Audi RS7
What is it?
It’s the latest creation from Audi’s mad RS department – the arm responsible for producing some of its most performance focused models.
If you’ve read anything about the Audi RS6 Avant (click here for our car review of the Audi RS6) then you’ll already be well acquainted with the RS7 because the two of them share an engine.
The engine in question in this Audi RS7 review is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which produces 552bhp. Combine that with the quattro four-wheel drive system and you get seriously scary acceleration, with 0-62mph taking just 3.9 seconds.
What’s hot?
- The Audi RS7 is a far more elegant design than the RS6 on which it’s based. The gorgeous flowing lines are nicely complemented by a set of huge 19-inch alloys and a seriously aggressive bodykit.
- You won’t believe how quick this car feels. There’s little this side of a Ferrari that accelerates so rapidly in-gear. Unless you’ve got a dead straight piece of road, it can be pretty scary.
- The amount of grip on offer here is also seriously impressive. You’ll have to get to a race track before you can even get near the limits of traction.
- Go for the standard air suspension of our Audi RS7 review car and you get a relatively comfortable ride. Definitely avoid the stiffer sports suspension, though – it’s really uncomfortable.
- Refinement is impressive, too, so there’s barely any wind noise or engine noise on the motorway. The bigger tyres have increased the amount of tyre roar, but this is still one of the quietest cars at 70mph.
- The RS7 boasts similar performance to a Panamera Turbo S – yet it costs around £25,000 less, with a starting price of £83,495.
What’s not?
- It may be bonkers fast but you do wish for a bit more involvement from the RS7. You just point it at a corner and it’ll rocket it round it at phenomenal speeds. A Mercedes CLS 63 AMG makes you work harder, and is ultimately more fun.
- Audi promises 28.8mpg fuel economy but we never saw anything above 20mpg on our Audi RS7 review car and you could be averaging more like 15mpg depending on how you drive.
- Going for the Audi RS7 over an RS6 will cost you £6600. Considering they’re almost identical you’re really only paying for the extra style – do you really need it?