On paper, the 2021 Audi A7 L sounds rather bizarre. After all, it is based on the standard A7 but rather than being a hatchback, it is now a sedan.
Audi unveiled the A7 L at last year’s Shanghai Auto Show and it will be sold exclusively in China. It has an ‘L’ in its name because it has a longer wheelbase than the A7 Sportback sold in other markets. The extra 3.85-inches (98 mm) gained by extending the wheelbase helps to improve interior space – and apparently to lose the rear hatch.
Read Also: New Audi A7 L Is An Elongated Sedan Version Of The Sportback
Chinese buyers are so fond of long-wheelbase cars because they often like to ride in the rear of their cars and by extending the wheelbase of the A7, Audi has been able to dramatically increase legroom for occupants sitting in the second row. The sedan profile of the car also helps to boost headroom, although the reviewer in this clip notes that there isn’t exactly heaps of headroom.
Audi is initially producing just 1,000 examples of the A7 L for the Chinese market and offers it in both 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol and 3.0-liter turbocharged petrol configurations. The car featured in this review is a 55 TFSI model, meaning it has the aforementioned 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder with mild-hybrid technology producing 335 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. This engine works alongside a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission driving all four wheels and helping the A7 L hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in a very respectable 5.6 seconds.
While driving the China-exclusive A7 L, Wheelsboy notes that the powertrain provided plenty of performance, perfect for highway cruising. He also notes that the addition of a rear-wheel steering system helps to improve the maneuverability and mentions that it does feel softer than a standard A7, likely owing to the lengthened wheelbase.
[embedded content]
