Audi has so far stuck the new 'ultra' badge on TDI versions of the A4, A5 and A6 models. All use 2-liter turbodiesels with outputs ranging from 136 to 190 PS. Now, there's clean version of the recently facelifted A7 and thankfully, they didn't stick a four-cylinder engine under the bonnet of the upper-mid level luxury five-door coupe.
The all-new A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI ultra has been fully detailed by the German automaker today and is nothing short of impressive. Under its bonnet is a brand new Euro 6 engine, a 3.0 TDI that produces 218 PS (160 kW) between 4,000 and 4,750rpm. Peak torque of 400 Nm arrives as early as 1,250rpm and is available right up until 3,750rpm.
The gearbox chosen is also brand new, a 7-speed twin-clutch S tronic designed specifically for Audi's longitudinally mounted engines. We are more than a little happy to see the CVT that used to be offered on FWD base models is gone for good. Power is still sent only to the front wheels. But the car is not what you'd call slow. 0 to 100 km/h takes only 7.3 seconds and the top speed is 239 km/h (149 mph), decent figures for a 5-meter long coupe that also weighs 1,830 kilograms.
The ultra is, not surprisingly, the most efficient model of the whole A7 range. It's the only one to have the A+ efficiency class, thanks to fuel consumption of only 4.7 l/100km (60.1mpg UK) on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 122 grams per kilometer. In Germany, the A7 3.0 ultra costs only €339 to tax, the cheapest of the model range.
The A7 3.0 TDI ultra can already be ordered in Germany, with prices starting at €54,800. Audi says that an average customer traveling 20,000 kilometers per year can expect to pay as little as €1,343 for fuel (based on current 1,43 euro/liter), which means the running costs are comparable to those of an average compact.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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