2021 AUDI A7 suspension

Table of contents

About this Owner's Manual......
SUMIMAry: < = exe : eens: Seen cs sens
QutckeaeCe ssh: «i esis se ois a eaves @
Cockpit. ...... 0... eee eee eee eee
Indicator lights overview...........4..
Display and operation...........
Instrument cluster...............
Instrument cluster overview...........
Operating. ecccuse w+ were oo wens oo ayes 9 ¥
Adjusting the display.................
Coolant temperature display...........
Tachometer’ series i ewe so snes ¥ & ome
Power meter...............0 00000005
QdOMe@ter a: =e giws + pases 2 pees se Hees <
Outside temperature display...........
Engine oil temperature indicator.......
Boost indicator’: 2 2c« «= sesa ¢ x sews «x 2x8
Shiftilightindicator ics «+ sca + 2 oman 2 6 ox
Sport displays...............0 eee eee
Vehicle functions............-.00-005
Touch displays.................008
General touch display operation........
Multi Media Interface................
Head-up display..................
Descriptionis: ss gem = x eames ¢ eee ge eee
Voice recognition system........
General information.................
DeSeriptionis = ssssas « « wens s + eres « + aes
External voice operation..............
Global functions.................
Additional function buttons...........
Starting and driving.............
Personalization..................
Luggage compartment lid.............
Child safety lock.............0...000.
POWEr WIKdOWS 6: «oxen se aes ye eee
NOD
OO
12 12 12
13
14 14
15 15
16
16
16
16
16
16 17
1
19
21
28 28 29 29
29
30
32 32 33 33 33
36 36
40
43
46 47
Panoramic glass roof................. 48
Garage door opener..........--.00 eee 49
Lights and Vision................. 52
Exterior lighting...................4. 52
Interior liQhting ss =e aves ss eews so eos 56
ViSIOMsn « 3 ses 3 3 ema oo wena vo ae © ove 57
Windshield wipers.............-..45- 59
Digital compass.............-.-0000- 61
Sitting correctly and safely...... 63
Correct passenger seating position...... 63
Frontseats:: » ssw. « ¢ sews & » saws +s ewe < 63
Steering wheel seis < «cies ¥ eerie ss eee 66
Head restraints.................0000. 67
Safety Beltsi: s sass x eeups ¢ < saves 2 e cee 68
Memory function . « scons ecw ee cro ee 71
Airbag system... ... 2.62... 0 ee eee eee 72
Child safety seats.................04- 76
Storage and convenience........ 82
POWErSOURCES coisa gs seen ss wae se aes 82
Gup holders. ¢ ssn ss wee 2 2 see 2 & pee 82
Storage and compartments............ 83
Luggage compartment............... 83
ROOF hacks « = weies x = wae 2 s eae 2 & ween 2 86
Warm and cold.................45 87
Climate control system............... 87
Steering wheel heating............... 90
Auxiliary climate control.............. 90
Fluids in the A/C system. .........0065 92
Driving .............. 0.0... eee eee 93
Starting the vehicle...............0.0. 93
When driving isis ss iovsvie se aerswce oo anes oe 94
Drive system... 2.2... ee eee eee eee 100
Start/Stop system .........ee cece eee 104
BrakeS's so isemi 2 wane w aman a 2 oer as ie 105
Electromechanical parking brake....... 107
Special driving situations.............. 109
Driving: dynamic. . « sic. 6 6 see a 6 se Ld
Audi drive select..................00. Tay
SUSPENSION es « + exes ¢ ¢ eres +o ees vv eae 112
SUECOKING « wvessse oo csisweue 6 & saouwun 6 a atonae 6 WB 113
All wheel drive (quattro) .............. 114

Quick access

Brake system
=> page 107, > page 108,
=> page 269
Lane departure warning
=> page 165,
Emergency assist
Steering => page 174
=> page 114 Audi pre sense
=> page 167,
Intersection assist
=> page 173
Steering lock
=>page 114

Air suspension
=> page 113 Yellow indicator lights

Rear spoiler
=>page 118
Central indicator light
> page 7
Electrical system
=> page 269
Engine oil level (MIN)
=> page 263
Safety systems
=> page 72
Transmission
=> page 99
Engine oil pressure
=> page 263
Drive system
=> page 104
Cooling system
=> page 266
Cooling system
=> page 266
Hood
=> page 261
Drive system
=> page 104
Vehicle sound
Charging system
eens => page 104 =>page 125
Engine start system
Loose wheel warning 6d
=> page
=> page 289
Keys
Night vision assist
=> page 94
=> page 149
Electromechanical parking brake
Night vision assist
=> page 108
=> page 149
Brake system
Distance warning i607
=> page => page 164
Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC)
>page 115
Steering intervention request
=> page 158
Safe start monitor
=> page 161,
Driver intervention request
=> page 162
Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC)
>page 115
Electronic Stabilization Control
(ESC)
=>page 116
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
>page 117 >
Adaptive cruise assist
=>page 155

4K8012721BF

Quick access

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) Maneuver assist
=>page 117 => page 196
Steering Tire pressure
=>page 114 => page 292, > page 294
Steering lock Tire pressure
>page 114 = page 292, > page 294
All wheel drive Loose wheel warning
=>page 115 => page 289
Suspension control Bulb failure indicator
=> page 113 = page 56
Air suspension Adaptive light
=> page 113 => page 56
Rear spoiler Light/rain sensor
>page 118 = page 56, > page 61
Engine speed limitation Door lock
>page 15 => page 38
Tank system Battery in vehicle key
=>page 255 = page 42
Tank system/high-voltage system Night vision assist
>page 255 => page 149
Electrical system Intersection assist
=> page 269 = page 174
Engine oil level (MIN) Side assist
=> page 263 => page 172;
Engine oil level (MAX) Exit warning
> page 263 = page 172
Rear cross-traffic assist
Engine oil sensor
= page 183
=> page 263
Adaptive cruise assist
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL)
=> page 163
=> page 259,
Steering intervention request
Engine warm-up request
=> page 158, > page 165
=> page 263
Washer fluid level
=> page 273
Windshield wipers
> page 61
High-voltage battery range
=>page 125
Lane departure warning
=> page 166
Distance warning
=> page 164
Audi pre sense
=> page 170
Emergency assist
Parking systems
=>page 174
=>page 178
Park assist plus ae: call function
page 190 page 214 >
9

Quick access


Other indicator lights
Rear safety belt
=> page 70

















Start/Stop system
=> page 104
=>page 101
Low beam headlights
=> page 52
Parking lights
=> page 52
Turn signals
=> page 53, >page 55
Cruise control system
>page 151
Cruise control system
=>page 151
Efficiency assist
=> page 152
Efficiency assist
=>page 152
Efficiency assist
=> page 152
Efficiency assist
=> page 152
Efficiency assist
=> page 152
Efficiency assist
=> page 152
Efficiency assist
=> page 152
Adaptive cruise assist
>page 155
Adaptive cruise assist
>page 155
Adaptive cruise assist
>page 155
Adaptive cruise assist
>page 155
10
Electric drive ready mode
Efficiency assist
=>page 152

Adaptive cruise assist
=>page 155
Adaptive cruise assist
=>page 155
Park assist plus
=> page 187
Lane departure warning
=> page 165
High beam headlights
=> page 53
High beam assistant
=> page 53
Laser lights
=> page 54
Rear safety belt
=> page 70
Rear safety belt
=> page 70
Transmission
=> page 99
Convenience key
=> page 94
Electromechanical parking brake
=> page 108
Electromechanical parking brake
=> page 108
Electric drive ready mode
=> page 101
Electric drive ready mode
=>page 101
Combustion engine
=> page 101
Plug-in hybrid modes
=> page 101
Plug-in hybrid modes
=> page 101
Plug-in hybrid modes
=> page 101
Steering
>page 114
Air suspension
=> page 113

4K8012721BF
Driving

If the message stays on, if the parking brake can-
not be released, or if the message appears while
driving, do not continue driving. Secure the vehi-
cle against rolling before exiting the vehicle
= page 94. See an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
fw Parking brake: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the parking brake. Drive
to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility immediately to have the malfunc-
tion corrected. Do not park the vehicle on inclines
and shift to “P”.
A / {Q) Parking brake: warning! Vehicle parked
too steep
The braking force may not be enough to secure
the vehicle from rolling away. Park the vehicle in
a place with less of an incline.
fa / Parking brake: applied
The parking brake is set. Press and hold the brake
pedal
to release the parking brake.
Special driving situations
Sy Seas ASLAN LLS)
Applies to: RS models
When driving in a sporty style, the wear on all ve-
hicle components is greatly increased, especially
on the engine, transmission, tires, brakes, and
suspension. This can result in increased wear. Al-
so note the following points:
— Make sure the vehicle is in good condition.
Make sure to check the brake pads, tire tread,
and tire pressure (when tires are warm).
— Beforehand, warm up the engine by driving no
higher than two-thirds of the maximum permit-
ted engine RPM. The engine oil must be
brought to a minimum temperature of 158 °F
(70°C).
— Before stopping the vehicle, allow the engine
and brakes to cool back down to a regular oper-
ating temperature by driving normally.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— Dynamic Audi drive select mode* > page 111
— Launch Control > page 98
— Limit ESC > page 116
@ Tips
Wear caused by load does not constitute a ve-
hicle fault as defined by the terms of the war-
ranty.
Driving uphill and downhill
When driving uphill, downhill, or at high alti-
tudes, note the following information:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
— Do not try to turn around if you cannot safely
drive on an incline or hill. Instead, drive in re-
verse.
— When driving down hills, you can activate the
hill descent control if you press the brake pedal
while driving in “D” gear. The automatic trans-
mission will select a gear suitable for driving
down the hill and will attempt to maintain the
speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the
time the brake pedal was pressed. Press the
brake pedal if necessary. The hill descent con-
trol will switch off once the hill levels out or
you press the accelerator pedal.
— Utilize the engine braking effect when driving
downhill by selecting the “S” driving program
=> page 96. This especially applies when towing
a trailer. This reduces the load on the brakes.
— Apply the brakes in intervals and do not press
the brake pedal continuously.

ZA\ WARNING
— Only drive on inclines that your vehicle is de-
signed to handle. Do not exceed the hill
climbing ability of your vehicle. Your vehicle
could tip or slide.
— Do not drive at an angle on steep inclines
and hills. If your vehicle is about to tip, you
must immediately start steering in the di-
rection of the downward slope to reduce the
risk of an accident.
— Always be ready to brake when using the hill
descent control function.

109

Driving

Driving through water
If you must drive through water, follow these in-
structions:
— Check the stability of the ground, the current,
and the water depth. If the ground is unstable,
there is a strong current, or there are waves,
the water must only reach up to the lower edge
of the body at the most.
— Deactivate the Start/Stop system.
— Drive carefully and no faster than at walking
speeds to prevent the front of the vehicle from
creating waves, because they could splash
above the lower edge of the body. Oncoming
vehicles could also create waves.
— Do not stop the vehicle while in the water.
— Drive in reverse.
— Do not turn the engine off.

After driving through water, press the brake
pedal carefully to dry the brakes so that the
full braking effect will be restored.

Vehicle components such as the engine, drive
system, suspension, or electrical system can
be severely damaged by driving through wa-
Lele
If possible, avoid driving through salt water
because it increases the risk of corrosion. Use
fresh water to clean any vehicle components
that come into contact with salt water.
110

Driving dynamic

Steering
The power steering will adapt. Light steering is
suitable for long trips on highways or smooth
driving around curves, for example.
Suspension
The suspension adjusts to be tighter or more
comfort-oriented when it comes to compensat-
ing for uneven spots on the road.
The vehicle ground clearance is adjusted by the
air suspension” based on the setting.
Engine sound
The engine sound adapts and can be subtle to
sporty. In the automatic setting, the engine
sound depends on the selected driving program.
quattro with sport differential
Applies to: RS models
Depending on the setting, the drive power at the
rear axle will be distributed with the sport differ-
ential* to be more sporty or moderate
=>page 115.
ESC
Applies to: RS models
The ESC sport mode can be activated. Also refer
to the important information regarding driving
with ESC limited > page 116.
Suspension
PCED aN eer ute)
Applies to: vehicles with suspension control
The adaptive dampers are an electronically-con-
trolled damping system. The firmness of the sus-
pension will adapt to the driving conditions and
the driving situation. The settings depend on the
selected Audi drive select* mode.
Air suspension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The air suspension is an electronically-controlled
suspension and leveling system. The firmness of
the suspension will adapt to the driving condi-
tions and the driving situation. The system balan-
ces out changes in load. The vehicle level will also
112
adapt gradually to the vehicle speed in order to
reduce the wind resistance at high speeds and in-
crease the ground clearance at low speeds. The
settings depend on the selected Audi drive se-
lect* mode.
Displaying the vehicle level
» Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
The filled-in boxes represent the current vehicle
level. The more boxes that are filled in, the high-
er the ground clearance. The box that corre-
sponds with the current vehicle level will flash
while the vehicle is lifting or lowering. The target
level is highlighted in color.
Raising the vehicle
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Audi drive select.
> Press Raise to reach the highest vehicle level
and thus the maximum ground clearance.
» Press Lower to lower the vehicle down again.
The vehicle will lower at speeds of approximately
22 mph (35 km/h) and below. This function may
only be used temporarily when increased ground
clearance is necessary. It is not intended for long
drives.
@) Note
— Also refer to the information about ground
clearance > page 112.
— When transporting the vehicle on a road
carrier,
rail carrier, ship carrier, or other car-
rier, it may only be secured at the running
surfaces of the tires (circumference). Secur-
ing the vehicle at the axle components, sus-
pension struts, or towing eyes is not permit-
ted because the pressure in the air suspen-
sion struts can change during transport. The
vehicle might not be secured sufficiently if
this happens.
Ground clearance
The vehicle height and clearance can be influ-
enced by the following factors:
— Change in temperature

4K8012721BF
Driving dynamic

— Change in load
— Change to the Audi drive select* mode
— Lifting and lowering via the air suspension*

ZA\ WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury, make sure no one
gets pinched when the vehicle level is chang-
ing, for example when cleaning the under-
body or the wheel housings.
() Note
Always make sure there is enough clearance
above and below the vehicle. This is especially
important for entrances with height restric-
tions, for example, before driving into under-
ground garages. You could also scrape the
ground when driving over the edges of curbs
or on steep ramps, which could damage your
vehicle.
Messages
BB Air suspension: malfunction! You may con-
tinue driving slowly at max. XX mph (km/h)

There is a malfunction. Driving stability may be
limited. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately. Do not
drive faster than the speed given in the message.
B Air suspension: malfunction! Safely stop ve-
hicle.
Steering and ground clearance limited
There is a malfunction. Do not continue driving.
Secure the vehicle against rolling before exiting
the vehicle > page 94. Avoid turning the steering
wheel, because the vehicle ground clearance may
be so low that turning the steering wheel could
result in damage to the wheels and wheel hous-
ings.
| 8 | Suspension: malfunction! You can continue
driving
There is a malfunction. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
air suspension: vehicle too low. Limited
ground clearance
The vehicle ground clearance is very low. Wait un-
til the air suspension system has restored normal
ground clearance. Have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility repair the mal-
function immediately if the indicator light does
not turn off after a significant period of time.
B Air suspension: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction. The driving stability may
be limited and the ground clearance may be low.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility for assistance.
Audi drive select: automatic suspension low-
ering. See owner's manual
The vehicle level is adjusted to the setting stored
for the active personal profile > page 33.
Audi drive select: automatic suspension Lift.
See owner's manual
The vehicle level is adjusted to the setting stored
for the active personal profile > page 33.
Steering
Electromechanical steering supports the driver's
steering movements by electronically adapting
the power steering depending on the vehicle
speed. The settings depend on the selected Audi
drive select* mode.
Progressive steering
Applies to: vehicles with progressive steering
The driving dynamic and driving stability are in-
creased by the steering ratio based on the steer-
ing wheel angle. The steering is very direct when
the steering wheel angle is sharp, and indirect
when the angle is low. This enables comfortable
maneuvering and a precise steering response at
higher driving speeds.
Dynamic all-wheel steering
Applies to: vehicles with dynamic all-wheel steering
Active corrective steering at the front and rear
axles increases the driving dynamic and driving
stability. At low speeds, the rear wheels are
steered in the opposite direction from the front >
113