Low and Behold

The visual treat carries into the inside of the car. Its dash is a more stylish version of the A8 and that immediately means its up there. Impeccable leather seats,beautifully detailed slate-grey dials,and a combination of wood,leather and chrome that will impress readers of Architectural Digest. And Audi is looking at using layered wood that looks like the deck of a yacht. Drivers get a full range of telematics. Touch pad,Google maps that blend with the GPS,night vision,heads-up display,in-car WiFi and an even better MMI interface system.

Importantly for India,this car can be specified with a lift feature for poor roads and difficult driveways. However,you get less rear headroom in the A7. We recommend those taller than six feet test the rear seat before buying the A7.

But this big GT is more about being owner-driven than chauffeured around in. And Audi has pencilled in some serious hardware. Both top-of-the-line versions come with a new kind of Audis quattro or four-wheel-drive system. Torque vectoring allows the inside wheel to be braked,and allows the outside wheel to get more of the torque in a corner. This new quattro system also uses a lighter set of crown gears,which is faster. Both the petrol and diesel V6 motors have plenty of punch.

The supercharged petrol motor certainly felt the quicker of the two on Sardinias deserted hill roads,where I tried the car. We set out on day one,chasing the long route into the mountains. Halfway along our route,there were many small towns to cross. But the A7 took to the small roads pretty well. Ride comfort,while not as comfortable as something like an E-class,was reasonably good for wheels this big,and the car felt well planted and surefooted.

Our new route out to a jetty proves to be ideal,wider and with absolutely no traffic. We utilise the fantastic grip of the car to pile on the pace.

While this car doesnt shrink to the size of an A4,it feels smaller and much more agile than an A8 which lacks agility. Placing the car in corners accurately is easy and the four-wheel-drive system helps attach it to the tarmac permanently. And as confidence and familiarity grow,the speed builds.

This is however not a great drivers car,only a competent one. The driving experience feels inert and almost android in nature,and the car feels like it will do what its told and no more. Theres only limited pleasure to be gained from going harder in tight corners,and despite the good body control,you feel the bulk of the car. The A7 actually feels much more at ease after youve taken things a notch down. And it works best as a GT,which is actually what it sets out to be.

As a result,the very punchy 3.0 TDI works almost as well as the petrol. It feels even more free-revving in its new avatar,due to ancillary systems like alternators that can be decoupled for greater efficiency,and the motor in general mates really well with the seven-speed DSG box. Since theres plenty of grip even when you select the Comfort mode,we suggest you stick to it unless you are really going fast.

This is an Audi that,unlike some of its older stablemates,really woos you. It is desirable on multiple levels looks,interior comfort,technical wizardry and effortless performance. If you are willing to compromise some rear headroom,this is also a very good alternative to a traditional luxury car. Just dont expect it to drive like a sports car.

The writer is deputy editor,AutocarIndia