I saw a P+ and Prestige (with lots of options) A7 yesterday. I got into the P+ but that was all. I had recently driven a 2011 A6 Prestige and I was struck by the evolution of the interior of the A7 and I assume the new A6 will be very similar.

First off, I thought the A7 was very handsome or beautiful (you chose). It was, as they say, "a looker."

If you are a fan of the four door coupe look, Audi has, now, the best looking one on the market -- period.

The interior was inviting, but I think the pop up nav is a big step backwards (I owned a 2005 A6 and currently own a 2009 A4), I prefer the gadgets to look built in, even though the nav screen looks cool presenting and hiding itself. To me it just looks like an after thought rather than an integrated part of an otherwise beautiful dash layout.

The A7 seemed, from the front seat, LARGE. Certainly larger than the 2011 A6 I had recently test driven. The back seat with the sloping roof line seems cramped insofar as headroom is concerned -- otherwise the back seat area seemed decently commodious in all the right places.

This model (a P+) was just a thin hair south of $65,000. It was nicely equipped, but hardly "well equipped." The Prestige version was $73+K and it was well equipped.

I assume the A7 will weigh more than the 2012 A6.

I looked inside the glove box, missing was a stack of $100 bills, 100 high (the $10,000 I expected to find there was missing, that is.)

The dealer said to me, "this A7 is pretty much identical to the upcoming A6, except it will be tit for tat about $10,000 more if they are both comparably equipped."

I'd take this one for about $55K, but, sorry, not for $65K unless the afforementioned $10,000 was returned to the glove box.

Beautiful to behold -- doesn't seem worthy of the price (he said knowing that you will likely remind him that he didn't even drive it.) Several sight unseen orders already placed and in transit -- now that's BRAND LOVE (or lust)!

Unless I miss my guess, the new A7 will not go wanting for well-heeled customers who do find the four door coupe look worth the extra cost.

As far as the $73,000 beauty is concerned, well, there was a new A8, well equipped, stickered at $93,000 on the showroom floor. Somehow that one seemed like the price was right.

The A6 seems, at this juncture, like it will be a bargain!

 

I can justify 10K in that resale will keep most of spread over more common 2012 A6's and
theoretical discount to my alternatives (Panamera included) and better match with functional use I have in mind.

As they said at launch of Lexus new language at N.Y. Autoshow (I think the next GS) but appropiate to my rationalizing A7, is that it makes you feel you are investing for the future--it is fresh--it speaks to me.
The grill is not separate but designed as one with the car. There is a premium to be a 'looker' with
style & technology. The price would be higher without A6 production economics.

What bothers me most is that no torque vectoring offered until S7. But S7 may have too big an engine IMO.

 

Agree with you both almost exactly and would get the A7 today if it had the sport rear differential. Now, the A6 might get my purchase if it has the ASD and is that much less.
I used to think the pop-up nav screen was not ideal until I realized that it was now at the perfect place for safety. It is high enough so your peripheral vision will see the road ahead but not block the 2 o'clock view. If you look down at the old style built in screens, you just cannot see the road and your brain can not avoid a sudden problem. I think one accident avoided is well worth the higher placement and is a better design. Hence Audi's change to the A8 type.
Whatever I get, it will eventually get the APR chip that will send the supercharged V6 zero to 60 mph in 4.9 sec! Bring it on APR and make it soon. Check this out for the A6 outgoing model:
http://www.goapr.com/products/ecu_up...tfsi_c6a6.html

 

Too big an engine??? Seriously?

 

At the NYC auto show, the feedback I got was that the new USA A6 will likely not get the Rear Sport Diff. It is also not listed on the new A6 order sheets and appears to mirror the A7 options. I guess we will find out for sure next month when the pricing is announced but it looks grim. Dumb move by Audi. ASD in the A7 is all over Europe but we have to pay for the S7 to get it.
Saw a white 2012 A6 at the show and was not too impressed with it, with the A7 next to it. In fact, the A7 made the dark A8 look bland and I like dark colors. I have decided that my next ride will be the new A7! It is the second best looking Audi after the R8. It is worth the extra $$ since my belief is that if you spend more than $50K on a car, it better look good and make you feel it was worth the money.
Strange how a back to back comparo works: I walked past the Panamera display first and thought "Impressive in a tough Porsche looking way". Walked over to Audi and fell in love with the A7 elegance. Then later back at Porsche thought "Panamera is strange looking, why would you buy it."

 

How do you like it compared to the panamera? I just love the way those look (in person) and the way they drive but i'm a huge audi fan. Do you feel the A7 looks better?

 

So, you're the one. :-)