Audi Aims The A7 Directly At The CLS, But Does It Score A Direct Hit?

Looks interesting but the beltline (as is so trendy now) is about 4-6 inches too high. Not sure who hates glass so much these days.

Definitely, not to mention because of the popularity of SUV's, their bumper lines are so much higher than cars so manufacturers need to design higher beltlines to help reduce intrusion from SUV's.

I love it! From a design perspective a high beltline gives a more slabby, muscular look. From the inside it makes a car feel more sporty.

this is a photoshop and not that good of one. Talk to me when you see a real picture

While CLS is both aggressive and classical, looking totally different from other Mercedes, this one looks like, as IamEvilHomer said, a stretched photoshop picture of other AUDI.

Dud. Delete those bling-bling wheels pleez.

No... its too long from this picture, its not very "slick"... reminds me of the Porsche... borderline Fugly... (see: Fergie)

Certainly Dramatic...

Though I do find the extremely blunt (Euro mandated) front end to be in contrast/conflict with the more fluid/flowing themes used elsewhere in the design.

Where the Mercedes CLS looks like an elegant, stylish and graceful sedan, this Audi comes across as a (somewhat) brutal, brash, and much more utilitarian 5-door.

excellent reasoning, and I agree

Boy I love Audi but their design language is getting so boring. It pretty but nothing new to see here. Audi be brave.

Because Infiniti's past luxury saloon endeavors (Q45 and M sedan) are evidence of guranteed success in the segment, huh?

While the CC is nice, people don't cross shop the CLS and the Passat. Just like how people don't cross a Lexus LS and a Q45, lets be realistic here. I like the M45 with sport package, it looks nice but i don't see it taking much market share.

looks good, but the smaller VWcc looks better

I usually like Audis, but this looks like the bastard stepchild of the the Pontiac Aztek and the Panamera.

I like it but now that i see it the back does have a hatchback look to it. the front end is phenominal they did a great job with that. I need to see more pics to make my final judgement.

A7/Panamera

Back to Back before the doctor seperated them.

You can always depend on Audi to create the SAME car in 100000 forms!!!!

It's interesting that this segment didn't even exist five years ago, and now everyone seems to want to rush into it. The CLS is awesome, but it's not like Mercedes sells a ton of them. These "four door coupes" are meant to be more of a niche car, not deserving of the massive amounts of R&D $$$$ that had to go into getting them ready for production. If I were Audi I would focus my energy on making the cars that will sell in large numbers more exciting before rushing into a niche segment. IMO...

This thing's not ugly, but it's like an A8 that sacrifices too much function for a form that is nowhere near as nice as the A5.

Formula666 is right. Mercedes launched this segment and sold tons of them (over 100000)to people who wanted something new.
But this segment is leveling out and sales will fall (especially with the economic downturn). So all these new and old players in this segment will have to split a relatively small pie.
Progress and evolution is fine, but it doesn't always work out. There will be dismal sales for everyone in this segment for years to come.

I think its beautiful. I hope Audi can keep the end product as close to this picture as possible.

BMW called...they want their M6 wheels back.

booooo it looks like a shlong

This is just a photoshoped S5
http://www.netcarshow.com/audi/2008-s5/800x600/wallpaper_09.htm

exactly, this is shop of the S5, it doesn't even look like the official sketch that Audi released. very lazy effort

Exactly. All you expert critics in design did you miss this statement:

"These exclusive images have been developed from the latest on-the-road spy shots of the car.."

These are NOT official pictures.

I guess its OK...
but more importantly, haven't all the 60-something suburban orthodontists and CPA's purchased their CLS' already?

Seems a little crazy to chase the CLS, when MB only sells a couple of thousand per year in the US.

Also, the A8 is not a raging sales success - will the A7 sell even fewer units?

Actually the A8 is a raging success globally, but then your tagline says it all. Who cares what you think.

nybimmer is not really biased at all.

Very pretty. But will my head clear the ceiling?

very ugly? will my eyes survive. audiwill never be bmw or mercedes. they should just stop tryin an save some money. audi makes something, bmw makes something better. how havent they figured this out yet? shytt

its ugly

No Audi will never e like BMW, they are for people who do not come from a trailer park.

i remember about 3 years ago when i was dying for Audi to make a coupe then came the S5. that is a beautiful car. this thing, i can't say i like it. what happened to Audi? other than the A5/S5 and R8 everything else is just blah........ long time Audi fan.

i got deboosted 8 times for having an opinion. i loved audi at one point right before the B7 A4 came out and then again when the S5 came out but if everything is going to look the same, screw Audi.

deboost if you like.

Dude this is not the car, this is a photoshop. Lets see what the real looks like first then we can make some real comments!

No, I don't like the way it look, it look like a stretch out Audi A4 and a Dodge Magnum.

It fugly, the MB CLS still rumor in this segment.

Uh...this car is not really in line with the rest of the Audi line up. This car looks like a stretched out Limo version of the A5. the rear proportions aren't very becoming.

I hope this is an artist's concept of what the actual car is.

UGLY!!!!...AND THAT GRILLE!!! UGH!!!...'tractor-like' wheels, 'pancake' design and old 'iron-horse' grille. What has happened to auto design these days? Are they all out to see who can design the ugliest vehicle?? This one's a sure winner!

What's with all the deboosting on this thread...

This looks more like an artist rendition of what we heard about the design.

I don't think it'll look anything like this.

I test drove an A5 today and let me say 3 things.

1. The A5's handling is not nearly as impressive as the BMW 335i's.

2. The A5's acceleration is much slower versus the 335i

3. The A5's weight and price are both too great to warrant anyone buying it over the 335i.

Audi builds some excellent cars with top-notch quality and brilliant design but they fail to address poor handling and the weight problem.

Is this surprising? Do you expect an AWD 265hp coupe to be as quick as a RWD 300hp coupe?

Yes but the BMW has no style. Also people will know that you descend from a trailer park bloodline if you buy one.

GermanNut

Is that really you?

Wow, hey everyone, if you aren't an Audi basher, don't bother posting!

Why are people judging this A5 photoshop? I hope you all realize this isn't the A7.

I'm getting tired of this "four-door coupe" bullsh*t. So what's the purpose of the A5 sportback...? Is the A7 just supposed to be a sedan (i.e. no hatch) version? This thing looks like it could easily be a hatch or a wagon.

Coupe = 2 doors
Sedan = 4 doors
Hatch = 3 or 5 doors

I don't like this A7, however has anyone seen the VW CLS type car, wow I am impressed good looking car, the back looks better than the CLS. I don't know the name of the VW CLS, but a it is a good looking auto.

Well, technically it's just called the CC. VW wants to distance it from the Passat.

Though the sumptuous A8 sedan is my favorite Audi, I do like aspects of this here model.

Chances are this is NOT the A7 but rather the new A5 Sportback that Audi is producing. The A7 will look different and will not be an A5 clone as shown in this image...

THIS is not anything. This is a photoshop of a press release picture of the S5:

http://p.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/audi-s5-3-big.jpg

Audi is pushing some cool cars finally, but honestly, they're about 5 years too late. future belongs to 21st century technology like Tesla and Fisker Karma, not the typical old school air polluter that only makes Russia and Middle East richer. Internal combustion engine technology is almost finished. Audi should be more like Fisker if they really want to be cool and revolutionary

hmmm, still maintains that large dominant Audi front end yet tapers off to slim the rest... i think they tried to copy the CLS too much and it ends up looking cosmetically confused... they should stick to the a5/r8/new a4 design which makes a continuous design flow

How many times can they redo the A5/S5? looks like someone photoshopped a squatty A8 with and S5 front.

I like Audi...but c'mon! For $70K-ish...

Styling doesn't look right i'm afraid, yet another design which they used to tracing paper to copy one of their existing models!

OH MY GOD. This site is full of idiots! People saying it's not worth the money, it looks like an A5, no new styling, etc... THIS IS NOT A REAL CAR!!! It's an S5 photoshop! It doesn't take a genius to figure that out!

Actually, with the way Audi is going lately with their designs, I wouldn't be surprised if the real thing looks like this!

Great Looking Car. Audi is a real contender, but still too expensive for maintstream US sales.

Some people just want an in-expensive large business sedan to use for work.

Amazing how the German Autos took the 70s US Fastback cars and turned an old design into a sensation with 4-doors.

I like how Mercedes also broght back the Hardtop aka Pillarless or no B-Pillar so the entire sides of the car are open to the wind.

Chrysler had a number of hardtop cars decades ago.

Chrysler, Mercury and the majority of GM are irrelevant, anyway.