Audi unveils all-hybrid 2018 A7 Sportback

Audi has taken the wraps off its all-new A7 Sportback to reveal a striking design and lavish interior.

The second-generation of the German carmaker’s sleek saloon - which goes on sale in 2018 - has undergone a significant redesign, adopting the same body-width tail lights and large grille as the range-topping A8 due out at the end of the year.

The new A7 also sports sharper body lines and creases than its predecessor, with angular rear wheel arches and subtle ripples on the bonnet.

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The car - which will rival luxury four-door saloons such as the Mercedes CLS - is powered by hybrid engines exclusively, so every model will come with some form of electrification.

Evo reports that the only engine currently available is a 3.0-litre V6 TFSI petrol motor, badged as the A7 55. This comes with a 48-volt hybrid system that allows the saloon “to coast silently in freewheeling mode at speeds of between 34mph and 99mph”.

The car boasts a combined power output of 335bhp and 369lb-ft of torque, the magazine says, with fuel efficiency of 41.5mpg and 154g/km of CO2 emissions.

Inside, the A7 incorporates the same MMI Touch Response infotainment system as the upcoming A8, says Auto Express. It consists of two screens, measuring 10.1in and 8.6ins, on a display mounted in the centre console that, according to the magazine, come with “haptic and acoustic feedback”.

The twin-screen system allows you to adjust the vehicle’s “climate and comfort functions”, but buyers will “have to pay extra for satnav on base cars”.

The new saloon is expected to reach showrooms in February, says Top Gear, with prices starting at around £56,000 for the 55 model.

A faster S7 variant is also on the cards for future release, says the site, as well as a hardcore RS7 that could sport Audi’s electric e-tron system.