Car & Driver: Audi A7 vs BMW 640i Gran Coupe

[EKaru]

Full Article:
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test

[JorgenP]

The BMW looks great, but next to an A7 it looks decent. I do love the exterior of the Gran Coupe more than the usual coupe though. But the A7 is one of the best best looking cars in the market at the moment.

[EKaru]

What happened to the steering feel in BMW's higher end cars? First the M5 and now this

[AuForm]

Hefty price difference. You might as well pit the S7 against the 640i, no?

[zerotosixty]

Hefty price difference. You might as well pit the S7 against the 640i, no?

No because they both have 6s under the hood. 650i goes against S7.

and lol at the price difference

[EKaru]

No because they both have 6s under the hood. 650i goes against S7.

and lol at the price difference

That's correct

640i GC -- A7 3.0T
650i GC -- S7 4.0T
M6 GC -- RS7

[Shmi]

What happened to the steering feel in BMW's higher end cars? First the M5 and now this

The electrically assisted power steering, as in most new BMWs, is short on feedback despite being precise and weighted to cornering loads.

Seems like they haven't quite got it down pat yet.

[Son]

Wow, OK, why does BMW think they can charge that much more for their offering in this class? Or is it because it's a "coupe" (read: sedan) and not a hatchback like the Audi?

[Shmi]

I know it's been said before but it's still unusual to me seeing Audi beat out BMW on driving dynamics. BMW was the standard for a long while but seems like they're not up to par on their steering system on multiple cars or suspension on this car. Also surprised that as optioned, the Audi is that much cheaper. The Audi didn't have the top trim package as I believe the BMW did, but with that much price gap I think it would still come in below the BMW's $ if it did.

[Tim@VMG]

I know it's been said before but it's still unusual to me seeing Audi beat out BMW on driving dynamics. BMW was the standard for a long while but seems like they're not up to par on their steering system on multiple cars or suspension on this car. Also surprised that as optioned, the Audi is that much cheaper. The Audi didn't have the top trim package as I believe the BMW did, but with that much price gap I think it would still come in below the BMW's $ if it did.

An A7 with every available cost option (without getting in to special order Audi Exclusive customizations) is about $85,000. And that includes stuff like a heads up display, the pedestrian and animal detecting night vision system, Audi Connect, etc, etc.

-Tim

[Mike!]

Enjoyed this article in print. The A7 really seems to have it all - good looking, practical, fun to drive, and even efficient.

[TangoRed]

Interesting. Car and Driver really likes this new batch of Audi's. Good for them.

Just while we're keeping score- The results of the C&D CLS550 vs. A7 test were much closer:

Audi A7- 208 Mercedes CLS550- 197


http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2012-audi-a7-30t-quattro-vs-2012-mercedes-benz-cls550-comparison-test-car-and-driver2012-audi-a7-30t-quattro-vs-2012-mercedes-benz-cls550.pdf

[Wanganrunner]

That price difference is absurd.

BMW needs to get their options under control.

Additionally, a 4,300lb 315hp car is dumb, at least at that price. To give you an idea, that's 13.65lbs/hp. An "underpowered" FR-S has exactly 13.5lbs/hp, so a superior power to weight ratio to the $100,000 krautsled.

[zerotosixty]

An A7 with every available cost option (without getting in to special order Audi Exclusive customizations) is about $85,000. And that includes stuff like a heads up display, the pedestrian and animal detecting night vision system, Audi Connect, etc, etc.

-Tim

A loaded 640i GC is around $110k on BMWUSA. I don't want to know what the M6 GC is going to be priced

[zerotosixty]

That price difference is absurd.

BMW needs to get their options under control.

Maybe BMW is under the impression that they're Porsche and can command such ridiculous pricing

[mhjett]

Hefty price difference. You might as well pit the S7 against the 640i, no?

The Audi would only come out further on top.

[Shmi]

An A7 with every available cost option (without getting in to special order Audi Exclusive customizations) is about $85,000. And that includes stuff like a heads up display, the pedestrian and animal detecting night vision system, Audi Connect, etc, etc.

-Tim

I had a feeling it'd be low 80s, thanks for confirming mid-80. Ridiculous pricing for BMW..

[20aeman]

That price difference is absurd.

BMW needs to get their options under control.

Additionally, a 4,300lb 315hp car is dumb, at least at that price. To give you an idea, that's 13.65lbs/hp. An "underpowered" FR-S has exactly 13.5lbs/hp, so a superior power to weight ratio to the $100,000 krautsled.

Let's not kid ourselves, the Bimmer is still faster due to 8 speed transmission, hp under the curve, torque, tires, etc. The power to weight metric comparison is a pointless one.

Now making the argument that a base, lease spec 3 series with the new turbo 4 has the same performance as a 100k GC is a much more damning.

[EKaru]

I wish Audi didn't price its B&O sound system through the roof.. It's $5,900 vs $4,650 in the BMW (actually $3,700, but BMW doesn't allow you to choose B&O without the $950 premium sound pkg):
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...e/default.aspx

The premium HK sound system comes standard in the CLS550..

[Wanganrunner]

Let's not kid ourselves, the Bimmer is still faster due to 8 speed transmission, hp under the curve, torque, tires, etc. The power to weight metric comparison is a pointless one.

Now making the argument that a base, lease spec 3 series with the new turbo 4 has the same performance as a 100k GC is a much more damning.

Yeah, absolutely true. I was just more trying to focus on how incredibly heavy 4300lbs is.

For $100k, they should be able to build the thing out of aluminum and shave hundreds off that figure.

[EKaru]

A loaded 640i GC is around $110k on BMWUSA. I don't want to know what the M6 GC is going to be priced

yeah, no kidding

[zerotosixty]

For $100k, they should be able to build the thing out of aluminum and shave hundreds off that figure.

I wonder the 6GC is sort of going against a Panamera too?

[bbk]

The performance results are not surprising.

Personally, I perfer the A7's styling inside & outside.

[InfinitiG]

As others have said, the pricing on the BMW is out of control. It's an awesome looking car, and based on exterior styling alone I prefer it over the Audi. It's disappointing however to see that BMW has seemingly lost their edge in driving dynamics and performance to the more "sterile" Audi. The performance of that A7 compared to the 640i is hard to ignore.

[clutchrider]

Wait, the 6-series is now available in 4 doors

I still cannot get over calling these coupes. My American brain automatically processes 4 doors as a sedan with either a trunk or hatch.

[EKaru]

I wonder the 6GC is sort of going against a Panamera too?

Yes, that's what BMW has done... The GC is a more upscale car compared to the A7 and CLS and it's priced alongside the Panamera. BMW thinks they can get away with Porsche pricing, but I doubt they can, especially with cars like this around:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...13703159&Log=0

[Ross1013]

The performance results are not surprising.

Personally, I perfer the A7's styling inside & outside.

x2

BMW have officially jumped the shark.

[zerotosixty]

Yes, that's what BMW has done... The GC is a more upscale car compared to the A7 and CLS and it's priced alongside the Panamera. BMW thinks they can get away with Porsche pricing, but I doubt they can, especially with cars like this around:
http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...13703159&Log=0

You'd have to be a complete idiot or a BMW whore to pick a 6 cylinder BMW over a AMG Mercedes for LESS money

[InfinitiG]

Wait, the 6-series is now available in 4 doors

I still cannot get over calling these coupes. My American brain automatically processes 4 doors as a sedan with either a trunk or hatch.

But dude, look at the styling.

[EKaru]

The S7 really steps it up with the interior... I love the stitching

[Oliver@triplezoom]

You'd have to be a complete idiot or a BMW whore to pick a 6 cylinder BMW over a AMG Mercedes for LESS money

Or, maybe outright performance isn't a huge priority and you just happen to prefer the BMW.

I agree that the BMW is overpriced compared to the Audi and Mercedes, but people are still going to buy them.

[Shmi]

Those S7 seats had me the first time I saw them. Gorgeous.

[zerotosixty]

^ That is one seriously high quality interior

[zerotosixty]

Or, maybe outright performance isn't a huge priority and you just happen to prefer the BMW.

I agree that the BMW is overpriced compared to the Audi and Mercedes, but people are still going to buy them.

Sadly, you are correct

It's an awesome looking car, but the CLS is also gorgeous

[Oliver@triplezoom]

Sadly, you are correct

It's an awesome looking car, but the CLS is also gorgeous

I think that in this class the CLS would be my top pick.