LexFather

Nissan wants its Intima concept back










http://www.autoblog.com/2009/0...ebut/

Audi's hotly-anticipated A7 will bow in conceptual form at tomorrow's North American International Auto Show, and we have the first leaked images of the showcar, dubbed "Sportback." Details at this point remain slim, but as you can see from the photos, all of the major Audi design cues are in play, including a more nuanced version of the brand's horsecollar grille and LED eyelash headlamps.

The roofline of the "four-door coupe" is surprisingly fastback like, leading us to believe that the car could in fact be a full-blown hatchback. From the rear three-quarter view, the car actually has a certain Lamborghini Estoque quality to it, but that's mainly because of the taillamps and the angular exhaust outlets.

According to our source at Audi, the Sportback is in fact larger than the A6, and it is built on Audi's new modular longitudinal build kit (LBK), which is adjustable for length, width, and height depending on packaging needs. The same chassis setup will likely form the basis for future larger Audis, including the production version of the Sportback which is expected to be dubbed A7. We'll report back from opening day of the Detroit Auto Show tomorrow morning with more details and photos of the Sportback. so stay tuned.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Well they effed that one up. From the concept sketches and the spy shots I was thinking this would be the hottest "four door coupe" of the lot, but this is a sore disappointment.

Funny how the CLS is still the most attractive of all its imitators.

Vladi

This will turn out to be just an A5 with four doors in the end when it goes to production.

I think that GS and XF pulled off coupe roofline on a sedan the best so far.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

Quoted for truth, since Jag blatantly ripped off the GS roofline.

LexFather

Maxima, Altima, G35, M35/45, Mazda 3, etc etc

Yeah the rendering was so much better

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

I particularly liked this rendering, but also many of the others:

leedogg

They out panamerad the panamera.

JessePS

i cant stand these sedan-coupes

dunnojack

totally estoqued backend.

I like:
LED light pattern.
character lines.
exhaust area.
big wheels

I don't like:
sportback roof (what's the point of sportback anyway? it gives you a long *** rear package tray, and a small *** trunk door)


best thing i like about it is that it has more character than lexus. This design is more daring.

nothing beats panamera in fugliness

xcntuatd77

i like it. Has the intima look to it, in my opinion too.

Not a bad thing..but even still - very audi-esque..and attractive.

I dont think the production A7 will be much different than this...many of the design features already mimic the a5

GFerg

Not impressed. It has a saggy *** IMO.

Anthony

iTrader: (4)

i dont like the audi's a$$

xcntuatd77

I have to admit i dont like the side profile hatchback look... hence yes it is a sportback...They just need to smooth it out like the A5, and thats it...basically a stretched a5 with minor styling changes is all that needs to be done...just created more plusher in the final A7.

dunnojack

i'll take this instead:


taking a 2nd look, i like that character line that runs near the bottom of the car, and ends up on the tail lights.

lexus is just a flat piece of nothing.

dunnojack

if it even makes it to production.

they're guaging the public reaction before they give the green light