Available in showrooms this fall with an MSRP starting at $104,900, the Audi RS 7 appears to be a brilliant mix of style, performance and technology.
Priced $8,100 less than the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, the RS 7 delivers gets from 0-60 0.4 seconds faster and has a top speed of 174 mph, 19 miles per hour more than then M6’s electronically limited top end.
Audi achieves these feats with its twin-turbo 4.0 TFSI V8 engine which develops 560 hp – the same as the BMW – paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. Obviously all this power needs to stop effectively as well, so Audi has equipped the RS 7 with beefy ventilated disc brakes front and rear.
Exterior styling is pure Audi; clean, aggressive and artful. This car looks great no matter whether you choose the matte aluminum or carbon trim, the high gloss black or matte aluminum grille, or any of its exterior color options. The adaptive rear spoiler, lower rear diffuser, and aluminum tipped twin exhausts are consistent with Audi’s historic blend of design and technology.
Inside, the RS 7’s sporting character is even more evident. The Valcona leather sport seats, the aluminum pedals and footrest, the black gauges and carbon fiber inlays create an overall look that just says drive. The technology package features Audi’s MMI system that uses a combination of traditional buttons, touch screen inputs and handwriting recognition to perform tasks like dialing a phone or entering a navigation destination without taking your eyes off the road.
All in all, the RS 7 appears to be an ideal expression of the Audi brand.