AUDI A7 2012 Owners Manual

-Side assist signal does not work around
tight corners (turning radius less than
328 feet or 100 m).
- Side assist is no replacement for the driv­
er's full attention. The driver alone is re­
sponsible for lane changes and similar
driving maneuvers. Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling and the
relevant area around the vehicle.
(D Note
- To ensure that you do not adversely af­
fect side assist, do not block the area on
the rear bumper where the radar sensors
are located with foreign objects (such as
stickers or bicycle racks).
- Make sure that the signal light on the
outside mirror is not blocked by stickers
or other items.
(D Tips
- Side assist automatically deactivates if it
detects that the radar sensors are
blocked¢
page 94. The indicator light
on the button goes out.
- The area on the bumper where the radar
sensors are located must consistently re­
main free of snow, ice, and heavy soiling
so that side assist can function properly.
Follow the additional notes on
¢ page 94.
- Additional tinting on the front side win­
dows can make it harder to see and cor­
rectly understand the signal light on the
outside mirror.
- For Declaration of Compliance to United
States FCC and Industry Canada regula­
tions
Q page 2 76.
Audi side assist 89
Sensor detection area
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Fig. 93 Schematic illustrat ion : Sensor detection a rea
The detection ¢ fig. 93 of the radar sensor de­
tection area is made up of:
- the approach area (light red area)
(D, about
230 feet (70 m) behind the vehicle, and
- the "blind spot" (dark red area) @.
Th e radar sensors cover the adjacent left and
r ight lanes. Other lanes are
not covered by the
radar sensors.
(D Tips
Side assist does not measure actual lane
width. The system assumes a fixed lane
width. Detection in the left and right lanes
is based on this assumed lane width.
When driving on narrow roads or when
driving to the left or right of the center of
a travel lane, it is possible that vehicles
will be detected that are
not in the lane
next to the lane you are using
~page 93.
Operation
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Side assist compares the distance and differ­
ence in speed of detected vehicles with the
speed of your vehicle. Whenever the differ­
ence in speed and distance is registered as no­
table if you were to change lanes, a signal
light appears on the respective mirror.
The signal can light up if you are passed by a
vehicle or if you are passing another vehicle.
If you pass another vehicle slowly (difference
in speed less than 9 mph, or 15 km/h), the ..,.

90 Audi side assist
signal light will come on as soon as the other
vehicle is in your blind spot and is detected by
side assist. When the difference in speed is
greater, the signa l light will not come on.
Informational and alert stage signals
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
Side assist has two s ignal stages:
- the informational stage signal, and
- the a le rt stage signa l.
Side assist helps you by using the appropriate
signal stage, depending on whethe r or not
you have activated the turn signal, and thus
have indicated that you are or are not chang­
ing lanes.
Informational stage signal
As long as you have not activated the turn sig­
nal, side assist informs you of detec ted vehi ­
cles that are registered as being in a notable
l ocation if you were to change lanes. Whenev ­
er the detected vehicle's difference in speed
and distance is registered by side assist as no­
table, the signal light on the respective m irror
produces muted illumination.
The brightness of the informational stage sig­
na l is designed not to be as intense, so that it
does not interfere with your view of the road
when you are driving and have no intention of
changing lanes. When you look in the outside
mirror, you can clearly see the informat ional
stage signal.
Alert stage signal
When you activate the turn signal, and side
assist has detected a vehicle in a notable loca­
tion on that part icular side, the signal l ight on
this side mirror flashes bright ly . The repeated
brief and bright flashing of the alert stage
signal reminds you to carefully check traffic to
the rear in the outside mirror and over your
shoulder, so that yo u can safely complete the
lane change
c::> & in Safety tips on page 94.
(D Tips
The brightness of the signal light on the
outside m irrors can be adjusted with the
MMI c::> page 93.
Driving situation: Fast approaching
vehicles
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
©
@
Fig. 94 Side ass ist: Fast approach ing ve hicles
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
No vehicle was detected by the sensors . The
signal on the o utside mirror does not light up
c::> & in Safety tips on page 94.
@ Informational stage signal lights up
A fast approaching vehicle - in the left-hand
lane for example - was detected by the sen­
sors . Although this vehicle is still far away, it
should be taken into account if yo u were to
change lanes, due to the considerab le differ­
ence in speed. The informational stage s ignal
on the outside mirror lights up
c::> page 90 . ..,.

@ Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit­
uation @, the signa l briefly f lashes repeated­
ly. Side assist is a lerting yo u to a vehicle that
you may not have noticed.
@ Tips
- The faster a vehicle approaches from the
rear, the sooner the signa l on the outside
mirror lights up. Side assist will signa l,
at the latest, when a detected vehicle en­
ters your "blind spot".
- When vehicles approach very quickly,
changing lanes can be dangerous even if
the signal on the outside mirror does not
light up.
Driving situation: Slowly approaching
vehicles
Appl ies to vehicles : wit h side ass ist
®
F ig . 95 S ide ass ist: S lowly approaching vehicles and ve·
h ides in your blind spot
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
A vehicle approaching slowly -in the left-hand
lane for examp le -was detected by the sen­
sors. Because of the small difference in speed
and the considerab le distance from your vehi-
Audi side assist 91
cle, the signal on the outside mirror wi ll not
light up
~.& in Safety tips on page 94 .
@ Informational stage signal lights up
The distance between your ve hicle and that of
the slowly approaching vehicle has narrowed.
T he informational stage signal on the outside
mirror lights up.
As soon as the difference in speed and dis­
tance is registered as notable if you were to
change lanes, a signal on the m irror lights up.
Side assist will signal at the latest when a de­
tected vehicle enters your "blind spot".
@ Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit­
u ation @, the signal light briefly fla shes re­
peatedly. Side assist is alert ing you of a vehi­
cle that you may not have noticed.
(D Tips
- Th e faster a vehicle approaches from the
rear, the soone r the signal on the outside
mirror lights up. Side assist will signal,
at the latest, when a detected vehicle en­
ters your "blind spot".
- When vehicles approach very quickly,
changing lanes can be dangerous even if
the signal on the outside m irror does not
light up.

92 Audi side assist
Driving situation: Vehicles dropping
back slowly
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
i:i N 9 J:
-------::~
®
Fig. 96 Side ass ist: Veh icles d ropping back slow ly
CD Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
The vehicle that you passed has not yet been
detected by side assist . The signal on the out­
side mirror does not light up¢
A in Safety
tips on page 94.
@ Informational stage signal lights up
A vehicle dropping back slowly on the right
(difference in speed of less than 9 mph, or 15
km/h) has been detected by side assist. The
informational stage signal on the outside mir ­
ror lights up.
@ Alert stage signal flashes
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit­
uation@, the signal briefly flashes repeated­
ly. Side assist is alerting you of a vehicle that
you may not have noticed .
Driving situation: Vehicles dropping
back quickly
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
®
Fig. 97 Side ass ist: Vehicles dropping ba ck quickly
CD Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
The vehicle just passed has not yet been de ­
tected by side assist. The signal on the out­
s ide mirror doe s not light up¢
A in Safety
tips on page 94 .
@Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
The vehicle dropping back quickly on the right
( d ifference in speed of more than 9 mph, or
15 km/h) has been detected by side assist ,
but is not considered notable in the event of a
lane change, because it is dropping back so
quick ly. The signal on the outs ide mirro r does
not light up¢
A in Safety tips on page 94.
@ Signal on outside mirror does not light
up
If you activate your turn signal in driving sit­
uation @, the signal still does not light up on
the outside mirror ¢
A in Safety tips on
page 94 .

MMI settings
Applies to vehicles: with side assist
The basic brightness setting of the signal on
the outside mirror can be adjusted via the
MMI.
~ Select : ICARI funct ion button> Car systems
control button > Driver assist > Audi side
assist.
The brightness of the signal light for both the informational and alert stages is automatical­
ly adjusted to ambient light conditions. In ad­
d ition, you can adjust the
basic brightness
separately, via the brightness function .
W hile making the adjustment, the new
brightness setting is displayed briefly . The
brightness displayed is that of the informa­
tional stage signal. The alert stage signal
brightness is linked to the informational stage
signal brightness.
The informational stage signa l br ightness
should be adjusted so that you not ice the sig­
nal illumi nation when you look in the outside
mirror, but not when you look forward
through the windshield .
I n very dark or light sur roundings, the auto­
mat ic brightness setting adjusts signal light
brightness to maximum or minimum intensi­
ty, as needed. In circumstances such as these,
you may not notice any change in the bright­
ness on the outside mirror when adjusting the
basic brightness. You may not notice the
change until lighting conditions are normal
again.
(D Tips
- Side assist is not active when the basic
brightness is adjusted. The signal light
comes on briefly to help you make the
adjustment .
- Your settings are automatically stored
and ass igned to the remote control key
being used.
Audi side assist 93
General information
Applies to vehicles: wit h side assist
Side assist has limits and cannot detect vehi­
cles unde r al l road and weather conditions.
Please remember system limitations and nev­
er rely on the system, especially when :
- driving through curves
c::> page 93,
-lanes are of diffe rent widths c::> page 93 .
When driving through curves
Applies to vehicles: wit h side assist
Side assist cannot detect ve hicles in curves
with a turning radius of less than 328 feet
(100 m).
When dr iving through a curve, it is poss ible
that side assist may reg ister a vehicle two
lanes over, and the signal on the outside mir­
ror will light up.
Lane width
Appl ies to vehicles: wit h side assist
Fig. 98 Lanes of a normal width are in detect ion area
Fig. 99 Narrow lanes: S ide assist may detec t vehicles
two lanes away
Side assist's detection area is designed to cov-
er lanes of standa rd width to the left and ..,.

94 Audi side assist
right of your travel lane, depending on wheth­
er you drive in the center of your lane or closer
to the edge.
If you drive in narrow lanes, s ide ass ist's de­
tection area may a lso include other lanes -es­
pecia lly if you tend to drive on the edge of
your lane¢
fig. 99. Under these condit ions,
vehicles can also be detected that are two lanes away, and side assist then could switch
between the informat ional and warning stage
signals .
When driving in very w ide lanes, vehicles in
the adjacent lane may not be detected be­
cause they are not inside the detection area .
Notes
Messages in instrument cluster display
Applies to vehicles: with side assis t
If side assist turns off automatically, the indi­
cator light on the button wi ll go out and you
will see a message in the instrument cluster
d isplay:
Audi side assist: not available. sensors
blocked
The side assist sensors are built into the rear
bumper on the left and right (not visible on
the outside)
¢ page 88, fig. 91 . To ensure that
you do not adversely affect the way side assist
functions, foreign objects (such as stickers or
b icycle racks) should not be attached to the
a rea on the rear bumper where the sensors
are located. If side assist functions are ad­
versely affected, you will see this message in
the instrument cluster display. Remove any ­
thing that may be blocking the sensors .
If no vehicle is detected for a longer period of
time while driving, side assist will also switc h
off a utomatica lly.
Audi side assist currently not available
If there is a temporary problem (such as the
ve hicle's battery charge being low), s ide ass ist
cannot be activated tempo rari ly.
Audi side assist: system fault
Have the system checked by an authorized Au­
di dealer or qualified workshop.
Audi side assist: not available when
towing
T he radar senso r's view is limited when tow­
ing a trai le r. For vehicles with a fa ctory instal ­
led towing hitch or a trailer hitch that was in­
stalled later according to factory specifica­
tions, side assist is automatically deactivated
as soon as the electrical connection to the
trailer's electrical socket is made, and this sta­
tus message appears in the instrument clus ­
ter display . Deactivation cannot be guaran­
teed when using a retrofitted towing hitch
that was
not installed according to factory
specifications.
Safety tips
Appl ies to vehicles : wi th side assist
The side assist detection may be limited when
driving aro und narrow street corners, on hilly
streets, and under poor weather cond itions.
It is possible that the radar sensors may also
detect other objects, such as high or stag­
gered guardrails .
Side assist does not measure actual lane
width. The system assumes a fixed lane width.
Detection in the left and right lanes is based
o n this ass umed lane width . When driving on
narrow roads or when driving to the left or
right of the center of a trave l lane, it is poss i­
ble that vehicles will be detected that are
not
in the lane next to the lane you are using.
A WARNING
- Improper reliance on the side assist sys­
tem can cause collis ion s and serious per­
sonal injury:
- Never rely only on side assist when
changing lanes .
- Always check rear view mirrors to make
sure that it is safe to change lanes.
- Side assist cannot detect all vehicles un-
der all conditions- danger of accident! ..,.

-Side assist cannot detect vehicles in time
to alert you when they approach from
behind at very high speed, or fall drop
back very quickly .
- The radar sensor 's
vision can be reduced
or entirely blocked by rain, snow, and
heavy spray . This can result in side assist
not adequately detecting vehicles or, in
some cases, not detecting them at all.
Always keep an eye on the direction you are traveling and the relevant area
around the vehicle.
- Please note that side assist indicates
there are approaching vehicles, or vehi­
cles in your blind spot, only after your ve­
hicle has reached a driving speed of at
least 19 mph (30 km/h).
- Side assist signal does not work around
tight corners (turning radius less than
328 feet, or 100 m).
- Side assist is no replacement for the driv­
er's full attention. The driver alone is re­
sponsible for lane changes and similar driving maneuvers. Always keep an eye
on the direction you are traveling and the
relevant area around the vehicle.
(D Note
To ensure that side assist is not adversely
affected, you should not block the area on
the rear bumper where the radar sensors
are located with foreign objects (such as
with stickers or bicycle racks).
If the positions of the radar sensors have
been changed as a result of a rear end-col­
lision, for instance, have side assist
checked by an authorized Audi dealer for
safety reasons.
Audi side assist 95

96 Audi drive select
Audi drive select
Driving settings
Introduction
Audi drive select makes it possible to experi­
ence different types of vehicle settings in one
vehicle. The driver can select three Comfort,
Auto and Dynamic modes in the MMI to
switch between a sporty and a comfortable
driving mode.
You can also adjust the setting according to
your preferences in the individual mode. For
example, you can combine settings such as a
sporty engine tuning with light steering.
Description
The vehicle setup in each mode depends on
the vehicle's features . The engine, transmis­
sion and steering are always involved . The cor ­
nering light* can also be adjusted. The revers i­
ble safety belt tensioners .:;,
page 182 are
adapted to the dynamic mode.
Engine and transmission
Depending on the mode , the engine and the
transmission respond more quickly or in a more balanced manner to accelerator pedal
movements . In the sporty dynamic mode, the
transmission shifts at higher RPMs.
Steering
The steering adapts in terms of steering effort
and steering ratios . Indirect steering that
moves easily as in comfort mode is especially
suited to long drives on a highway. In con­
trast, dynamic mode provides sporty, direct
steering .
The following applies to vehicles with dynamic
steering*: the steering ratio changes based on
vehicle speed in order to maintain optimum
steering effort for the driver at all times. This
sets the steering to be less sensitive at higher
speeds in order to provide improved vehicle
control. Cornering light*
The cornering light adapts to driving on
curves . The pivoting action and the lighting
are also adapted to the mode.
CJ) Tips
- In some models, the maximum vehicle
speed can only be reached in the Auto
and Dynamic modes.
- Selecting the Dynamic mode results in
sporty shifting characteristics. The
S
gear position engages automatically.
Selecting the driving mode
You can choose between Comfort, Auto, Dy­
namic and Individual.
Fig. 100 MMI: Drive select
.. To select the mode, select the following in
the M MI :
I CAR I function button > Comfort,
Auto, Dynamic or Ind ividual.
You can change the driving mode when the ve­ hicle is stationary or while driving. If traffic
permits, after changing modes, briefly take
your foot off the accelerator pedal so that the recently selected mode is also activated for
the engine .
Comfort - provides a comfort-oriented vehicle
setup and is suited for long drives on high­
ways.
Auto - provides an overall comfortable yet dy­
namic driving feel and is suited for every day
use .
Dynamic - gives the vehicle a sporty driving
feel and is suited to a sporty driving style .

Individual-¢page 97.
Adjusting the Individual mode
Audi drive select 97
A WARNING
Pay attention to traffic when operating Au­
d i drive select to prevent potential risk of
an accident.
You can adjust the vehicle settings to your personal preferences.
~ Se lect: ICARI function button > Set individ­
ual
control button. You can now adjust the
individual systems.
The
Individual driving mode will automatica l­
ly be activated when you have finished config-
uring the settings.
Systems Comfort
Engine/Transmission
balanced
Steering comfortable
Cornering light* comfortable
Belt tensioner* Standard
II
(D Tips
Your Individual mode settings are auto­
matically stored and assigned to the re­
mote contro l key being used. T
he equipment in your vehicle will determine
which settings you can adjust. The following
table provides an overview of the characteris­
tics of each driving mode.
Auto Dynamic
balanced sporty
balanced sporty
ba lanced sporty
Standard Deployment time
adapted
-

98 Night vision assistant
Night vision assistant
Night vision assistant
with detected pedestrian marking
Description
App lies to vehicles: with night v isio n ass istant
Fig. 101 D isplay: n ight vis ion assistant
"N ight v is ion assistant with pedestrian detec­
tion" uses an infrared camera to monitor the
area in front of your vehicle at night. Within
the limits of the system, it can display objects
up to about 1000 feet (300 meters) away. The
heat image of a pedestrian detected by the
camera is shown in the instrument cluster dis­
play
q fig. 101. Warm areas appear lighter
and cold areas appear darker .
Pedestrian detection
Applies to vehicles: with n ig ht v ision ass istant
Fig. 102 Display : yellow pedestrian marking
Fig. 103 Disp lay: symbo l w hen infrare d im age is not
visible
Night vision assistant can detect pedestrians
that are between about SO and 300 feet (15
and 90 meters) in front of the vehicle, under
ideal conditions . If a pedestrian is detected
when it is dark outside and the vehicle head­
lights are switched on, the pedestrian is high­
lighted in yellow
q fig. 102, q page 99,
General information. If another display such
as nav igation replaces the image from the
night vision assistant, the symbol
~11 appears
in a tab
qfig. 103.
(0 Tips
If
th e night vi.sion assistant image does
not appear when the system is switched
on, you can access it with the buttons on
the multifunction steering wheel
qpage 23.