Is the SAIC Audi A7L, a controversial new car, a coupe turned into a sedan, really a mistake?
Author: Three drivers
Image: Official
Sexy is the vocabulary we often use to describe hatchback coupes, especially medium and large coupes like the Audi A7, and the slender body can fully interpret the sexiness, which can be called the "dream car" of many people. When the "male god and goddess" in the mind is no longer sexy, I believe that many people's hearts will be filled with loss.
From another point of view, in fact, this is not a bad thing, just like the different stages of life, when you are young, you can be vigorous and live a dashing life. And when it comes to talking about marriage, we all want to find a partner who can live a solid life and accompany us for the rest of our lives. At this time, for the other half, we pay more attention to the connotation, of course, there is a generous appearance is more divided. Going up to the hall and down to the kitchen is the best summary of this. After the test drive, the SAIC Audi A7L gave me this feeling.
Coupe to sedan, in fact, is not a bad thing?
As one of the earliest luxury brands to enter the domestic market, the birth of SAIC Audi has injected new vitality into the entire Audi brand, marking that Audi's development in China has entered a new era. Although it is not a brand from scratch, SAIC Audi also represents the beginning of Audi's dual-brand strategy in China, so the significance of the first model is extremely significant.
When the news of SAIC Audi A7L was reported, the controversy continued, and the focus was basically on its appearance. Originally, the A7 was an uncompromising coupe, and the beautiful shape was fascinating. But SAIC Audi added an L to the back of the A7, making the hatchback into an ordinary sedan, and even making everyone feel incomprehensible, in fact, I also had this idea before.
But if you think about it carefully, you will get the painstaking heart of SAIC Audi. It is said that what is bought is not sold, and since SAIC Audi dares to do so, it must have been thoroughly studied and investigated. If the original introduction of A7, at most, the price will be reduced, but the positioning of the niche coupe will not change at all, which is not what SAIC Audi is willing to see.
The sedan executive class sedan is different, the market capacity is much larger, whether it is its own brother A6L, or Mercedes-Benz E-class or BMW 5 series, has a very good market performance. As young people gradually grow into the backbone of society, these younger elites may not be satisfied with the more dignified image of traditional executive cars, and the models that are younger and more advanced can meet their tastes.
It is believed that SAIC Audi has such a forward-looking insight that it will boldly localize the A7 into A7L. Maybe those who don't understand SAIC Audi will change their minds if they go to see the real car in person. The first time I saw the A7L was at last year's Shanghai Auto Show, among the many Audi models, it was not particularly conspicuous, but the unique temperament still attracted my attention. At that time, I was still wearing colored glasses, and at the beginning I used my scrutinizing eyes to observe and appreciate the first model of Auto Audi.
Soon, my colored glasses were taken off by A7L, first of all, the appearance of the real car is not so difficult to accept, although the hatchback is no longer, but the Audi designer's skill, after the addition of the "ass", and not many years ago some models hatchback to sedan abruptness, the transition between the rear and the roof is still quite natural, look at it is also used to it.
The A7L that walked off the booth this time has become the well-deserved protagonist and focus of the event, and the longer the contact time, the more you can appreciate the elegance and dynamics in its bones. The 5076mm is 100mm longer than the A7, making the vision on the side of the body more slender. And the L in the name, not only this, its wheelbase has also been lengthened by 98mm, the benefits do not need me to say more, this is a good for the rear space.
If these can't let you go, then open the door to try, because one of the essence of coupes, frameless doors have been retained, SAIC Audi still understands well, consumers' careful thinking, quite in place. I believe that every time you open and close the door, in the stunning eyes of others, the pride of the owner must not have to be said.
L, added in the back space
The interior has not changed much, basically continuing the design of the imported version of the A7, and the "virtual cockpit" has a good interpretation of the scientific and technological route that Audi has always pursued. The full LCD instrument, 10.1-inch central control screen and the 8.6-inch air conditioning control screen below bring a sense of technology while also making the car more concise. And the touch operation also has vibration feedback, close to the touch of the physical buttons, making people use more steadily.
While reflecting the sense of technology, A7L has not forgotten that it is a luxury car, the materials and workmanship of the entire interior are very excellent, the material collocation is also very reasonable, and every detail can withstand careful scrutiny.
The front integrated sports seat is the finishing touch in the carriage, high-grade leather wrapping, which has diamond-shaped stitching on it, which has both a sporty atmosphere and a sense of high-end, which is extremely compatible with the feeling of the appearance, and also brings an atmosphere different from the general executive car. Under the shape of sports, its riding experience is still very comfortable.
As mentioned above, its wheelbase is longer than the imported A7, 3026mm data, even more than the A6L 2mm, so the rear legroom has also fully reached the level of A6L, and the roof of the back is not much of an impact on the head space, so whether the family or important customers sit in the back row, you don't have to worry about what they complain about comfort.
Perhaps the only question for the rear passengers will be: Why does this car have no panoramic sunroof? I think this should also be a trade-off problem in the development, first of all, compared to the average executive-class sedan, the A7L roof slippage is more obvious, so it will be more difficult to arrange the sunroof in the rear. Even if it can be arranged, it will occupy a part of the roof space, which will have an impact on the rear head space, so it can be said that this is a compromise on the shape.
The joy of V6, who opens who knows
How the A7L opens up is the focus of this test drive. The test drive is the 55TFSI model, equipped with a 3.0T V6 engine with a 48V light mix, with a maximum power of 340 horsepower and a maximum torque of 500 Nm, which is an exciting parameter. You know, many models in the same class only provide the power of the 2.0T four-cylinder. In the era when fuel vehicles are about to gradually withdraw from the historical stage, such large-displacement multi-cylinder models are more worth cherishing.
A media measured zero hundred acceleration time of 5.75 seconds is enough to prove its strength, and it can be said that it can kill most of the cars on the road. But whether it is A7L or the owner of A7L, he is not a hairy boy who does not understand the world, and a powerful driving force is not to make people second by second, but a kind of confidence. This is more like the wisdom of the Chinese: light but not shining, still water flowing deeply.
To achieve this realm, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission matched by the engine is also indispensable, Audi's tuning of the dual-clutch transmission has been perfected, and the common problems are completely absent on the A7L, and the shift is smooth and fast, which is what the dual-clutch transmission should look like.
With the combination of the quattro four-wheel drive system, active air suspension and four-wheel steering system, the A7L has a reassuring handling performance, most of the road bumps can be resolved, and the action when overtaking corners is also calm. Coupled with the excellent NVH performance, driving the A7L, you feel as if you will be immersed in your own world.
summary
Just as the so-called sacrifice is to have, whether it is to build a car or life, it is so, we are always in the middle of the trade-off. A7L house is a sexy coupe posture, in exchange for more practical products, as well as a broader market, how to see the advantages are more than the disadvantages. And we don't have to dwell on this, like coupes, then buy imported A7; if you want a young and dynamic executive class car, then choose A7L, It's up to you!