Audi A7 Sportback Revealed

The four-door coupe segment just officially got a new entrant today in the Audi A7 Sportback. Mercedes-Benz pioneered the segment with the hot-selling CLS fashion icon. Since, it has spurred a whole host of copycats, but not yet a true competitor.

There have been models below like the Volkswagen Passat CC and certainly above with models like the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera.

That is changing quickly with the advent of the Audi A7 Sportback and BMW's production of the Gran Coupe. Let's check out the A7.

Stunning pretty much sums it up. Groundbreaking? No. There weren't any surprises here, as the overall look was well previewed by the A7 Sportback Concept, as well as the A5 Sportback.

That doesn't stop it from being beautiful though. The A7 the requisite fastback rear end and the rest of the styling hews close to Audi's design language.

However, it is in a sleeker, lower profile package. In a contest between the A7 Sportback and the A8, this wins hands down. Sporty, with clean lines - has the CLS met its match?

When the A7 Sportback was launched as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show, the interior was a real standout. It was one of the elements this writer hoped would be retained for production, and that has happened.

It shows off a different look than is usual for Audi, with different interior vents and a low-slung, sporty look. It is fitting for the difference in the car's attitude.

Audi's reputation for some of the best interiors around is well-maintained, adding even more design flair in the A7 Sportback.

Audi is initially offering four V-6 engines: two gasolines and two diesels. The base engine starts at 204 horsepower and the top engine hits 300 hp.

A bit lacking? Yes. But notice Audi said initially. More engines are likely to come soon - this car is begging for more power, and an S7 variant!

Perhaps best of all, this car will be coming to the United States, unlike it's little brother the A5 Sportback. Audi confirmed its U.S arrival today Twitter.

Unfortunately, Audi didn't release too many wallpaper-quality images for us to drool over, but they should be forthcoming.

As far as pricing, the car arrives in European dealerships this fall with a base price of 51,600 euros, about $67,000 USD at current exchange rates. That gives us a good idea of the price tag it will get when it comes here, but things are subject to change.

We can't wait to see the car on our shores, and it begs the question - what reason is there to get the A8 (a car we love) over this?