Audi RS7 Performance: Stylish, smooth and swift

Sister to Audi’s petrolhead-favourite RS6 Avant super-estate model, the RS7 is the Ingolstadt manufacturer’s low-slung, luxurious and dramatic answer to the Mercedes-AMG CLS63 and fellow competitor with the BMW M6 GranCoupe and Porsche Panamera Turbo.

If less practical than the RS6’s family wagon body style, the RS7’s low and rakishly descending coupe-like body, however, appeals to a broader audience of high performance luxury car buyers. 

Powerful enough in regular 552BHP guise, the driven RS7 Performance, however, turns up the power event further, with an additional 45BHP and 37lb/ft torque, and cuts 0-100km/h acceleration by 0.2-seconds.

Low-slung and assertive

Beating the Lexus GS-F to take the 2017 Middle East car of the Year awards’ Best Midsize Premium Performance Sedan category, the RS7 Performance’s body style could, however, be described as a more practical liftback design, with its rear hatch lifting up to provide better access to a generous 535-litre boot that is the case for a traditional saloon body. 

And as a luxurious, high performance, coupe-like 5-door with plenty of premium cache, one could also view the RS7 Performance as somewhat of an indirect competitor to more powerful versions of the electric-powered Tesla Model S, with which it shares a similar body style, weight and size.

Slightly lower and longer than its RS6 sister, the RS7 shares a similarly assertive fascia, with vast honeycomb hexagonal single-frame grille, surrounded by strongly browed and slim LED headlights and bide hungry side intakes.

A moody and dramatic design with deep-set rear lights, muscular haunches and chiselled and ridged bodywork, the RS7 performance features defined wheel-arches and again, huge alloy wheels, twin integrated tailpipes, sharp edged air-splitter style lower front bumper lip and level waistline that emphasises its Quattro four-wheel-drive. The Performance is distinguished by matt titanium exterior details and is available in Ascari blue paint, exclusive to this more powerful version.

Vicious and versatile

No slouch in standard guise, the RS7 is already a brutally powerful performer capable of blasting through the 0-100km/h benchmark in just 3.9-seconds, however, the RS7 Performance unleashes yet more power and performance from the same 4-litre direct injection twin-turbocharged V8 engine. Intense and abundant, the RS7 Performance develops ekes out a tremendous 597BHP at 6100-6800rpm from its comparatively small V8 engine, and the same 516lb/ft torque but over a wider 1750-6000rpm band.

However, for short bursts on overboost, torque output rises to a 553lb/ft peak throughout 2500-5500rpm. Altogether, this reduces 0-100km/h acceleration to a supercar-rivalling 3.7-second time, while top speed can optionally be de-restricted to 305km/h.

Meanwhile seamless cylinder de-activation and stop/start system yields restrained and unchanged when driven modestly.

With turbochargers positioned for short intake gas flow path piping and responsive quick-spooling turbos, the RS7 Performance almost eliminates turbo lag, and with Quattro four-wheel-drive ensuring tenacious traction, it is able to launch from standstill with staggering immediacy. 

Pulling with volcanic urgency throughout its rev range when driven with intent, the RS7 Performance remains responsively effortless even when cruising in high gears. Its acoustics include bass-heavy mid-range burbling, bellowing top-end and a crackle on lift-off and gear changes from hard throttle inputs. Meanwhile seamless cylinder de-activation when cruising and a stop/go system help the RS& Performance achieve 9.6l/100km combined fuel efficiency, which given its prodigious performance and 1930kg mass, is very much restrained.

Adjustable and agile

Resolutely stable at speed and indefatigably confident in getting there, the RS7 Performance is driven through a crisp, quick and smooth shifting 8-speed automatic gearbox, with the many ratios allowing for responsive performance and economic cruising. 

Featuring numerous and individually adjustable driving modes for steering, damping, engine, gearbox, exhaust and sport differential, the RS7 can be tailored to be tauter, more responsive and vocal, or more comfortable, smooth and relaxed. Whether in light resistance Comfort mode or meaty Dynamic, steering features excellent directional stability at speed and is precise through corners, if not textured with much road feel. Meanwhile brakes are highly effective and fade-resilient.

With Quattro four-wheel-drive allocating 60 per cent power rearwards and able to vary the split between 70 per cent frontwards and 85 per cent rearwards, the RS7 Performance seemingly defies its front-biased weight distribution, with its engine positioned just ahead of the front axle.

A limited-slip differential further distributing power left and right as necessary, and a torque vectoring system that brakes the inside wheel through corner additionally enhances the RS7 Performance’s agility and eager, tidy turn-in. With phenomenal traction and grip, the RS7 Performance takes fast corners in its stride, while eventual understeer can be kept at bay by its stability systems or by simply easing off the throttle.

Refined and reassuring

Brutally effective through corners, the RS7 Performance sticks to the road like glue and if one forces the rear out, its four-wheel-drive quickly claws back traction. Meanwhile, adjustable adaptive air dampers provide taut flat body control through corners in dynamic mode, with tauter better body control in “dynamic” mode, and a more forgiving ride in ‘comfort’ mode. 

Firm and busy on imperfect surfaces in “dynamic”, the RS7 performance’s default “auto” mode actively changes damper settings. Reassuringly planted at speed, the RS7 Performance is a natural continent-cruncher, and is settled and buttoned down over crests and dips and on rebound.

Well equipped and refined inside, the RS7 Performance is both distinctly sporty yet luxurious, and features sophisticated sound cancellation, acoustic window lamination, frameless windows and optional massaging front seats. 

The RS7 Performance features supportive, well-adjustable and comfortably body-hugging sports seats, while layouts are logical, textures soft and materials include good quality leathers, carbon-fibre, metal and Alcantara rooflining. Spacious in front and with practical lift-back boot, the RS7’s rear headroom and side rear visibility is not as generous as the estate body RS6. 

Equipment includes 360° camera for improved manoeuvrability, intuitive infotainment system with 4G Wifi connectivity, numerous driver-assistance systems and a comprehensive range of creature comforts and gadgets.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 4-litre, twin-turbo, in-line V8-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 84.5 x 89mm

Compression ratio: 9.3:1

Valve-train: 32-valve, DOHC, direct injection

Gearbox: 8-speed automatic

Ratios: 1st 4.714; 2nd 3.143; 3rd 2.106; 4th 1.667; 5th 1285; 6th 1.0; 7th 0.839; 8th 0.667

Reverse/final drive: 3.317/3.076

Drive-line: four-wheel-drive, self-locking centre differential, optional limited-slip rear-differential

Power distribution, F/R: 40 per cent/60 per cent

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 597 (605) [445] @6100-6800rpm

Specific power: 149.5BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 309BHP/tonne (unladen)

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 516 (700) @1750-6000rpm

Torque, lb/ft (Nm), overboost: 553 (750) @2500-5500rpm

Specific torque: 187.8Nm/litre (overboost, unladen)

Torque-to-weight: 388.6Nm/tonne (overboost)

0-100km/h: 3.7-seconds

Top speed, restricted/de-restricted: 250/305km/h

Fuel consumption, urban/extra-urban/combined:

13.3-/7.3-/9.5-litres/100km

CO2 emissions, combined: 221g/km

Fuel capacity: 75-litres

Wheelbase: 2915mm

Track, F/R: 1634/1625mm

Overhangs, F/R: 960/1137mm

Headroom, F/R: 1028/944mm

Aerodynamic drag co-efficient: 0.30

Luggage volume, min/max: 535-/1390-litres

Unladen/kerb weight: 1930kg/2005kg

Steering: Electric-assisted rack & pinion

Turning Circle: 11.9-metres

Suspension: Multi-link, adaptive air dampers

Brakes: Ventilated & perforated discs

Tyres: 275/30ZR21