- SAIC Audi is working on an A7L Avant based on the new A6.
- This China-specific model rides on a longer wheelbase.
- It could become Audi’s longest wagon at over 200 inches.
Audi’s partnership with SAIC may not be delivering the sales momentum it hoped for with the AUDI E5 Sportback, but the next project in the pipeline looks promising. China’s take on the European Audi A6 Avant comes in the form of a longer, sleeker A7L Avant, and it has now been spotted without camouflage, revealing several styling cues.
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The current Audi A7L is essentially a stretched sedan based on the A7. The next-generation model will switch to the newer PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) architecture that underpins the latest A6. And yes, in keeping with China’s well-documented appetite for rear legroom, the wheelbase is set to grow even further.
Longer Body And Subtle Rear Revisions
Exact dimensions remain under wraps for now. Even so, the A7L Avant will exceed the 4,990 mm (196.5 inches) length of the A6 Avant on which it is based. It is also expected to eclipse the 5,060 mm (199 inches) 2001 Audi Avantissimo concept, possibly making it the longest wagon ever to wear the four-ring emblem.
Earlier spy shots of camouflaged prototypes hinted at some nicely resolved proportions. Now a single image of the A7L Avant’s tail has surfaced on Chinese social media, giving us something more concrete to study.
The rear looks subtly different from the A6 Avant, enough to carve out its own identity. The rear glass is more steeply raked, and the license plate has been shifted from the tailgate down to a reshaped bumper.
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It keeps the A6’s OLED taillights, complete with the full-width LED strip and those faux vents. There is also a pair of larger trapezoidal tailpipes framing a smaller diffuser. The surfacing on the sides closely follows the A6 template, though the rear doors are noticeably longer and the rear overhang stretches further back.
The front end is still under wraps, though Audi may well dial up the aggression for the A7L Avant. Expect cues from the Chinese-spec A5L Sportback, which uses a strip of black trim to visually connect the grille with the bumper intakes. It is a look that nods to the new RS5, but without the pumped-up fenders.
Inside, the A7L Avant should lean heavily into its flagship brief. Think plenty of tech, led by a triple-screen setup running China-specific software.
Which Powertrains Will It Offer?
Under the hood, gasoline engines are expected, likely paired with a mild-hybrid system. The familiar 2.0 TSI four-cylinder and the more powerful 3.0 TSI V6 are obvious candidates, pending confirmation from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Power should flow to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and Audi’s quattro AWD system.
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With an uncamouflaged prototype already out on public roads in China, an official debut seems close, whether that means weeks or a few short months. Production will be handled locally by SAIC.
Photos Autohome / Weibo