Here is a little comparo I put together in Excel with all the data I could scrounge up on the web. If someone can give me data on the reverse gear ratios for the A5 and A7 I will complete the chart.

This is showing that the M6 and A5 are very close in the first three gears and the vast difference of the A7:

 

At the time this 7AT came out, it was pretty state-of-the-art for an automatic transmission with manual and sport modes. Here now it's 2017 and better automatics have been developed and are available, with faster manual shifting and better logic (less hunting or oddly-chosen shifts.)

But even today, the 7AT is a GOOD transmission, pretty reliable, and gives good (but not great) "sporty" performance.

It's not all that great for track work or for really spirited twisty-road driving- the manual mode shifting isn't fast enough- but for most drivers it's really still pretty good.

 

GTM valve body!