- Audi’s current gas-powered A6 range will soon be replaced by an expanded A7 family
- Gas-powered Audis will use odd-numbered names while electric-powered models use even numbers for their names
- The current Audi A6 Allroad will be replaced by a new Audi A7 Allroad, and prototypes have been spotted
A next-generation Audi A7 family is in the works and is set to be expanded with new sedan and Avant wagon body styles. A prototype for an A7 wagon has just been spotted, in Allroad soft-roader form.
Telltale signs we’re looking at an A7 Allroad and not a regular A7 Avant include the raised ride height, wheel arch cladding, and, according to our photographer, a softer tune for the suspension compared to prototypes for the regular A7 Avant also out testing.
2020 Audi A6 Allroad
The A7 Allroad will serve as the direct replacement for the current A6 Allroad, which has been on offer to U.S. buyers since the 2020 model year. An A7 sedan and high-performance RS 7 Avant to replace the current A6 sedan and RS 6 Avant, respectively, are also coming.
Audi’s A6 nameplate has gone the E-Tron electric route for its latest generation, but Audi still wants to offer a midsize lineup with gas engines, which is why the A7 range is being expanded. It’s all part of Audi’s new naming strategy that uses even numbers in the model names for EVs and odd numbers for models with internal-combustion engines.
2025 Audi A6 E-Tron test drive review, Tenerife
The first A6 E-Tron variants are due in U.S. showrooms next spring or summer. The next-generation A7 is expected to bow late next year as a 2026 model, and the A7 Allroad should be available from launch or close to it.
It’s possible the A7 Allroad and the RS 7 Avant are the only versions of the new A7 wagon offered to U.S. buyers, which is the case for the A6 wagon range.
2026 Audi A7 Allroad spy shots – Photo via Baldauf
Audi hasn’t mentioned plans for the next A7, but expect the automaker to use an updated version of the MLB platform, known as the PPC (Premium Platform Combustion). Audi plans to phase out combustion models in most markets later this decade and is therefore unlikely to invest in a new ICE platform for the next A7. The PPC platform debuted earlier this year in a redesigned A5 range, which also include a new A5 Avant wagon variant.
Depending on the market, powertrains for the A7 Allroad should include turbocharged V-6 gas and diesel engines, likely with mild-hybrid technology as standard. All-wheel drive will also be standard. A plug-in hybrid powertrain may be available.