Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro plug-in hybrid launched
Audi’s new flagship plug-in hybrid 4-door has an all-electric range of 25 miles and a claimed economy figure of 134mpg
This is the new Audi A7 Sportback 55 TFSI e quattro. It’s the German brand’s new flagship plug-in hybrid 4-door coupe, which is due to reach UK showrooms in December this year. Prices are expected to start from around £70,000.
It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a gearbox-mounted electric motor, for a combined output of 362bhp and 500Nm of torque. Audi says the powertrain offers a 0–62mph time of 5.7 seconds, while top speed stands at an electronically limited 155mph.
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The powertrain is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an active version of Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system, which disconnects mechanical drive to the rear axle under low-intensity situations for fuel economy benefits. The front axle is also fitted with a regenerative braking system, capable of generating up to 80kW of electrical energy under deceleration.
Audi says the A7 Sportback 55 TFSI has economy and emissions figures of 134mpg and 48g/km of CO2 respectively. The powertrain also has an electric-only drive mode, which offers a claimed 25 miles of zero-emissions motoring.
In addition to this “EV Mode,” the A7 Sportback 55 TFSI features “Battery Hold Mode” and “Hybrid Mode” drive profiles. Audi says the former stores the car’s battery capacity for use later in the journey, while the latter optimises the car’s use of combustion and electric-only drive to keep fuel consumption as low as possible.
Like most plug-in hybrids, the A7 Sportback 55 TFSI doesn’t offer support for 100kW rapid-charging, opting instead for a more modest 7.4kW system. A full charge takes around two-and-a-half hours using this system, although Audi says the A7’s battery pack will easily recover a full charge overnight when plugged into a conventional 230V household socket.
As standard the A7 Sportback 55 TFSI comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, HD Matrix LED headlights, sports seats, privacy glass, a four-zone climate control system and red brake calipers. Audi’s S-line exterior styling package is also included, adding more aggressive front and rear bumpers and a wider pair of side skirts.
The A7 55 TFSI is also fitted with Audi’s “predictive efficiency assist” system, which uses data from the car’s sat-nav and a buzzer in the accelerator pedal to suggest economy improvements to the driver. Should the car “sense” a situation in which it can save fuel, such as coasting to a roundabout, the pedal will vibrate informing the driver to lift off throttle.
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