From all the photo's that I have seen the B7 looks like a B6, with a new Grill/Head Lights and Tail Lights.

Is the car different in any other way, I am assuming that the B7 is a new frame/platform but it looks like the B6 in so many ways.

I am not looking to flame B5/B6 or B7's I am just trying to figure out what the major changes are?

Don't be fooled by what you see on the outside. The only things that don't seem to be touched are the seats and IP/Center Stack.

It has different engines, transmissions, sheet metal, suspsensions, and more.


This sounds promissing:

The 6-speed Tiptronic with Sport Program

The 6-speed tiptronic transmission is available in conjunction with the very high-torque 3.2 FSI, 3.0 TDI and 2.0 T FSI power units featuring permanent four-wheel drive. Having already made its debut in the high-performance Audi S4, this transmission converts the power and muscle of the engine into a superior symbiosis of dynamism and operating convenience.

Weight reduction, a fast and crisp gearshift, as well as an optimised gearshift strategy help to combine the superior convenience of automatic gearshift with the sporting performance so typical of the A4.

Compared with its 5-speed predecessor, the new 6-speed gearbox is 14 kilograms lighter, the overall weight of the transmission being a mere 115 kilograms.

Again compared with a 5-speed automatic transmission, the overall spread of gear ratios is up by 18 percent on average. This means a much improved accelerating performance in the low gears and a clear reduction in engine speed and consequently a reduction in both noise level and fuel consumption at high speeds.

The shifting speed of the new 6-speed tiptronic has also been significantly optimised. The driver benefits from more spontaneous gear changes particularly when downshifting. In addition, the fact that the engine automatically double-declutches further increases agility.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audiworld.com/news/04/b7a4/content.shtml">http://www.audiworld.com/news/04/b7a4/content.shtml</a></li></ul>

then they are going from the B6 to the B7.

I am certain that Audi has a number of improvements for the B7 (although driving a B6 S4 I find it difficult to fault) but I am not sure that the front end looks "Audi". I know that Audi is changing the look of there cars so they all have a similar look, but the front end is going to be tough for me accept. I saw one of the first new A6's when I picked up my new car, some things are nice, but somethings just seem like they don't fit.

I am a huge fan of the Audi line, but I am not sure this look works for me. Again I am not bashing the B7's, I'm just not "lovng it"

... but rather a drastic mid-life facelift, with so many significant upgrades that Audi felt justified its platform name change.

It's essentially a response to:

- The new BMW 3 Series
- The B6 A4's declining sales due to strong competition (Acura TL, Volvo S40, Infiniti G35, BMW 3: all of which have regularly beaten the Audi in magazine comparo's)

It's still about 70% to 80% B6 parts. The overall body rigidity and curb weight should be about the same as the B6. The true platform change will happen in about 3 or 4 years when the B8 is released. Expect a much slicker and more integrated exterior than the B7.

In a nutshell, the most significant changes from the B6 to the B7 are:

- Considerably upgraded or new engines using FSI technology (200hp 2.0T, 255ph 3.2, although the 4.2 is unchanged)

- Improved transmissions

- Almost entirely new and vastly improved suspension

- New technologies (Color screen DVD nav, Bluetooth, Surround Sound, Servotronic steering)

- New steering wheel

- Extensive exterior body panel redesign.

I'm not "loving it" either, but I can relate my feelings to when the B6 was released. I was a huge fan of the B5, and when the B6 was released, my first comment was... "Why so bubbly??". Over time it grew on me. I expect the B7 will do the same.

Compared to all the other remakes by other comparable European manufacturers, I'd say Audi's on the ball with this one.