- The 2012 Audi A7 will start at $60,125, including an $875 destination charge, when it goes on sale in U.S. showrooms later this month, said Audi of America.
- The top-of-the-line A7 Prestige model starts at $66,455, including shipping.
- Audi told Inside Line on Monday that it considers the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 the closest competitor to the A7. The CLS550 starts at $76,175, including an $875 destination charge and a $1,300 gas-guzzler tax.
HERNDON, Virginia — The 2012 Audi A7 will start at $60,125, including an $875 destination charge, when it goes on sale in U.S. showrooms later this month, said Audi of America. The top-of-the-line A7 Prestige model starts at $66,455, including shipping.
Audi told Inside Line on Monday that it considers the 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 the closest competitor to the A7. The CLS550 starts at $76,175, including an $875 destination charge and a $1,300 gas-guzzler tax.
The two vehicles aren't head-to-head competitors, especially from a technical specification standpoint. The A7 is equipped with a 310-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CLS550 is equipped with a 382-hp 5.5-liter V8 engine linked to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The 2012 CLS550 with a 402-hp 4.6-liter V8 and an estimated $74,000 MSRP, will go on sale in the U.S. this summer. Pricing has not been announced.
The new A7 can be equipped with several options packages and accessories, which will inflate the sticker price on a well-equipped vehicle past $75,000.
The Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system adds another $5,900 to the bottom line. An innovation package that bundles full LED headlights, Audi pre sense plus, adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go, Audi side assist, a head-up display and night vision assistant costs $5,800. A sport package with 20-inch wheels with performance tires, sport suspension and three-spoke sport steering wheel with shift paddles adds $1,500. A single accessory — 20-inch Cartesia five-arm wheels — adds $4,000 to the bottom line. Metallic or pearl effect paint adds another $475 and rear side airbags cost $350.
Audi's A7 configurator went live on Monday.
Inside Line says: If Audi is not dreaming and buyers will shop the A7 against the CLS550, they'll be penny-pinchers, saving upward of $16,000. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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tbone85 says:
10:50 AM, 04/08/2011
What percentage of customers for this vehicle will care how much is coach built and home much is derived from existing design work? I'm not sure how much more reliable the Benz 8 is over the Audi 6, but I don't think reliability or practicality is the primary concern of anyone buying either of these marques in this segment.
subiext6 says:
08:03 PM, 04/04/2011
hmmm i saw this car this morning but its not on sale yet...?
smilez says:
07:02 PM, 04/04/2011
Superior? Yes.
Far superior? Matter of opinion. My opinion is no.
icecubefosho says:
04:59 PM, 04/04/2011
I might not care for Anita but read again. "If Audi is not dreaming and buyers will shop the A7 against the CLS550"
"If Audi is NOT DREAMING", meaning, she believes Audi is illogical to compare it to the CLS550, the far superior vehicle.
vantageman says:
04:09 PM, 04/04/2011
Inside line please stop being bias for on second. How is someone who is buying a hatchback version of the A6 with the same interior saving money over the CLS essentially a coach built version of the e class with a unique exterior and interior by purchasing an unreliable 6 cylinder versus a V8. Why not compare pricing of the A6 with the same engine to show how overrpiced a7 is, or for that matter how much the V8 model is.....seriously inside line more and more like Motortrends irrelevance everyday...