Four-door coupes have become quite a thing over the years, with automakers employing the shape as a sportier alternative to standard sedans. German companies such as Mercedes-Benz with the CLS, BMW, and Volkswagen have leaned into the style more than others, although Kia landed a one-off hit with the Stinger.
Audi’s A7 is a fantastic example, bringing impressive performance and tech. The automaker currently offers three trims: Premium, Premium Plus, and Prestige. While it’s been on sale for more than a decade, the A7 and its related performance variants are only in their second generation. This overview will detail both iterations and dive into some of their powertrain options and features.
2019 - Present Audi A7 (2nd Generation)
The sporty second-generation Audi A7 Sportback debuted in 2018 for the 2019 model year. It gained sharper styling, losing some of the soft curviness of the first-gen model, but it was a similar size to the outgoing car. Audi employed elaborate lighting systems, offering three headlight designs, a striking LED taillight setup with a light bar stretching from side to side, sequential turn signals, and a welcome/departure lighting animation sequence.
The second-generation A7 kept its V6 engine, but power rose to 335 horsepower and 369 pounds of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission took over for the outgoing eight-speed automatic, and Audi’s excellent quattro all-wheel drive system was standard. A 48-volt mild-hybrid system debuted with the car, which replaced the starter motor and provided better acceleration. Unlike a traditional hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, the mild-hybrid system doesn’t focus solely on delivering better fuel economy. Instead, it allows the car to coast with the engine off for short periods, and its power assist provides better off-the-line acceleration.
The Audi S7 exchanged its twin-turbo V8 for a twin-turbocharged and supercharged V6, making 444 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. It also had a mild-hybrid setup and all-wheel drive (AWD). The 0-60 mph time to 4.1 seconds – slightly slower than the last versions of the first generation, but still very impressive. Audi employed a version of Porsche’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, and it had a launch control function for brutal acceleration. Though the V6 wasn’t quite as powerful as later versions of the previous V8, the car lost 155 pounds moving to the smaller mill, which aided its already strong acceleration.
Audi didn’t offer a diesel in the second generation, but a plug-in hybrid was available until the 2023 model year. It had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor that made a combined 362 horsepower. Being a PHEV, the A7 with this powertrain offered an all-electric driving range of 26 miles and could reach 410 miles of total range between gas and electrified powertrain operation. The PHEV was discontinued by 2023, and the A7 received a facelift in 2024, which brought exterior styling updates and new technology features. That said, the updates didn’t make the infotainment system any less confusing.
The German automaker retained the twin-turbo V8 powertrain for its range-topping RS7, which gained larger turbos and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to produce 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The RS7 Performance model received even larger turbos and higher boost pressure, generating 621 horsepower and 627 pounds of torque. A center differential delivered torque to all four wheels, and the car had a traditional eight-speed automatic gearbox. Air springs were standard and Audi offered a Dynamic Ride Control system that incorporated steel springs and adaptive dampers. It also lowerd the suspension by two-tenths of an inch for better stability and less body roll in corners. That, combined with the car’s long wheelbase and quattro AWD, make it a formidable performance sedan.
2012 - 2018 Audi A7 (1st Generation)
The Audi A7 first appeared in America in 2011 for the 2012 model year. The A6-based fastback rode on Volkswagen’s MLB platform and shared much of its underlying engineering with the A6 and the A8 sedans. Audi simultaneously debuted the V8-powered S7, which yielded 414 horsepower and a rapid 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds – which decreased as time went on and power output rose.
The basic 2012 A7 came with a 3.0-liter V6 engine making 310 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and sent power to all four wheels. Early reviews stated that the car delivered a surprisingly agile and engaging driving experience, qualities often lacking in large luxury vehicles. Though mechanically identical to the A6 that preceded it, the A7’s high style and driving dynamics made it a compelling alternative to its more sedate four-door counterpart.
The big-dog performance model debuted in 2013. The RS7 had the same twin-turbo V8 as the S7, but cranked up to 553 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The combination was good for a sub-four-second 0-60 mph time, and Audi fitted loads of other performance goodies, including a six-piston front brake caliper, a sport differential, torque vectoring, and adaptive air suspension.
Audi introduced a diesel version for the 2014 model year, with a 3.0-liter TDI 'clean diesel' engine.
The A7 received a facelift for the 2015 model year, honing its long hatchback shape and making the four-door coupe more modern and sharper. Unveiled in May 2014, the car had light visual changes and updates to its drivetrains. Audi introduced a new Multi Media Interface (MMI) infotainment system with the refresh and added a 4G modem. The car also got matrix LED headlights, though they were not legal in the U.S. until 2022, while a night vision assist system helped drivers identify obstacles on dark roads.
