A7/S7/RS7 [Spyshots] 2018 Audi A7 (gen II)

[donkeykong]

Was it? Maybe after the facelift? Because when I was looking for a car 3-4 years back, I looked at the A3 Hatch and there was no option for AWD.

As far as I know it was always an option. I believe the TDI models were front wheel drive only.

 

[Rolf]

If Audi change their design direction to be bold and striking like this then it will be really good for them and make them attractive cars again. But I somehow have doubts about this looking at new TT and new A4 mule shown a few days ago they still going a bit too conservative for my liking.

 

[EnI]

As far as I know the proposed design direction was too bold, therefore the design boss was "fired", and the new design boss has to back-paddle: revising some styling. Hasn't that been the case? If so, the "new" styling won't be as bold but still rather conservative.

 

[Giannis]

As far as I know the proposed design direction was too bold, therefore the design boss was "fired", and the new design boss has to back-paddle: revising some styling. Hasn't that been the case? If so, the "new" styling won't be as bold but still rather conservative.

So the first plan was to ditch this conservative line-up and gradually build up an exciting design identity, but the guy was fired and Audi's going good old politically correct and simple design?

 

[Rainer271]

So the first plan was to ditch this conservative line-up and gradually build up an exciting design identity, but the guy was fired and Audi's going good old politically correct and simple design?

It's not easy to understand this decision.

 

[NarutoRamen]

^^That is a real backwards way of doing design. LOL

As far as I know it was always an option. I believe the TDI models were front wheel drive only.

I'll take your word for it. When I looked I didn't find the option.

 

[SCOTT27]

I was searching my mind on that A7 render and there it is. The Volkswagen Passat CC.

 

[donkeykong]

^^That is a real backwards way of doing design. LOL


I'll take your word for it. When I looked I didn't find the option.

There are plenty of used MY06 A3 quattros on the market now. I don't believe the TDI models were offered with AWD.
Is that what you were looking for?

 

[Deleted member 1071]

As far as I know the proposed design direction was too bold, therefore the design boss was "fired", and the new design boss has to back-paddle: revising some styling. Hasn't that been the case? If so, the "new" styling won't be as bold but still rather conservative.

One can only speculate with regard to the circumstances leading to Dr. Dürrheimers' (former Audi R&D director) and Wolfgang Eggers' (former Audi design director) inner-corporate transfers. Perhaps Egger simply feels more "at home" (in terms of location as well as creativity) at VW-Group subsidiary Italdesign in Italy. The native Bavarian has spent much time there-including a lengthly tenure with Alfa-Romeos' Centro Stile design team. Remember, Egger was instrumental in the design of the Alfa-Romeo 156. In any case, I rather liked the various Wolfgang Egger-penned Audi concept cars.

Audi finds itself in a bit of a predicament. Its' "clean, uncluttered, unadorned" design theme has anchored itself in the minds and hearts of a seemingly increasing number of Audi fans. Of course, there will be concern about their possible alienation should Audi embark on a design route that is in marked contrast to the one they have treaded for many years. And yet, markets such as the immensely crucial China and, to a lesser extent, North America, can be extremely fickle. These considerations paired with the inevitable inner-corporate debates regarding brand identification and positioning can lead to a territory that is difficult to navigate.

I personally like Audis' general design theme. But I would certainly applaud some corrections on many of their current products' proportions.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I was searching my mind on that A7 render and there it is. The Volkswagen Passat CC.

The VW Passat CCs' relative sales success surprised more than a few. Judging by the accolades that the new Passat has been getting recently, the CCs' successor is bound to be even more successful.

Sorry for straying a bit off topic.

 

[NarutoRamen]

There are plenty of used MY06 A3 quattros on the market now. I don't believe the TDI models were offered with AWD.
Is that what you were looking for?

I just checked. I believe only the v6 ones came with AWD. The 2.0T did not.

 

[SDNR]

I agree that it is more like Citroën, I really like the A7, I hope Audi doesn't play around with its styling too much.

It would appear that while Mercedes have gone more biomorphic with their styling themes, Audi are trending towards sharp angles and hard edges. I don't particularly like the current styling at Lexus (it's a bit of a mess), I really hope Audi don't make the same mistakes.

Design emphasis is no longer placed purely on function or innovation but rather on brand-recognition and perception.

It does irritate me slightly that cars (particularly prestige brands) have become more and more like fashion accessories.

 

[JHF]

Radical styling for next Audi A7
New Audi design chief Marc Lichte says the firm's next A7 will be more stylish than today's car

A more radical design is promised for the next-generation Audi A7, according to man who has designed it.

Marc Lichte, who joined Audi from Volkswagen earlier this year, has already completed design work on the second-generation A7, which will be launched in 2017.

Elements of the design of the new A7 have already been previewed in the recent Prologue concept at the Los Angeles motor show, although Lichte wouldn’t give specifics.

The Prologue previews not only the new 2017 A7 but also the 2016 A8 and 2017 A6, designs for which have all been signed off. It is the A7’s design that will be the most radical of the trio, according to Lichte, and there will be much greater visual differentiation between the trio and other future Audis.

The A7 will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s Audi-engineered, second-generation MLB platform, with its engine range expected to be cherry-picked from the 2016 A8 range.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/radical-styling-next-audi-a7

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

i hope it retains its fastback silhouette

 

[tristatez28lt1]

AMS reports that the next gen A7 will have significantly more legroom in the second row. (Differentiating it more from A6)

 

[Deleted member 1071]

According to the most recent interviews with Marc Lichte, I am led to suspect that the above posted AMuS rendering is patently inaccurate.

 

[MDM]

It's funny how all artists/photoshoppers think that upcoming Audis will look exactly like the prologue concept with no differentiation whatsoever. That concept is a hugely exaggerated preview of what new Audis might look like if the management is in the right mood.

 

[Monster]

It's funny how all artists/photoshoppers think that upcoming Audis will look exactly like the prologue concept with do differentiation whatsoever.

These "artists/photoshoppers" actually have absolutely no idea how the new car is going to look like so the easiest thing is to take the existing concept and copy that.

 

[SKY]

And they have something nice to copy. This new A9 can be a home run for Audi. Not only if they produce such a model, but if they introduce that evolved design language into the rest of the line up.

 

[SKY]

New RS7 in this week Autobild´s cover:

http://download.autobild.de/dl/1257953/AuBi15_11_006-007_Inhalt.pdf

WOW!!