One More ‘Official’ Rendering For Your Perusal: Audi A7

CAR has been releasing what it’s called “official sketches” from Audi execs privy to the future of the four-ringed automaker. This latest drawing shows what Ingolstadt plans to pit against the Mercedes CLS in the burgeoning sports sedan segment, likely to be dubbed the A7. Built off the next generation A6 platform, the shapely sedan will get similar styling cues as its cross-town rival, with a steeply raked roof flowing into what looks like a low-slung hatch.

Power is expected to come from either a three-liter V6 or a 4.8-liter V8, with the RS model fitted with a Lamborghini-sourced V10 in either naturally aspirated or twin-turbo’d trim. Expect a 4.2-liter TDI unit to be available in Europe as well.

Pricing will land squarely between the A6 and A8, so its safe to assume that prices abroad will be in the £35,000-£50,000 range, with the possibility of a soft-top model also being offered further down the road.

According to CAR, the A7 will make its debut at the 2008 New York Auto Show, with sales beginning in September 2009