Here we have an Audi A7L 45 TFSI quattro. I saw it in south Beijing in the summer of 2024. The big Audi is painted in Arctic Black, with darkened windows and aero-style alloy wheels. The A7L is not related to the Audi A7. It is a sports sedan based on the same platform as the also-China-only Audi A6L sedan.
The A7L is a gorgeous car, probably one of the best-looking Audi sedans in recent history. It looks streamlined and sporty, with a low roofline and a long boot lid. It has low-profile tires and racy red brake calipers. The size of the A7L is: 5076/1908/1429, 3026.
The manufacturer of the A7L is SAIC-VW Audi. Production started in 2021. Traditionally, FAW-VW produced Audi models for the Chinese market, but in 2021, Volkswagen Group China began making Audi models at SAIC-VW as well. Currently, SAIC VW-Audi produces the Audi A7L, the Audi Q5 e-tron, and the Audi Q6 SUV. Characters: 上汽奥迪, Shàngqì Aodí, SAIC-Audi.
Interior
I could not take good interior pictures so I borrowed some from Audi’s Chinese website. Warning! Audi has two Chinese websites: one for SAIC-VW Audi and another for FAW-VW Audi. That’s how things roll in China’s strange joint-venture system. Anyway. The A7L has a typical Audi interior: high quality, luxurious, rock solid, and technologically old-fashioned. The screens are super small compared to the local competition. It sports a 12.8-inch driver’s display, a 10.1-inch touch screen, and an 8.6-inch control screen.
The leather seats look great. The legroom is huge thanks to the long wheelbase. The Audi A7L is equipped with a 16-speaker B&O sound system, a 30-color ambient lighting system, and four-zone air conditioning.
Specifications
Audi offers two engines for the A7L:
- 45 TFSI. ICE. 2.0 turbo. 245 hp and 370 Nm. 7-speed DCT. FWD or AWD.
- 55 TFSI. MHEV. 3.0 turbo V6 + 48V. 340 hp and 500 Nm. 7-speed DCT. AWD.
Today’s car is the 45 TFSI quattro. The top speed is 208 km/h and 0-100 takes 7.5 seconds. The fuel consumption is 7.6 liters per 100 kilometers. It has a big 73-liter fuel tank.
Price
The list price of the Audi A7L 45 TFSI quattro is 459.700 yuan or $63K. That is a lot of money compared to full-electric or PHEV sports sedans made by Chinese car makers, so sales of the A7L have been slow. Audi sells about 2500 cars a month. For comparison, it sells about 18.000 A6L sedans per month. Dealers offer huge discounts. The dealer price of the 45 TFSI quattro is only 341.700 or $47K! This kind of gigantic discount is quite common nowadays, especially for cars of non-Chinese brands.
With the discount, the Audi A7L suddenly seems a very good deal. A beautiful machine, with lots of power and luxury. Who cares the screens are tiny and the ADAS is non-existent. The Audi A7L is just great as it is.