inlets are enlarged over those normally featuring on an A7, with very bold contours, and their honeycomb-structure inserts are finished in titanium black. The blade running through them is trimmed in gleaming aluminium, as are the exterior mirror housings. Features that distinguish this S7 from its S6 saloon counterpart include the funnels in the air inlets and the angular trim strips on the side sills. The cabin is as well appointed as you'd expect from a range-topping A7 Sportback model, with beautiful monogrammed leather sports seats, and an S-specific graphic layout for the standard-fit Audi Virtual Cockpit instrument binnacle digital display which here features a central rev counter. The back seat offers reasonable space for three adults, but much more comfortable room for two and you get a fold down centre armrest with storage and cup holders. Out back, in this five-door model there's a 535-litre boot, extendable to 1,390-litres.

Market and Model

Prices start at around £70,000 - which is around £9,000 than you'll pay for the mechanically identical S6 saloon. That's for the standard S7 variant. You can also specify a plusher 'S Vorsprung' level of trim - but it'll cost you: think in terms of around £18,000 more for that. On the standard model, there are lots of options. You're probably going to want to pay extra for the lovely 'S sport seats with their integrated headrests. And you can add in ventilation and massage features, along with top-end Valcona leather to the front chairs. As for dynamic stuff, well many S7 buyers will want to look at upgrading to dynamic all-wheel steering and the optional sport differential. If you're thinking of taking your S7 to a track day (it'd certainly be fun to dismay the circuit regulars in a diesel car), then you'll need to consider the optional six-piston ceramic braking system, replacing the standard steel discs. The ceramic set-up is made from light, abrasion-resistant carbon fibre with 400mm discs at the front and 370mm discs at the rear. The complete ceramic brake system weighs nine kilograms less than its steel counterpart, so it significantly reduces unsprung masses with the effect of further enhancing driving dynamics, especially when cornering.

Cost of Ownership

While the electrically powered compressor boosts the performance, the mild-hybrid system of this car helps to improve fuel efficiency. The 48-volt MHEV set-up comprises a 'BAS' belt alternator starter and a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 10Ah housed in the vehicle floor beneath the luggage compartment. The BAS is connected to the crankshaft. During deceleration it can recover up to 8kW of power, which it then stores in the lithium-ion battery. When the driver accelerates again, the BAS reacts instantly by restarting the engine. MHEV technology allows for start/stop operation from a speed as low as 13mph. Thanks in part to the integration of the mild-hybrid system and the vehicle sensors, the S models realize a fuel saving of up to 0.4 litres in real driving conditions and can coast for up to 40 seconds with the combustion engine deactivated. WLTP fuel economy values for the S7 TDI are quoted at 35.8mpg (or 35.3mpg for the Vorsprung' model), equating to NEDC-correlated CO2 emissions of 170g/km.

Summary

This second generation S7 Sportback is a model meriting a measured approach, a sporting car rather than a sports car, its blend of talents making it a mainstream A7 with a bit extra in hand rather than a hard-riding RS-style Audi that's been tuned back a couple of notches. That in itself is no bad thing. You'll enjoy the S7 for its smooth ride, its effortless torquey TDI engine, the astonishing technology and its slick-shifting transmission. In other words, you'll enjoy it very much. There are obviously more efficient fast executive five-doors and sharper ones to drive. But none that quite share this model's package of power, practicality and panache. And it's one of the new breed of large executive Audi S model cars that have more about them than simply a big engine up-front, a contender that might even surprise you if in the past, you've limited your options with cars like this to brands like BMW and Porsche. Above all, it's a mature car, one that doesn't have to try too hard, a model that creeps in under the radar. Very desirable, very rare and very, very Audi.

Body Glass

Rain and light sensors

Privacy glass with side and rear windows

Rear wiper

Windscreen with heat-insulating glass

Heat insulating darkened glass in side and rear windows

Front and rear electric windows

Brakes

Electronic stabilisation control including ABS, ASR and EDL

Hill hold assist

Electromechanical parking brake

19" Disc brakes in front and brake calipers painted in black with "S" lettering (ECE)

Carpets/Rugs

S line front and rear floor mats with contrast stitching

Chassis/Suspension

S sport suspension with damper control

Communication

Smartphone interface includes wireless Apple carplay/Android Auto

Voice control system

Bluetooth interface

Audi connect with Amazon Alexa Integration

Audi connect safety and service (e-call)

Driver Aids

360 degree parking camera

Audi drive select

Camera based traffic sign recognition

Lane departure warning system

Progressive steering

Driver Convenience

Automatic start/stop system with coasting functionality

Operating buttons in black, glass look with haptic feedback

Driver Information

Colour driver's information system display

Audi virtual cockpit

MMI nav plus with MMI touch + 10.1" and 8.6" HD haptic touch screen/3D city models/country information/online map/route info and personal route assist

Head up Display

Service indicator

Driving Mirrors

Electrically adjustable heated and folding + automatically dimming exterior mirrors with memory function

Frameless auto dimming interior rear view mirror

Embellishment Trims

Carbon twill inlays

Engine

Diesel particulate filter

22 litre AdBlue tank

73 litre fuel tank

Entertainment

DAB digital radio module

Auxiliary input socket

Bang + Olufsen premium sound system

Audi music interface

Exterior Body Features

Gloss black highlights on the front and rear bumpers

S front and rear bumpers

Gloss black highlights on the radiator grille

Body colour S specific rear diffuser

Gloss black highlights on the exterior area of the Audi Single frame

Gloss black highlights on the side windows trim strips

Omission of output/technology badging

Audi S badging on front grill with red rhombus and without model numbering

S air inlet in titanium anthracite black

S Line side skirts

Audi rings, front and rear as well S7 at the rear in black

Rear side wing doors

Retractable rear boot spoiler

Exterior Lights

HD Matrix LED headlights

Audi beam

Signature LED daytime running lights

LED 3rd brake light

LED rear lights with dynamic indicators

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

4 zone climate control

Interior Features

Valcona leather upholstery with super sport seats and S embossed logo

Front centre armrest

Leatherette upper instrument panel and door shoulders

Luggage compartment lid, electrically opening and closing

Height/reach adjust steering wheel

Leather gear knob

Black cloth headlining

Stainless steel pedals and foot rest

Interior Lights

Audi phone box light

Packs

Park assistance plus pack - A7

Storage pack - A7

Extended LED Interior multi coloured light pack - A7

Non smoking pack - A7

Safety

Audi pre-sense front

Driver and passenger airbags

3 point seatbelts on all seats

Manual child lock in rear doors

Warning triangle and first aid kit

Tyre pressure warning light

Extended pedestrian protection measures

Seatbelt monitoring

Seats

4-way electric lumbar support

ISOFIX child seat mounting and top tether in front and outer rear seats with front passenger airbag deactivation

Electrically adjustable front seats - driver seat with memory

Heated front seats

40/20/40 split folding 3 seater rear seat bench with rear centre armrest

Single front passenger seat

Front and rear headrests

Security

Remote central locking

Immobiliser

Anti-theft wheel bolts and wheel loosening detection

Anti theft alarm with tow away protection

Keyless Go

Preparation for tracking system

Towing

Towbar preparation

Transmission

Quattro all wheel drive with self locking centre differential

Quattro on demand

Vanity Mirrors

Illuminated sun visors with vanity mirrors

Wheels - Alloy

21" 5 V spoke trapezoid anthracite black, gloss turned alloy wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tool kit

Emissions - ICE

HC: N

Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEL: 189

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb - TEH: 192

WLTP - CO2 (g/km) - Comb: 189

Engine and Drive Train

Catalytic Convertor: No

Engine Code: 4KASPA

Gears: 8 SPEED

Transmission: SEMI-AUTO

Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH

Cylinders: 6

Cylinder Layout: V6

Number of Valves: 24

Camshaft: DOHC

Fuel Delivery: COMMON RAIL

CC: 2967

Fuel Consumption - ICE

WLTP - MPG - Comb: 39.2

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEL: 39.2

WLTP - MPG - Comb - TEH: 38.7

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb: 7.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEL: 7.2

WLTP - FC (l/100km) - Comb - TEH: 7.3

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: 0

General

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 50E

Service Interval Mileage: 18000

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: 0

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: N

NCAP Safety Assist %: N

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: N

Badge Power: 344

Badge Engine CC: 3.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

AdBlue: No

Generation Mark: 2

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Coin Description: TDI Quattro

Coin Series: S7 Black Edition

Performance

Top Speed: 155

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - BHP: 344

0 to 62 mph (secs): 5.1

Engine Power - KW: 253

Engine Power - RPM: 3850

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 516

Engine Torque - NM: 700

Engine Torque - MKG: 71.4

Engine Torque - RPM: 1750

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Space Saver?: 0

Alloys?: No

Wheel Type: 21" ALLOY

Wheel Style: 5 V SPOKE

Tyre Size Rear: 255/35 R21

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Tyre Size Front: 255/35 R21

Vehicle Dimensions

Wheelbase: 2928

Width (including mirrors): 2118

Height: N

Height (including roof rails): 1417

Length: 4979

Weight and Capacities

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2635

Minimum Kerbweight: 2010

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 63

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2100

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750

Max. Loading Weight: 625

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 525

No. of Seats: 5

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.2

Driving Mirrors

Body coloured door mirrors

Exterior Body Features

Pearlescent paint

Audi exclusive metallic paint

Panoramic glass sunroof

Metallic paint

Packs

Tour pack with adaptive cruise assist - A7/S7 Black Edition

Extended leatherette pack - A7

City assist pack - A7

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Chronos grey

Metallic - Firmament blue

Metallic - Ascari blue

Metallic - Mythos black

Metallic - Floret silver

Metallic - Glacier white

Metallic - Grenadine red

Paint - Pearlescent

Pearl - Daytona grey

Paint - Solid

Solid - Brilliant black

Paint - Special

Audi Exclusive Metallic - Custom

Safety

Rear side airbags

Service/Warranty

Audi warranty - 4 years or 75000 miles

Audi warranty - 5 years or 90000 miles

Towing

Electrically swivelling trailer towing hitch

Trim - Leather

Valcona leather - Arras red with agate grey contrast stitching + super sport seats and S embossed logo

Valcona leather - Rotor grey with anthracite contrast stitching + super sport seats and S embossed logo

Valcona leather - Black with rock grey contrast stitching + super sport seats with S embossed logo

Wheels - Spare

Space saver spare wheel with jack