“We think it’s smarter coming at this segment with three cars rather than just two,” he says.ĭramatically styled with a wide stance and a beltline that collapses inward to a smallish greenhouse, the A7’s distinguishing characteristic is a roofline that slopes sharply to the rear. Through the first quarter, Audi has sold 1,873 A6s and 1,371 A8s in the U.S., according to Ward’s data.īoosting sales in the upper range of Audi’s portfolio means catering to a more affluent customer base, which translates into better profitability, says Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer for Audi of America. sales, with the smaller A4 as the volume leader. Today, the A6 and A8 combine for about 13% of U.S. Overall, his goal is for the A6, A7 and A8 to comprise 25% of Audi’s U.S. to approach 6,000 units, and that all three should combine for about 20,000 units annually. The A6 and A7 are direct siblings from the architecture, while the A8 represents an extended version.ĭe Nysschen tells Ward’s he expects first-year A7 sales in the U.S. These three vehicles culminate years of development work on Audi’s modular “MLB” platform, which in German means Modularer Längs Baukastein, according to lead designer Ulrich Beierlein.

“The A7 fits as the emotional center between these two,” Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi of America, tells journalists at the unveiling. The car is appropriately named to slot in between the A6, which represents Audi’s C-segment midsize entry, and the all-new A8, which holds court in the fullsize D-segment. The A7, initially known in concept form as the Sportback for its 5-door coupe-like body style, is launched here at the New York International Auto Show and goes on sale next month in the U.S.

NEW YORK – Audi plugs an important hole in its lineup with a car that is high on style and value and intended for performance-oriented luxury buyers. Special Coverage New York Int’l Auto Show

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