ABT Sportsline Readying New Audi Models for 2011 Geneva Motor Show

VW Group specialist ABT Sportsline will bring several Audi models to the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March, including the eye-catching R8 GTR with a chrome finish pictured above, as well as its newest tuning proposals for the A7 Sportback and 2012MY A6 sedan.

Alongside the R8 GT-R, A7 Sportback and A6, the German tuner will also be presenting a fourth model, which is being kept a secret for now. “We will be bringing along a sports car which I personally like a lot. For it shows our technical capabilities and offers a maximum level of driving enjoyment. I am looking forward to seeing how it is received by the public in Geneva," said the ABT general manager, Hans-Jürgen.

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VIDEO: Audi Shows Off New A7 Sportback on the Road

Along with a barrage of pictures and details of its all-new A7 Sportback (if you missed out on the story, click here to read our post), Audi has also released the first video of the premium hatchback on the road and some footage from the official presentation in Munich this past Monday.

The sleek A7 Sportback, which fills whatever gap there is left between the A6 sedan and Avant and the flagship A8 saloon, is designed to take on the likes of the second generation Mercedes-Benz CLS and the BMW 5-Series GT. It will arrive in European showrooms this fall with two diesel and two gasoline V6 engines. Until then, make the jump to watch the A7 in motion.

READ MORE - VIDEO: Audi Shows Off New A7 Sportback on the Road

Audi A7 Sportback in S-Line Sport Trim: First Photos

The flow of information coming forth on the all-new Audi A7 Sportback, which made its world premiere on Monday, continues. This time we have the first details and photos on the two S-Line packages that will be available at launch.

Starting with the S line sport trim, this package adds a taut sport suspension that drops the A7's ride height by 10mm, and 19-inch wheels wrapped in 255/40 R19 rubber or optionally, 20-inch rims with 265/35 R20 tires.

It also upgrades the A7 Sportback's interior with sport seats draped in a combination of black leather and alcantara or in full leather with an embossed S line logo on the back, as well as a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather and brushed aluminum accents on the dashboard, center console and door panels.

There is also a complementary S line exterior package with updates to the exterior design including a reshaped front bumper with more pronounced air inlets and a lip spoiler, side skirts and a rear apron housing a diffuser and chromed tail pipes.

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Sportback from the Past : The Audi A7's Predecessor, the 1977 100 C2 Avant

The just introduced A7 Sportback and its more compact sibling, the A5 Sportback, aren't the first fastback, liftback, hatchback, five-door coupe or whatever else you'd like to call cars with four doors and a rear hatch, from Audi.

The automaker from Ingolstadt toyed around with the idea of a fastback model in the upper-medium segment more than 30 years ago with the presentation of a hatchback version of the A6's predecessor, the 100, carrying the Avant nameplate.

That was before Audi began started using the Avant moniker for its Station Wagon models beginning with the third generation of the 100 in 1982.

The 100 Avant hatchback made its debut on the second generation of the 100 in 1977 and was sold alongside a two-door coupe and a four-door saloon version of the series. Here's what Audi had to say about the 100 Avant in an archived press release:

"Its hatchback and large tailgate characterized a new vehicle concept in the upper midsize segment. Due to its many possible uses, this estate car with four doors and split rear seats increasingly became a bestseller in years to come."

It's worth mentioning that while the body style of the A7 Sportback invokes the 1977 100 Avant, the design of the car's rear end as well as of the third side window with the upward pointing tip are inspired from the coupe version of the first 100 from 1969 - something that is noted in the A7's official press release.

1977 Audi 100 C2 Avant

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1969 Audi 100 C1 Coupe

READ MORE - Sportback from the Past : The Audi A7's Predecessor, the 1977 100 C2 Avant

New Audi A7 Sportback: Official Details and 106 High- Res Photos

After a long wait, Audi finally slid the covers off the all-new A7 Sportback during a special event at the art museum "Pinakothek der Moderne" in Munich today. Following a similar formula with the smaller A5 Sportback, Audi crafted a sleek five-door model to target the new Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo.

The German carmaker claims the production version of last year's Sportback Concept brings together the best of three worlds:"the sporty elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon." In reality, the A7 Sportback is a shaper looking version of the next A6 with a lower roofline, a more practical rear hatch and seating for four.

The car's exterior and interior design has remained largely untouched over the 2009 Detroit show car with most changes concerning practical details such as the larger head- and tail lamps and the shape and size of the exterior mirrors, along with the less fancy trim inside. And oh, it also gets a neat retractable rear spoiler similar to the one found on the Porsche Panamera.

The five-door coupe, which is positioned between the A6 and A8, is 4.97 meters (16.31 ft) long and 1.91 meters (6.27 ft) wide, but only 1.42 meters (4.66 ft) high. The rear hatch reveals a luggage compartment with a capacity of 535-liters (18.89 cu ft) that can swell to a volume of 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft) with the split rear seat backrests folded down.

Under the sheetmetal, the A7 Sportback rides on a modified architecture of the next A6, which is due in both sedan and Avant (Audi talk for Station Wagon) forms in 2011.

Audi will initially offer the A7 Sportback with a choice of two gasoline and two turbo diesel V6 engines, all featuring direct injection, an energy recuperation system and stop & start technology.

The petrol range comprises of the 2.8 FSI and 3.0 TFSI models, both of which are paired with a dual clutch S-Tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive.

The naturally-aspirated 2.8-liter unit produces 204HP and 280 Nm (206.52 lb-ft) of torque at 5,250 rpm propelling the A7 from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 8.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 235 km/h (146mph). It consumes 8.0lt / 100 km (29.4 US mpg) on average, which corresponds to 187g/km of CO2 (300.95 g/mile).

The supercharged 3.0-liter V6 unit delivers 300 hp) between 5,250 and 6,500 rpm, and delivers 440 Nm (324.53 lb-ft) of torque between 2,900 and 4,500 rpm. The standard sprint takes 5.6 seconds, and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), while fuel consumption is 8.2 lt/100km (28.7 US mpg), corresponding to 190 g/km of CO2 (305.8 g/mile).

In the diesel front, Audi offers two versions of the 3.0-liter V6 TDI. The more powerful variant produces 245HP between 4,000 and 4,500 rpm and 500Nm (368.78 lb-ft) of torque between 1,400 and 3,250 rpm, and comes with the S tronic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive as standard.

The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 6.5 seconds and top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), while average fuel consumption is rated at 6.0lt/100km (39.2 US mpg) with CO2 emissions of 158 g/km (254.3 g/mile).

The basic version of the 3.0-liter TDI churns out 204HP between 3,750 and 4,500 rpm and will be available only with front-wheel drive and a multitronic automatic transmission. With this engine, the A7 Sportback accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 234 km/h (145 mph), while consuming 5.3 liters of diesel per 100 km (44.4 US mpg) with CO2 emissions of 139g/km (223.70 g/mile).

Though Audi didn't say it officially, expect to see performance-oriented S7 and RS7 variants, as well as a hybrid model being added to the lineup within the next year or so.

In Europe, the new A7 Sportback will roll into dealerships this fall, with prices in Germany starting at €51,600 (equal to US$66,720 at today's exchange rates). No word yet on U.S. availability and pricing.

READ MORE - New Audi A7 Sportback: Official Details and 106 High- Res Photos