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2014 Audi A7 TDI combines high-tech power, diesel efficiency (pictures)

For the 2014 model year, Audi pours its 3-liter diesel engine into the high-tech A7, giving it average fuel economy around 30 mpg.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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For the 2014 model year, Audi adds a diesel option to its excellent A7.
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The Quattro all-wheel-drive label peeks out from the grille. Quattro comes standard on the A7.
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Audi uses this turbocharged 3-liter V-6 diesel engine in a number of its newest models.
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The A7 TDI boasts an EPA-rated 29 mpg average fuel economy, excellent for a large vehicle.
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The hatchback design rakes the rear of the roofline down dramatically.
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The hatchback allows for 24.5 cubic feet of luggage space.
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This spoiler automatically rises when the car is at speed.
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Bang & Olufsen's acoustic lenses pop up from the corners of the dashboard, taking the place of traditional tweeters.
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The A7 includes a sensor array in front of the rearview mirror for its driver assistance features.
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The seats have some bolstering to help keep passengers in place when cornering.
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The middle position in the rear seat is not very comfortable.
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Satin-finish wood trim is a very nice touch in the cabin.
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The center LCD display motors out from the dashboard, hiding itself when the car is parked.
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Electrically boosted power steering is tuned for a light feel.
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Audi relies on traditional analog gauges in the instrument cluster, rather than going to an LCD panel.
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The shifter sits among Audi's MMI cabin tech controls.
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Audi uses an elliptical format for its home screen.
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Maps can be displayed in this traditional graphical format, or with Google Earth imagery.
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Audi's touch pad does a phenomenal job of accurately recognizing finger-traced letters.
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A variety of white-label information services rely on the car's data connection.
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Hooking up an iPhone 5 in the car requires Apple's Lightning adapter, which delivers atrocious audio quality.
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Drive Select allows a number of different driving profiles.
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Front cameras show corner views, useful when pulling out of a blind alley.
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The rearview camera shows trajectory lines.

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