The Vehicle Dynamics of the New A7 Sportback: A Struggle to Define

As I've been trying to work out how the new Audi A7 Sportback works, I have to say that it's proving to be quite challenging. Who would be buying an Audi A7, you might ask? It's a question that has me stumped. Is it for families who need more space and versatility? Or is it for businessmen who require a comfortable saloon? The truth is, I'm struggling to identify the target market for this car.

One thing is clear: the Sportback name doesn't exactly sit right with me. I have an issue with the car's design; it just doesn't feel sporty enough. Even if I don't care about driving experience, the A7's handling and responsiveness are surprisingly good. But because of the various safety systems in place, it feels a bit...unauthentic. It's as if the tech has taken over, rather than enhancing the driving experience.

Others might disagree with my assessment. They might say that potential customers won't care about the car's sportiness, and will instead be drawn to its advanced features and technology. The A7 is designed to appeal to those who want a luxurious, high-tech driving experience. But I'm not convinced. Even if others don't share my concerns, I still can't shake off the feeling that the A7 has lost some of its sporty edge.

I've been lucky enough to test drive the new A7 Sportback in South Africa, and I have to say that it's been an incredible experience. The car is incredibly comfortable, with plenty of space for passengers and luggage. It handles beautifully on winding roads, responding quickly and precisely to every turn. And yet...I still don't feel like it's sporty enough.

But perhaps that's the point. Maybe the A7 Sportback is designed to appeal to a different kind of driver – one who doesn't care about the raw performance of their car, but instead wants a comfortable, luxurious ride with all the bells and whistles. If that's the case, then I think Audi has done a great job.

Of course, there are those who might disagree. They might say that the A7 Sportback is too focused on technology, that it loses touch with its sporty roots in the process. And maybe they're right. But for me, at least, the tech has enhanced the driving experience without overpowering it. The real test of the car came when I took it out on the road – winding through the stunning South African countryside.

As we drove along, taking in the breathtaking views and spotting wildlife, I realized that the A7 Sportback is more than just a car – it's an experience. It's about enjoying the journey, rather than just focusing on the destination. And that, for me at least, is what makes it so special.

We spent over an hour cruising through the countryside, taking in the sights and sounds of this incredible part of the world. And not once did I feel like I was missing out – whether we were driving at high speed or crawling along a slow-bendy road. The A7 Sportback felt completely at home, no matter what the situation.

Eventually, we arrived at one of South Africa's most stunning vineyards, where we stopped for lunch and took in the views. As I looked around, taking in the breathtaking scenery, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to test drive this incredible car. It's been an experience that will stay with me for a long time – one that has blown away all my preconceptions about South Africa and its people.

If you're thinking of traveling to South Africa, please don't be put off by any negative stories or warnings. The people I met were friendly, welcoming, and enthusiastic about their country and their cars. And the car scene? Absolutely amazing. From the stunning A7 Sportback to the incredible RS 7 version (which I hope to get my hands on soon), there's a real sense of passion and pride among South African drivers.

A huge thank you goes out to Audi for bringing me out to South Africa and giving me the chance to test drive this fantastic new car. It's been an experience that I'll never forget – one that has left me eager to return to this incredible country in the future.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhow am I gonna sing through glass and welcome to day three or four the final part of my trip to South Africa today I am joining Aldi for the launch of their new a7 Sportback this is the reason that I'm in Cape Town howdy very kindly invited me to come and check out their new car obviously I've been here for a few days so I'm here before any of the other media so currently I'm sat in my hotel room waiting for them to turn up so we can go and check out these new cars boys girls meet Nicole Nicole is from a mobile geeks blog and she's here to test every section of this invitation I was like I'll be fine no we are gonna test this now I'm gonna class this is the fun car yes I think with a fun car everyone else left the hotel about three hours ago they've gone to like dynamically test the chassis of the car we're gonna go find some penguins we're gonna color penguins we found that busy last night that there's like a beach that supposedly is full of penguins and that's really all we care about I'm testing the impotence of them on the way there that's exactly it so I would try to do a little bit about this car on our way to or from the Penguins for the meantime we are just going to cruise and hopefully see some wildlife because hashtag Africa right let's do it where we go whilst I'm being chauffeured ever so excellently by Nicole I'm going to use this lovely sheet of paper to tell you the facts and stats about the a7 that we're in so this is the a7 not the s7 or the rs7 they are coming later on the exact car that we are in is the 55 TFSI S tronic which Nicole you're very familiar with this does have a v6 engine in it so it does have a v6 it's a very odd sounding v6 though because this has like a what they call like a mid level hybrid system or something like a medium high bridge basically like a tiny tiny tiny bit of hybrid in a shoebox I shoot I think like a mouse box size of ivory when you're on the highway it'll turn the combustion engine off and just use the electric engine which is the point of the sort of tiny battery is that it's helping with fuel economy so facts and stats people I know you guys want it this is the 7-speed s-tronic in the diesel you get an 8-speed automatic something something I can't member which version but the S tronic s-- the one you want so that's what we've got power output is 340 horsepower torque is 500 Newton meter sir choir better talk not a huge amount of horsepower but they will serve that for the s7 models what else do we want to know Oh 5.3 know what to say see that's quite good that's quite good I'm into saying that's quite good it's a big car too heavy car now this is what I'm gonna get to your neck of the woods oh well let's talk about technology thank god we've got HD matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light including LED light strip and rear lights and LED technology they've gone big on the lights they're gone like and you can kind of tell that as you walk up to the car there's a lot of light action going on there's like a shortage house party anyway I'm moving on we've got city assist package which is crossing assist which we experience a little bit yesterday some people try to walk out in front of us and when it does a lot of exit warning rear cross-traffic Susy sat-nav comes for free lane change assist precent I mean it goes on forever tour is this I've got adaptive drivers it's adaptive speed assist efficiency efficiency assist this is literally the entire technology and security section that's why I chose to partner up with you because I don't know what I'm talking about but anyway this car is definitely being sort of positioned as a very sort of technical car whether that comes down to actually body and chassis and etc to the infotainment system so we're going to try and experience it all today at some point but for now Suzy's taking to the Penguins lots five minutes let's do this every day that way it's something got super muggy and hot and warm but AC quick there's some Tacony I'm gonna go up to three I think it's officially called seat ventilation there's no but we're going with but AC for now some of you watching this as a car Channel may be thinking why on earth did we just go film some penguins but it's the first time that Nikola I've been to Africa Africa I feel like we can't come and not see any wildlife but anyway I'm a fully aware that you probably now want to hear a bit more about the car so we're gonna get out of this car park and then I start shutting to you about the vehicle dynamics of the new a7 Sportback now I've been trying to work how over the past 24 hours who would be buying an Audi a7 because it's it's I think it's between of a lot of things if you're a family surely you're going to be getting in a van to an SUV these days and if you're a businessman are you not going to be getting a saloon so I don't really know the customer of this car is and that is making me struggle in defining exactly what I think of it because the Sportback name is war I have an issue with the car is probably comfortable I don't love the looks it's got all this new spangly tech it's got all this stuff going on but I don't find it very sporty even me I don't really care about driving experience I'm more about the tech I question the sportiness we're in full dynamic mode now sporty gearbox it's got all the usual Aldi features but because of I guess the various safety systems in place because of the medium mid to hybrid system it's a bit of a unauthentic driving experience well this is my thing I don't know if the tech is gone too far maybe maybe that's for you to decide in your head which will be going live soon check about yeah but it's a weird one because others say potentially the customers of this car won't care because I'm assuming when how to get on to where now to get into making the s7 and the RSF and that's what they were looking to plug into nobody can overtake you did you hear the sound electrocuted sound is for a v6 it's still gonna v6 but you don't get much of that but as I say that's why I'm finding it hard to decide whether I think it's good at what it needs to be good at because if as a customer of an a7 you don't really care about the native luck continues many baboons many many babylon that's amazing to the Travis is the ugly bombs they're going to stealing stuff they're going through the trash so literally as I've been driving around South I've got all I've seen these sensing warning but birds don't feed along there are no baboons no we've seen penguins and baboons and we've got a brand new a7 so maybe that's what this car is great at exploring South Africa it hasn't put a foot wrong in exploring South Africa how's it no I mean like this like windy road that we're on if like it feels really like the responsiveness the driving is good it's so good at taking over we've got bought a seat buddy super comfy dislike cruise taking the views and then just enjoy going somewhere it's not necessarily about the driving it's about the journey all right that should be like I'd like to say a short time later but it wasn't a short time mate it's about an hour and a half later but we've made it to our lunch locations today one of the most stunning vineyards I would say in South Africa look at this view the car is now all plucked up I can see for about 300 miles but the only thing on my mind right now is another coffee and food so let's go in so first and then I'll talk to you again in second well I have to say it feels like it's been a pretty perfect way to finish off my trip in South Africa cruising around on this a7 taking in the scenery and taking young the wildlife something that I really wanted to do whilst I was here all of my preconceptions all of my sort of underestimations of this place have just been completely blown out of the water because it's been amazing for any of you who have been apprehensive about traveling to this part of the world please forget that and come because not only has it been stunning and beautiful but the car scene has been amazing and the people who have been fantastic like I know there's dangerous areas of South Africa and I know there's a lot of crime that goes on but I haven't witnessed any of it and I feel like there are dangerous criminal parts of every major city and country around the world everywhere that I've gone people have been smiley happy friendly giving thumbs up and the loving of the cars it's been amazing I have to say a huge thanks to Aldi for bringing me out here and for letting me try out this brand new a7 Sportback I cannot wait to hopefully one day get my hands on the RS 7 version of this car anyway I hope you guys have enjoyed the various videos that I've uploaded here from South Africa I definitely plan on coming back here again in the near future give it a thumbs up if you've enjoyed this one and make sure subscribe for any more videos to come\n"