Audi A7 raises the luxury bar for 2012

BY JOHN STEIN For Sun-Times Media October 7, 2011 11:28AM

2012 AUDI A7 PREMIUM PLUS

ENGINE: 310-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V-6

TRANSMISSION: eight-speed automatic

DRIVETRAIN: all-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 18 city/28 highway

BASE PRICE: $59,260

AS TESTED: $66,220

WEBSITE: audi.com

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Like its Deutsch competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi has created a brand and image that begins with a distinctive exterior style and finishes with outstanding interior refinement and performance. The vehicles in this class are literally in a class all their own — and the 2012 Audi A7 goes a long way toward making the German automaker the bar for others to surpass.

At a base price of $59,260, my 2012 Audi A7 tester was equipped with the premium package ($3,620) and the sport package ($1,500). For essentially $5,000 over the base, the A7 goes from an amazing luxury sedan to an extraordinary looking sport sedan.

Exterior styling is classy from front to back; every detail is carefully planned to accentuate or support another key feature. For instance, while I love the seductive lines that gracefully flow like water from the hood back to the rear bumper, it is the art in the relationship between the front grille and headlamp treatment that wows me every time I see it.

Looking at the A7 from the front, its grille delivers a massive horizontal slated statement that is upstaged only by the four-ringed Audi logo. Just when you think the grille is the reason you are looking at the A7, you realize that you are staring because it works so well with the angled Xenon headlight glass and LED daytime running lights.

The A7 offers standard 18-inch alloy rims or the option of a 19-inch five-double-spoke wheel. While both variations look great, my tester had the 20-inch wheels as part of the sport package. Unlike some 20-plus-inch wheel treatments that can make sporty look gaudy, the 20-inchers on the A7 were right at home, delivering a sophisticated athleticism and refinement to the whole exterior. Add to that the retractable spoiler and you have a statement of performance before the engine even turns over.

Audi offers impressive adaptive headlights, which make it easier to see at night when turning corners. Add the front and rear parking sensors with a rearview camera, as well as Audi’s side assist option ($500) that alerts you in the side view mirrors when there is a car in your blind spot, and you have some of the most contemporary technical advances on the market.

Inside the cabin of the A7 you will be wrapped in luscious leather seating, soft-touch surfaces and high-quality fit and finish in every nook and cranny. Heated and cooled leather surfaces offer year-round comfort as well as three-zone climate controls.

Sightlines are outstanding for driver and head and legroom are generous for both front and rear passengers. Front passengers have power adjustments with memory, while split-folding rear seats add to the versatility of a huge trunk.

Technology and convenience are abundant in the A7 with audio supplied by Sirius satellite radio (three-month complimentary subscription) with Bose surround sound; Audi Connect, which turns the car into a Wi-Fi hot spot for up to eight devices (six-month complimentary subscription); and the ability to make phone calls via a Bluetooth connection to your mobile phone.

Technophiles will be in heaven on wheels with the new touch pad that allows one to navigate through the radio, navigation and telephone options. Audi multimedia interface (MMI) interacts with the driver through a high-resolution color screen. To make a phone call on this system, simply draw the first letter of the person you want to call and the system will go through your directory and bring up contacts for that letter. If you choose not to use the touch pad, the system also has voice recognition.

The 2012 Audi A7 3.0 TFSI Quattro offers a standard 310-horsepower supercharged V-6 engine with 325 pound-feet of torque. This hefty powerplant is mated to a similarly impressive eight-speed automatic transmission with dynamic shift program and Audi’s signature quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system with rear torque bias.

The A7 jumps to attention with the slightest pump of the accelerator and the eight-speed delivers butter-smooth shifts and excellent adjustment to driving conditions.

Audi drive select allows you to choose from three different drive settings – comfort, dynamic and auto – or you create a custom driving experience to your liking. If you want the full sports car experience, then the dynamic setting will work best.

The Servotronic vehicle speed-sensitive power steering and electronic stabilization program are standard in the A7. Drive quality and responsiveness are acute while the interior cabin allows only some feedback from the road to the driver through the leather-wrapped steering wheel (with paddle shifters).

Fuel economy is not impressive, but this is a supercharged engine and you have to give something up to get that power. At 18 city mpg and 28 highway mpg, I thought it was well worth the trade-off.

With a final resting price at $66,220, the Audi A7 is worth every penny if you enjoy being looked at with admiration and appreciate refinement and a level of technological advancement that puts you at the forefront of the sport sedan driving experience.

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