To Sportback or not to Sportback: That is the marketing question facing Audi's North American operations.
In Europe, Audi's all-new 2012 A7 is officially called the A7 Sportback, in order to highlight the so-called five-door coupe's status as more than just a normal sedan.
Here, it seems to be the opposite: Audi's U.S. and Canadian operations are calling it the A7, and seem very content to leave the impression that this is simply a sexy four-door sedan, and let potential buyers discover the practical hatchback rear door during the test drive (or drive home).
This looks-first strategy has worked very well for Mercedes-Benz with its CLS, and has led luxury automakers to play with traditional vehicle shapes in the way a stylist finesses clay.
Porsche's Panamera, BMW's 5 Series GT, Aston Martin's luscious Rapide and now Audi's A7 all take slightly different stabs at adding new levels of style to relatively practical offerings, to various degrees of success.
Top-level design, inside and out
Looks are always in the eye of the beholder, but the A7 is easily one of the best-looking full-size four-doors on the market.
The A7's sloping rear hatchback adds a fair amount of drama compared to the more traditional three-box A8.
In contrast to its Benz CLS rival, the A7's shapely bodywork actually adds to the practicality of the design, resulting in 535 litres of cargo room, 25 more than in the pricier A8.
Fold the seats down, and the A7 provides 1,390 litres of room, which is more than the bigger-bottomed Panamera, but less than the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo.
The A7 looks especially good in its sportier S line trim, which adds 19-inch wheels and a flatter stance around corners.
So far as I could tell, this upgrade came without a punishing ride, at least as much as I could tell on the smooth, never-ending twisties around Costa Smerelda, near the northeastern coast of the island.
Inside, the S line's leather and aluminum trim are fashionably sleek in a post-modern, minimalist way.
But if you've had a chance to sit in the warm, inviting interior of a regular A7, with its generous layered wood and richly contrasting hues of leather, the S line's insides will seem as monotonous as a late-night infomercial when the remote's disappeared.
High "gee-whiz" factor technology
Impressing your fellow passengers with the A7 is as easy as turning on the ignition; out from the dash rise two anodized aluminum tweeters, to accompany the other 13 that come with the optional 1,200 watt Bang & Olufsen sound system.
And while passengers won't be able to see the (optional) head-up display, they're sure to be wide-eyed in amazement at the self-parallel-parking function, which allows the driver to let go of the wheel and let the computer use its multitude of radar sensors to calculate correct steering angle to get into a spot, with the driver controlling just the gas and brakes.
There's also the ability to turn the car into a rolling WiFi hotspot, and tap into Google Earth using the car's navigation system.
It's actually helpful in getting you to where you're going, say, like when your hotel is on a new road that's not yet on a digitized map.
Because the system uses the data plan from your smartphone to provide the net access, Audi strongly recommend an unlimited data plan.
This function runs on either a Bluetooth protocol not yet common in North America, or by physically taking the SIM card from your phone and placing it in the car.
While this might work in Europe, in locked-phone centric North America, neither solution is ideal.
Quick, but fuel economy still a priority
The A7's standard Stop/Start system helps keep it as silent (and efficient) as a hybrid in stopped traffic, starting right back up as soon as you remove your foot from the brake.
Our European-model tester was powered by a 3.0-litre TFSI supercharged V6 mated to a slick-shifting dual-clutch automated manual with shift paddles for added control.
When the A7 arrives in North America, this engine will have an output of 310 hp, and come mated to an eight-speed automatic. But it won't have the stop/
Unlike in Europe, the A7 is only available with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive.
No one will miss the front-drive version though, because Audi uses its torque vectoring system sport differential to push power to the outside wheels in a turn, reducing understeer and the possibility of wheel-slip on dry or wet pavement.
A nudge from someone at Audi encouraged us to sample the available top-line diesel engine, a 3.0-litre unit that makes 245 hp and a more relevant 369 lb.-ft. of torque available from just 1,400 rpm.
So we assume that the not-quite-as-quick but almost as smooth new diesel will arrive in North America at some point. Some buyers though may miss the immediate power and bellow of a V8 offered by a few rivals.
On the road, safety systems always out to help you - always
Once underway, the A7 feels sophisticated. The V6 can be run to redline before feeling even slightly strained, and harsh resonance or vibration are nowhere in the picture no matter how hard it's thrashed.
The standard Drive Select system allows the driver to choose between Comfort, Auto and Sport modes, adjusting the car's personality.
It affects not only steering response but shock settings and transmission shift patterns. A custom function allows you to create your own favourite settings too - say a softer suspension set up with quicker steering.
The new lane-assist system subtly trembles the steering wheel to keep you in your lane at highway speeds, and to remind you to always signal when changing lanes.
Although we didn't try it, the night vision system now highlights people and animals in red.
A blind-spot-warning system also beeps if you try to change lanes with a car there, but it also led to various false alarms when traffic in the opposite direction passed on tight curved roads.
By the time the A7 arrives in mid-2011, this large five-door luxury "coupe" will firmly entrench itself into the upper echelon of both the prettiest and most practical of such luxury four-doors, whatever you choose to call them.
2012 Audi A7
Price: (est.) $TBA
Type of vehicle: AWD luxury fastback
Engine: 3.0L, 24-valve, DOHC V6 supercharged
Power/Torque: 310 hp/325 lb.-ft.
0-100 km/h: 5.6 seconds
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption (city/hwy, est.): TBA L/100 km
Competition: BMW 5 Series GT, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Jaguar XF, Mercedes-Benz CLS and E-Class Wagon, Porsche Panamera
PREVIEW SUMMARY
PROS
Looks so good, you can't see its extra hatchback practicality
Gorgeously rich interior, especially layered wood veneers
Corners like a veritable sports sedan
CONS
Not as much power as its V8 rivals
Canadians will likely miss out on Google-based nav system
... And the excellent 3.0-litre diesel V6.
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