We attended the opening press day at the Los Angeles International Auto Show yesterday, where Audi debuted its new A7, the R8GT and the exciting quattro concept first seen in Paris.
Audi intends for the A7 car to break into the luxury segment with more functionality, an elegant design and leading-edge technologies. aimed squarely at the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the A7 is scheduled to reach North American showrooms next spring.
The large five-door model with the dynamically flowing lines brings together the best of three vehicle concepts: the sporty elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon. The A7 features a lightweight body thanks to numerous aluminum components. The interior of the A7 shows a craftsman’s level of workmanship. The assistance, infotainment and safety systems come from the luxury class. The 3.0-liter V6 engine offers decent performance harnessed with the strengths of a supercharger.
The new A8L also made its way to the show giving big-body luxury sedan buyers something to gawk at. The A8L features a long wheelbase and an optimized 4.2 FSI V8 engine teamed with a 8-speed Tiptronic® transmission. The engine/tranny combo is said to bring segment-leading fuel economy of 17mpg in city driving and 27mpg on the highway. Setting new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency, the A8L is a technical work of art combining sportiness and progressiveness. With an overall length of 17.28 ft, the A8L is 0.43 ft longer than the normal wheelbase version and 4.8 ft high. The width remains unchanged. Audi’s flagship sedan also features a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, Audi pre-sense safety features and the LED lighting.
There was no other car that stood out more than the R8 GT. Dressed in matte white, the car is said to be lighter, more powerful and faster than the standard R8. A 5.2-liter V10 has been increased to 560hp and vehicle weight has been reduced by roughly 220 lb. The R8 GT accelerates from 0 to 62.14 mph in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 198.84 mph. With quattro permanent all-wheel drive the R8 GT is a driving machine with breathtaking lateral acceleration and lightning-fast, nearly instantaneous reactions. The 19” wheels keep the car planted firmly on the asphalt, and the available ceramic brakes easily keep the power under control.
Finally, Audi debuted its quattro concept car, a thoroughbred driving machine with 408hp, five-cylinder turbocharged engine, a lightweight body and the latest generation of quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The foundation is provided by the RS5. The key innovation, the crown-gear center differential, is compact, lightweight, and can vary the distribution of power between the front and rear axles over a broad range, enabling the quattro drive system to react within milliseconds.
We also heard a rumor that public reaction to this concept has been so positive that it will be brought to production in several years time.