Because this test drive is the A7L.
Yes, it is the domestic SAIC Audi that you once complained about "losing the soul of the A7".
From the earliest SAIC Audi project to the later road test spy photo exposure, the A7L car was always full of topics and controversies before it was officially unveiled. After all, in the eyes of netizens, it is just to elongate the imported A7, cancel the slipback roof and hatchback tailgate, and become an ordinary sedan shape. Without the essence of imported A7, how can it be called "the most beautiful coupe"?
However, the above views are limited to before the new car is released. Because since the official debut of the SAIC Audi A7L on the eve of the Shanghai Auto Show last year, after seeing the real car, the previous doubts have dissipated for the most part. Although it is an extended model, the A7L's body lines are still smooth and not too contradictory, and the frameless doors that can be retained also allow the A7L to strike a perfect balance between sport and business. So I quoted a popular quote at the time: "Still can't escape the law of true incense" (click on the link to jump).
This is the first time I've actually driven this car on the road, so I mainly share my test drive experience with you.
Let's start with the power configuration. The A7L in this test drive is all 3.0T version of the four-wheel drive model, and it is equipped with a 48V light hybrid system. The maximum power of the engine is 250 kW (340 hp), the peak torque is 500 N·m, and the official acceleration time of 100 km/h is 5.6 seconds with the blessing of a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. This achievement, to be honest, is not very fast, especially today, some electric vehicles or small steel cannons can easily achieve. But you know, the A7L is a medium and large sedan (non-performance car), and it is not too easy to run this result. Moreover, the thick sound of the 3.0T nose when accelerating at full speed brings you confidence, which is incomparable to electric vehicles or small steel cannon models, so when driving, I am very willing to step on the throttle to tease it, and it can always give you a positive response.
The quattro was followed by a suffix that became the quattro Ultra, and the purely mechanical four-wheel drive mechanism became electronically controlled, which I know a lot of people will complain about. But in fact, you really don't have much perception of daily driving, and the four-wheel drive system can always respond in a very short period of time when it is in effect, giving the due distribution of power between the wheels; it can also automatically switch to the front-drive state when cruising, improving fuel economy. This car also has a 48V light mix system, which further reduces the fuel consumption performance, and the official NEDC comprehensive fuel consumption is 8.6L/100km.
The usual steering feel of Audi models need not be said more, light and precise, very pleasing. However, it is worth mentioning that the rear wheel steering system equipped with this car, when driving at high speed, the rear wheel and the front wheel are slightly steered in the same direction to improve stability; when driving at low speed, the rear wheel and the front wheel are slightly reversed to improve flexibility. The most intuitive perception is the reduction of the turning radius, which can be easily adjusted on some narrow roads, and is flexible unlike medium and large cars.
That's why I mentioned in the title "I want to buy the silence of the A7", after all, at this stage you can buy the imported A7 in the domestic market, only 2.0T, the front-drive version, it can be said that there is neither power nor control, it has become a pure look, the key is that the price is not cheap. In this way, the A7L's cost performance is highlighted.
So what about those who want to buy A6L? Many prospective owners of A6L will pick up the step price to say things, that is indeed A6L (41.98-65.60 million yuan) is cheaper. But the truth is that the entry model of the A6L is equipped with a 140kW (190 hp) low-power 2.0T engine, and the price of the main high-power four-wheel drive model and the A7L is actually not much worse, and because of the tuning, the A7L is better in terms of data, and the dynamic performance should be better.
And because the A7L is positioned higher than the A6L (which is an objective fact), there is no need to worry about the interior space. The 3026mm wheelbase provides ample legroom, the headroom is freed up by the removal of the slip-on roof, and the relatively soft and wide rear seats make the ride comfort no less than that of the A6L.
What about frameless doors? Pulling wind is pulling wind, will it bring noise troubles? After the actual experience, I can responsibly say that this worry is completely superfluous. A7L all car windows are made of laminated glass, the driving process can filter out most of the external noise, to the passengers in the car more quiet riding atmosphere; and high-end models are also equipped with rear privacy glass, more to take care of the privacy of the rear passengers, so even if applied in business occasions, A7L is also very suitable.
As the leader and forerunner of domestic commercial vehicles, although A6L is a benchmark in all aspects, it is precisely the image that is too commercial, destroying some personality and slightly moderate. And A7L will not be at all, A6L can do, it can almost do, but also through a more elegant, dynamic shape, to highlight the user's taste and style, coupled with A7L itself in some details of the configuration, workmanship materials and other aspects of good performance, it can be expected that its sales will not be bad, including even a considerable part of the individual users transferred from A6L.
As for importing A7? If it is not too obsessed with slipping, it is really unnecessary.
postscript:
In fact, at the scene of this test drive meeting, in addition to the A7L car, SAIC Audi also provided the Q5 e-tron, the brand's second car and a pure electric vehicle, for our simple experience. Although the name contains Q5, in fact, it has nothing to do with FAW Audi's Q5, so the name may only be convenient for consumers to know its positioning, which is a medium-sized SUV. If you really want to talk about the connection, it may be more closely related to one of SAIC Volkswagen's pure electric SUV, the ID.6 X.
Yes, the Q5 e-tron is actually a pure electric vehicle based on the Volkswagen MEB pure electric platform, its wheelbase, power battery and even motor configuration are exactly the same as ID.6X, but the parameters are slightly different. However, as a luxury brand model, the Q5 e-tron still reflects the mind of some luxury brands in terms of exterior design and interior configuration, to distinguish it from ID.6 X.
But in all fairness, is there a big difference between the Q5 e-tron and id.6 X? I had a brief experience at the test drive, the difference is not obvious, the advantage of the Q5 e-tron may lie in the brand, and some of the configuration. But the starting price of ID.6 X is 239,888 yuan, and the starting price of Q5 e-tron has come to 395,500 yuan, which is a premium that is really difficult for people to pay for, especially at present, there are not many excellent products in the field of pure electric medium-sized SUVs, such as Weilai.
Therefore, A7L will still be the main product of SAIC Audi, and the symbolic significance of the Q5 e-tron is greater than the actual significance, after all, the transformation to electrification is already the trend of the times. And what kind of action will SAIC Audi do next? You can look forward to it.