2020 Audi RS7
-
Audi RS7
-
Year:2020
-
Make:
-
Model:
-
Engine:V8
-
Horsepower @ RPM:600
-
Torque @ RPM:590
-
Displacement:4.0 L
-
0-60 time:3.6 sec.
-
Top Speed:155 mph
-
Price:
-
car segment:
-
size:
-
Purpose:
-
body style:
The Audi RS7 returns with a more powerful engine and a mild-hybrid setup
The 2020 Audi RS7 is the second generation of the company’s range-topping four-door coupe. Based on the latest A7, the 2020 RS7 features a far more aggressive exterior design, a completely new interior packed with premium features, state-of-the-art technology, and a powerful drivetrain. The latter combines a revised version of Audi’s 4.0-liter V-8 and a 48-volt system that improves fuel efficiency. The 2020 Audi RS7 arrives just in time to take on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe and the upcoming BMW M8 Gran Coupe.
The 2020 Audi RS7 will join the standard A7 and the mid-range S7 in the U.S., where it will cost in excess of $100,000. Estimates put it at around $120,000, which will make it slightly more affordable that the competition. The 2020 RS7 is one of the many new Audis to feature mild hybrid drivetrains as the German firm is moving more and more toward electrification.
Latest Audi RS7 news and reviews:
Watch An Audi RS7 Get Schooled By A BMW M5 CS On A Drag Strip
The Audi RS7 and the BMW M5 CS are both quick vehicles, but how they do fare against each other? Daniel Abt finds out the answer by pitting the two together in a drag race. While the Bimmer makes more horsepower, the Lord of the four rings produces a lot more torque. Both the Germans are powered by V-8s and feature an all-wheel-drive system. With similar specs, you’d expect them to have a close race. However, the M5 CS blows the RS7 out of the water. What do you think could be the reason for it – transmission, weight, tires, driver’s skill?
Watch The World’s Quickest Audi RS7 Sprint to 62 mph in Just 2.48 Seconds!
The Audi RS7, in the stock form, is a complete package. It comes with a luxurious interior, a V-8 engine that churns out close to 600 horses, and a Sportback body style that looks fancy (even though the rear headroom takes quite a hit). But, for some folks, that’s never enough. Auditography is here with yet another fantastic video that showcases a heavily customized 2020 RS7 that is quicker than any of the Porsche 911 models! It takes under 2.5 seconds to 62 mph, which makes this Polish Sportback the world’s quickest Audi RS7.
2020 Audi RS7
The 2020 Audi RS7 is the second generation of the company’s range-topping four-door coupe. Based on the latest A7, the 2020 RS7 features a far more aggressive exterior design, a completely new interior packed with premium features, state-of-the-art technology, and a powerful drivetrain. The latter combines a revised version of Audi’s 4.0-liter V-8 and a 48-volt system that improves fuel efficiency. The 2020 Audi RS7 arrives just in time to take on the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe and the upcoming BMW M8 Gran Coupe.
The 2020 Audi RS7 will join the standard A7 and the mid-range S7 in the U.S., where it will cost in excess of $100,000. Estimates put it at around $120,000, which will make it slightly more affordable that the competition. The 2020 RS7 is one of the many new Audis to feature mild hybrid drivetrains as the German firm is moving more and more toward electrification.
Did Audi Understate Performance Figures of the 2020 RS7 Sportback?
The new 2020 Audi RS7 Sportback was just announced at the Frankfurt Auto Show, and it’s already starting to get some major media attention. That attention, right now, is on the fact that Audi may have intentionally understated the RS7’s performance. To what extent? Well, the guys at Auditography decided to find out for themselves.
Audi’s New RS7 Sportback Finally Has a Look to Call Its Own
For the longest time, the RS7 has represented Audi in the high-end performance saloon segment. It’s done its job about as well as it can, but there was always something about the RS7 that somehow kept it from reaching its full potential. It has never lacked in power or driving dynamics so it’s neither of those things. What kept the RS7 from completely standing out in a sea of high-performance four-door saloons was its design.
To be clear, past RS7s didn’t look bad; they just didn’t stand out, either. They looked like your typical era-correct Audis that just happened to come with bigger bodies and far more luxurious interiors. Audi wants to change that narrative, and with the arrival of the 2020 RS7 Sportback, it just might have found that perfect balance of design and performance that could change the way we look at the RS7 Sportback moving forward.
2019 Audi RS7 by AddArmor
Armored cars come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but rarely do they come with a 202-mph top speed. This particular Audi RS7 is one such example, and it’s probably the coolest Audi you’ll ever see. Such platitudes come with a great deal of expectation, but you won’t have to worry about this particular RS7 meeting — and exceeding — those expectations. It’s called the AddArmor APR RS7, and it was built to withstand heavy artillery and embarrass any fool who thinks they can take this car on in a drag race.
The AddArmor APR RS7 is the brainchild of Wisconsin-based specialty car builder AddArmor. As the company’s name so obviously implies, AddArmore specializes in comprehensive armor upgrades for vehicles. Every so often, though, the specialist goes the extra mile by enlisting the help of a performance tuner to truly spice up its creations. The result of this ambitious endeavor is the AddArmor APR RS7, one of the few cars in the world that can withstand a heavy artillery assault, look oh-so fine doing it, and blast off to 202 mph without breaking much of a sweat.
This Audi Christmas Ad Is The Best Thing You’ll Watch This Holiday Season
Christmas is almost here, and automakers are rolling out holiday-themed commercials for the public. Although the main motive is to market the brand and the cars (obviously!), there are a few commercials which we remember for much longer. One such commercial, which is one of my all-time favorites, is this one by Audi for Christmas 2017 that features the RS3 and the RS7.
The Audi RS7 Sportback was Spotted Again as It Nears its Date with the Production Line
The new Audi RS7 Sportback has been spotted yet again; this time much closer. The alter ego version of the A7 will have a lot of performance bits added to it. We’ve seen Audi turn its other models into S and RS versions and the results have been quite impressive. Not much is known about the RS7 Sportback, and most of what we do know is based largely on rumors and speculation.
Motor Trend Pits Tesla Model S P100D Against Audi RS7 Performance: Video
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – we’re living in some very interesting times. As battery and electric motor technology continue to improve, the internal combustion status quo is feeling the heat. Whether its setting records at the Nurburgring or challenging for the win at Pikes Peak, the all-electric performance revolution is undoubtedly here. And that battle extends well beyond the racetrack – the Tesla Model S is now setting the benchmark when it comes to street-ready luxury sedan performance, leaving the dino-juice-drinking competition to answer the call. And to see exactly how far the Ludicrous+ mobile has come, Motor Trend decided to pit it against the Audi RS7, a ‘Bahn-burning AWD monster from Germany. It’s an electric charge against an entrenched ICE line in a battle for four-door supremacy. Who will come out on top?
The battery of tests includes a stint on the streets of L.A., an exterior walkaround, a cargo capacity test, a highway cruise, and a drag race. I won’t spoil which car comes out on top, but will say it’s worth a watch.
2016 Audi RS7 by PP-Performance
The Audi RS7 has only been around since 2013 so it’s still a little too early to tell if it has the appeal and status to make an extended run in the segment. But in the few years that it’s been around, it has proven to be a worthy alternative to some of the stalwarts of the segment to catch the attention of the aftermarket tuning scene, including some early programs from the likes of ABT Sportsline. Today, a new tuner has taken a stab at the RS7 and it comes packing an engine upgrade package that that adds almost 200 horsepower to the sports coupe’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8-engine, bringing the total output to a mouth-watering 745 horsepower and 743 pound-feet of torque.
This new program comes by way of PP-Performance, who you may remember for its involvement in Fostla’s recent program for the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. If anything, PP-Performance has shown an ability to adapt its prowess to the cars that are being tuned because what it did for the RS7 is just as impressive, maybe even more, than what it was able to bring out of the BMW.
That said, the tuner also had some help in other areas, most notably on the exterior where it relied on the expertise of wrapping specialist Cam Shaft. It also outsourced its wheels package from Schmidt Revolution and got some nifty chassis and suspension upgrades from K&W. This sourced-out formula that has been a norm in the tuning industry and PP-Performance is smart to take advantage of it because the result is greater than the sum of its parts.
Continue after the jump to read the full review.
Audi RS7 Gets Massive Stage 10 Engine Upgrade: Video
Aftermarket companies inherently have a crazy side to them. How else do you explain the need to add on cars that have already been built for the sheer purpose of making them faster and more powerful than what the automakers themselves intended. This understanding of tuning firms help in setting expectations, but even with these expectations, there are programs that still leave us scratching our heads.
I say that because a Redditor brought up this insane Audi RS7, which was the subject of a Stage 10 performance kit. Yep, stage 10. Total Race, a Russian tuning company, is said to be responsible for this program. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t know what a Stage 10 kit entails, but I do know that from the basic act of counting, nine programs preceded it. That begs the question on how powerful this RS7 is with a Stage 10 kit when a Stage 4 program from Total Race already gives the RS7 an incredible 1,100 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. Do the math and there’s still five stages of engine upgrades before reaching Stage 10.
One look at the RS7 shows you how insane the car really is. It’s so mental that the RS7’s actual hood was taken out just to fit that huge engine. And if my eyes don’t deceive me, those “devil horns” look like built-in exhaust systems. There’s no word on how powerful this RS7 is, but judging by how quickly the RS7 launched from a standstill, I’d be remiss if I didn’t let my imagination run wild.
American performance is usually served with unmistakable flamboyance. For example, both the shark-nosed Corvette Z06 and Terminator-esque Shelby GT350 Mustang offer unambiguous speed cues front to back. But that’s a good thing; it’s an essential facet of their character. However, some people prefer the straight-to-jail speed in a package that flies comfortably under the radar. Folks looking for a combination like that usually turn to Europe, birthplace of cars like the Audi RS7 Sportback Performance. To the uninitiated, it’s just another AWD luxury sedan. But to those who know, it’s over 600 horsepower and a top speed of 190 mph.
Audi already offers U.S. customers the venerable RS 7, but now, according to a recent report from the fine folks at Autoblog, we’ll get the new Performance version as well. That means even more power, slightly tweaked styling, and all the refinement and comfort you’d expect from a range-topper with four rings on the grille.
So then – a high-output variant of an already overpowered luxury sedan. Sounds tempting. We won’t know exactly what the U.S.-spec RS 7 Sportback Performance will bring to the table until Audi provides us with the details, but for now, read on for the Euro-spec iteration and cross your fingers it’s unaltered by the time it hits our shores.
Updated 02/12/2016: Audi dropped a pretty cool commercial title "Tear Drop" for its latest RS 7 Sportback Performance. Hit "play" to watch it!
Continue reading to learn more about the Audi RS7 Sportback Performance.
Audi Middle East is no stranger to cooking up weird stunts to get attention. More often than not, the firm succeeds in getting its point across, even if it’s done through unconventional methods. Evidently, having an Audi RS7 race an elevator at the Burj Khalifa qualifies as “unconventional.”
The video is part of Audi Challenges Arabia, a series of challenges Audi fans in the region try to cook up for Audi to complete. For this particular challenge, the RS7 is going to race against Burj Khalifa’s elevator, considered as one of the fastest elevators in the world with a speed of 10 meters per second. The objective of the race is simple: Audi Sport driver Edoardo Mortara is to race the the 560-horsepower, V-8-powered RS7 up the Jebel Hafeet road until it reaches the finish line at 1,249 meters above sea level. Meanwhile, Musa Khalfan Yasin, the UAE’s fastest 100-meter sprinter, is to ride the Burj Khalifa’s elevator up to the 152nd floor before making a full sprint to the finish line. Whoever crosses the line first wins. Pretty simple, right?
For its part, Audi made it look like a competitive race, even concluding that both Mortara and Yasin crossed the line at the exact same time. But, as dramatic as that might have been, I’m pretty sure that a lot of post-production editing took place to make it look exciting on the final cut.
I don’t know for certain if the RS7 or the elevator won, but if I were to make a guess, I’d give it to the latter. Going up 10 meters per second is pretty quick, even if it’s only the third quickest in the world. A quick calculation of the times means that Yasin would’ve finished the elevator ride and the mad sprint to the finish line in a little under 90 seconds. I don’t know the RS7’s time up Jebel Jafeet, but considering the uphill climb and the winding roads, I’d say it would’ve taken a little over 90 seconds to complete.
The Audi RS 7 Piloted Driving Concept was first introduced in October 2014 and in short order, it has more than lived up to Audi’s expectations. The autonomous vehicle’s latest claim to fame occurred at the Parcmotor race track in Barcelona where it set a lap time of 2:07.67, adding yet another feather on its cap.
Since its introduction, the RS 7 Piloted Driving Concept has made a habit of accomplishing things that have helped Audi improve its autonomous driving technology. During the hot lap at the Parcmotor, journalists were given a first-hand experience of riding an autonomous car under race conditions. This latest milestone also served as a hugely successful follow up to a similar run back in October 2014 when an RS 7 with the project name “Bobby” successfully completed a lap around the famed Hockenheim circuit in Germany, reaching speeds in excess of 149 mph in the process. In July 2015, the RS 7 also put in some impressive hot laps around the Sonoma Raceway in California.
These test runs are all part of Audi’s overarching plan to offer autonomous driving in its production cars in the future. A lot of automakers are doing something similar so at this point, it really has turned into a race to see which one can translate the tech to its models first. Judging from how far Audi has come since introducing the RS 7 Piloted Driving Concept last year, it does look like the German automaker’s ahead of the curve. The development ground being laid by the driverless sedan is already providing Audi with valuable information and knowledge, including information related to sensor technology, data processing, and stabilization.
The recent test in Barcelona only adds to the wealth of vital information Audi needs to further advancement the technology. Soon enough, we might be seeing the RS 7 Piloted Driving Concept in production guise. Should that day come, we can all look back to the amount of time, resources, and effort Audi put in to make it happen.
Continue reading for the full story.
Sonoma Raceway is one of the more challenging road courses in the U.S., and Audi chose this 12-turn, 2.5-mile track to show off its latest display of self-driving technology. This specially equipped 2015 Audi RS 7 Piloted Driving Concept, nicknamed Robby, took to the track recently, posting a time of 2:01.01 minutes… with no driver behind the wheel. Just for comparison, at the recent NASCAR race at Sonoma in June, the top qualifying time was 1:14.4.
Audi has been testing and showing off its driverless technologies for a couple of years now, but this was, by far, the coolest example of what the technology is capable of. This testing was done to showcase the new self-driving capability that will debut on the next-gen 2017 Audi A8, which is expected to launch next year for the 2017 model year. Unless another automaker beats Audi to the punch, this could very well be the first technology of its kind to be offered in consumer-ready form.
Continue reading to learn more about the Audi RS 7 "Robby" Piloted Driving Concept.
Audi updated the RS7 for the 2015 model year, bringing improvements to the exterior and interior. On the outside, the car gets a new Singleframe headlamp design with LED running lamps, a slightly altered front fascia, revised taillights, and a sharper radiator grille. Furthermore, Audi has added four new colors to the color pallet, including Floret Silver, Glacier White, Mythos Black, and Sepang Blue. On the inside, the car got an updated instrument cluster, new shifter paddles, new air vents, and an update to the standard MMI infotainment system. Audi didn’t do much to the 4.0-liter V-8 under the hood, so it produces 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, there are two optional “dynamics” packages available offering a top speed of 174 mph or 190 mph, depending on which package is chosen.
As always, the RS7 can easily trump a lot of sports cars out there, and proves to be a strong competitor for similar vehicles from BMW’s M performance division and Mercedes-AMG. That’s a pretty bold statement for a car that has only been around since 2013, but with 500 ponies on tap, there is plenty of oomph to back it up. Considering 2015 was really just a facelift, there should be a new model sometime before the end of the decade.
For 2016, the model carried on unchanged from the previous year’s facelift, as did the starting price of $108,000. So, why don’t we take a look at the 2015 – 2016 Audi RS7 and talk about all fine print that we haven’t covered yet.
Continue reading to learn more about the Audi RS 7 Sportback.
The newest marketing ploy to drive customers insane over how technologically advanced certain car brands are is "autonomous driving;" love it or hate it, but it is here to stay and that is where most carmakers will be heading in the future. Audi is the latest to jump on the "autonomous" bandwagon and those already familiar with its 2015 A7 piloted driving concepr will be happy to learn that the prototype will perform a mostly driverless test drive from Silicon Valley, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, where the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show) is currently taking place.
The car will drive itself more than 550 miles on public roads over the course of two days, with the driving time being split between a number of journalists, each of them being in charge of the Audi’s self-driving for around 100 miles. A professional test driver from Audi will obviously accompany the journalists from the passenger seat just in case something goes terribly wrong.
To make things clear, the autonomous Audi A7 piloted driving concept isn’t actually fully autonomous, and in city traffic it will request the driver to take control of the wheel in order to "ensure proper safety," as Audi says. On top of that, all the journalist test drivers have been trained beforehand by Audi at the Arizona Proving Grounds, so in theory none of them should have any problems bringing the semi-autonomous and probably very expensive prototype to CES safely. The test drive represents a common effort between Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) and Volkswagen Research and Development.
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A7 Piloted Driving Concept.
It’s hard to not be impressed by Audi’s autonomous driving 2015 RS7 test car. You’ll likely recall the same car’s recent lap around the Hockenheim circuit in which only the on-board computers were driving the car. No programmed mappings of the track or remote controlling — it was all done by the car’s “sight.” Now Auto Express journalist Mat Watson gets a front row seat view of the action.
This RS7, nicknamed Bobby, retains all its important go-fast components, including its quattro all-wheel drive and the 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 making 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Added to the car are a bevy of cameras, radar sensors, and a precise GPS system.
Watson, accompanied by an Audi test driver, goes for a hands- and foot-free driving experience with the goal of beating the 2:12.5-second lap time Watson previously set while driving the RS7 himself. As the pair round the last corner at the Ascari racing circuit in Spain, the self-driving Audi crossed the finish line in 2:14.6 seconds. Being only 2.1 seconds slower ‘round the track isn’t bad for an autonomous car, especially considering the added weight of an extra adult.
While it’s very unlikely racing or track days will ever benefit from an autonomous car, the track provides an excellent proving ground for such technologies. Future customers can ride easy knowing their autonomous Audi has logged track time. In the mean time, it’s a fun video to watch.
Make no mistake about it, the Audi RS7 is a fast car right from the showroom floor. But as with any car, there is usually some untapped potential lying within the engine, waiting to be released. That is certainly the case here, with this modified Audi RS7 from SMP Racing.
The car features SMP’s Total Race Stage 2 package that brings the 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8’s output to an impressive 750 horsepower. That’s a marked improvement over the stock 560 horsepower the RS7 comes with.
A man by the name of Oleg Belousov owns the car and proves just what it will do down a Russian drag strip. If you missed it in the headline, the luxo family-hauler pulls a quarter-mile time of 10.155 seconds at 135.4 mph! That’s stunningly fast for any car, let alone one that seats four and weighs 4,475 pounds.
The RS7 owes much of its quick acceleration times to its quattro all-wheel-drive system that helps all four tires hook up to the pavement. Without it, it’s likely the rear tires would just melt away in a cloud of billowing smoke as the 750 horsepower pummeled them in circles.
The Audi RS7 Piloted Driving Concept, Ingolstadt’s latest effort into self-driving cars, made its track debuted during this weekend’s DTM round at the Hockenheim track. The high-performance sedan raced the course with no driver behind the wheel and completed the lap in a little over two minutes; a great achievement for a car driven with help from GPS signals transmitted through a WiFi connection, 3D cameras and on-board computer programs.
Although it was far from being completed at actual "racing speeds," as claimed by Audi, the run saw the RS7 reach speeds of more than 100 mph, which sets a whole new benchmark for autonomous vehicles. Granted, this is a huge improvement over the self-driving TT that completed the Pikes Peak hill climb course in 27 minutes with a top speed of 45 mph in 2010.
As a brief reminder, the Piloted Driving Concept uses the same 4.0-liter V-8 engine as the regular RS7. This means the sedan has 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, which enables it to reach a top speed of 189 mph. Although there are no specific plans to put this concept car into production, Audi says it will continue to develop the self-driving system, with more demonstrations to come.
Meanwhile, hit the play button above to watch the RS7 lap the Hockenheim track on its own.
The race to create the first production self-driving car began in the early 2010s with many major automakers, including Ford, Audi, Nissan and Toyota, testing driverless systems. A major breakthrough was achieved in 2010, when Audi sent a driverless TT to the top of the Pikes Peak race course in 27 minutes with a top speed of 45 mph. While the numbers are far from overwhelming, the project was successful and proved autonomous cars can become a reality in the near future. Nearly four years later, Audi is back to showcase yet another self-driving car, the RS7 Piloted Driving Concept.
Based on the luxurious and fast RS7 sedan, this self-driving car is packed with the company’s latest technology in terms of orientation devices and on-board networking systems, and is set to debut at racing speed on Germany’s Hockenheimring track. Audi predicts top speeds of up to 149 mph and forces of up to 1.1g under acceleration, two enticing figures for a car that runs without a driver on board.
Updated 10/14/2014: Audi unveiled the official details on its latest project: the Audi RS7 Piloted Driving Concept. Click past the jump for more details.
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi RS7 Piloted Driving Concept.
It’s been a good 2014 for Audi. The company is on pace to sell 1.6 million cars this year, a record-breaking number that has come closer and closer to threatening BMW’s top sales numbers. But Audi isn’t just settling for the sales title. It also wants to continue to be on the cutting edge of innovation, something Audi boss Rupert Stadler brushed on when he announced plans to launch RS-badged high-performance diesel models in the future, possibly as soon as the end of the decade.
The company is optimistic that it already has the applications to transition the technology from concept form into production. Remember, the RS5 TDI concept showed that it was possible to slap an e-turbo-diesel engine into an Audi without compromising the car’s performance capabilities.
Stadler understands that the key in achieving that goal is to take a step-by-step process on piecing together the tools and technology needed to make it work on a production model.
You can count on Audi to always be at the forefront of innovation. The German automaker thrives on being in that position, and when you give it incentive to succeed, you can bet that it’s going to pull out all the stops to make it happen.
Click past the jump to read more about Audi’s future diesel plans.
Okay, folks, the 2014 New York International Auto Show is in the books, and we saw more debuts than we could even keep up with. We saw all of the big boys come with at least one key addition to their lineups, but we also had a few misses. For example. we were hoping to see the Hellcat option for the Challenger and Charger, and some extra information on the next-gen Miata — not just a glimpse at its chassis — neither of which happened.
As with every year, we are set to bring you the best and worst of the NYIAS, but we’re changing things up a bit. This year, each of our esteemed staffers has chosen their favorite and least favorite of the show and let you know why they loved or hated each one — some of us even had complete opposite opinions. Included in the list below is the Dart-ized Charger, the even-more-retro Challenger, a concept from Land Rover and even a "dirt cheap" Aston Martin.
There were a lot of vehicles to choose from, and we may have missed one that you loved or hated. Let us know in the comments below what car you loved or hated the most from the 2014 NYIAS.
Click past the jump to read about our favorite and least favorite debuts in New York.
As a luxury manufacturer, having an exclusive personalization program is mandatory these days. BMW has the Individual program, Porsche offers new, bold designs via Porsche Exclusive, while Mercedes-Benz will be happy to take your hard-earned to offer you some of its Designo exterior paints and interior leather and trims.
As expected, Audi doesn’t want to fall behind on this front so it stormed the New York Auto Show with a more exclusive take on the 2014 RS7 four-door coupe. Already an aggressive-looking and luxurious vehicle, the said model got a few bells and whistles inside and out and a new name.
Dubbed Dynamic Edition, the fanciest member of the RS7 lineup isn’t just a unique showroom model built to exemplify "some of the personalization options that are possible through Audi’s exclusive program." It will go into production and will hit dealerships this summer, but its price tag might be a turn off for U.S. customers.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Audi Exclusive RS7 Dynamic Edition.
In the latest episode of Head 2 Head, Jonny Lieberman from Motor Trend took two of the most powerful sports sedans out there — the Audi RS7 and the Porsche Panamera Turbo — to see which one was the best on the road.
According to him, the Porsche Panamera was always one of Motor Trend’s favorites, but the new Audi RS7 is also a pretty surprising ride. In fact, it was such a shock to the automotive world, that only the Panamera Turbo could compete with it.
To be honest with you, the RS7 is definitely our favorite, as it is not only more powerful — 560 vs. 520 horsepower — but it also looks better than the Panamera in our opinion. Check out the video to see which one did better in the latest test, which took place both on the track and a canyon road.
Let us know in the comment section below which of the two models you would choose for a daily driver.
The Audi RS7 is maybe one Audi model that doesn’t need any upgrades to make it more awesome than it already is. It features a muscular 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 that delivers 560 horsepower between 5,700 and 6,600 rpm, and 516 pound-feet of torque between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm, which is rather powerful for its class and enough to launch it to 60 mph in a supercar-like 3.7 seconds.
ABT Sportsline is well known for pushing Audis to their limits, and it decided the RS7 is ripe for a boost in power. So. it came up with a kit for the four-door coupe that includes an ABT Engine Control combined with a new exhaust system with "New Generation" Power S.
These changes bump the mighty 4.0-liter V-8 to either 666 horsepower and 612 pound-feet of torque or 700 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque, depending on the level you choose. The most powerful version can hit a top speed of 198 mph, and we estimate the 0-to-60 mph time to be around 3.5 seconds..
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi RS7 by ABT Sportsline.
What is the appeal of a really hardcore performance sedan? There are a dozen valid reasons, and most car guys will not need much persuading to get on-board. Killer pace starts from the new Panamera Turbo’s projected 3.2-second blastoff to 60 mph.
The ingredients for the recipe are deceptively simple: big power all over the rev dial, rear-drive bias strongly preferred, and a manual box unless the automatic is absolutely state of the art.
The last and least important part? Those rear doors. Buyers of the hottest full-size performance sedans typically do not mind a tiny back seat. After all, the best possible passengers back there will probably be adoring ladies in thousand-dollar outfits.
So, megalux atmosphere back there is more important than true comfort and versatility. After all, you cannot take three beautiful and giggling best friends for a windows-down, radio-up spin in the hills without a swanky coupe-like sedan.
Even better is a stomping acceleration soundtrack and real panache outside the hottest bars and restaurants. No longer just Euro exclusives: all the cars on this list can be bought or ordered right here in the U.S. for 2013 or 2014.
Representatives from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguar, Audi and Cadillac are also proudly represented in this market for $50,000-plus super sedans.
Click past the jump for the current Top Ten Best Performance Sedans, with a few in there you might not have expected.
As promised, 2014 will bring two new models to the Audi RS lineup: RS 7 and a production version of the RS Q3 Concept. The first model - the RS 7 - was unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and we saw the 2014 Q3 RS in Geneva.
The Audi A7 has a very short history in the automotive industry. Previewed by the Sportback Concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the production version of the A7 Sportback is already on sale, albeit not on all markets. This vehicle may be great in its own right, but of course the new RS 7 is far, far more impressive.
The new RS 7 does not only feature a much more aggressive look when compared to the standard A7, but it also delivers an extra 140 horsepower more that the S7. So, do you see why we find the standard A7 a little bit mediocre in comparison to the RS 7?
Updated 01/14/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and video.
Updated 07/30/2013: Audi USA announced today prices for the 2014 RS 7 that will arrive in U.S. showrooms this fall at a base price of $104,900. We also have a new video of the most powerful RS model ever offered in the U.S. and more than 100 new high res images.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2014 Audi RS 7.
Last week, Audi quattro GmbH chief, Stephan Reil, confirmed that the upcoming RS7 would make its world debut in January 2013 at the Detroit Auto Show. Today, because we want to help you get an idea on what it will look like, we have created a rendering of the next luxury sports sedan.
The upcoming Audi RS7 will be distinguished by the usual RS design elements also seen in models like the recently launched RS6 and RS5. These elements include a new single-frame grille with beveled upper corners featuring a high-gloss, anthracite gray honeycomb structure, a revised hood, sharper edges, a dual-exhaust system with two oval exhaust pipes, a larger diffuser, and a rear spoiler.
It is also rumored that the next RS7 will likely be mechanically identical to the recently launched RS6 Avant, meaning it will be powered by a 4.0-liter TFSI V-8 engine with an output of about 560 ponies and a top speed of 190 mph.
Earlier this year, at the Beijing Auto Show, Audi unveiled the RS Q3 Concept and everyone knew that a production version was just around the corner. In a recent interview with AutoCar, Quattro GmbH chief, Stephan Reil, confirmed that Audi’s high-performance RS division will be adding four new models to its lineup in 2013.
Two of these four new models will be a production version for the Q3 RS concept and the production version of the long-rumored RS7 luxury sedan. The first to arrive will be the RS7 — most likely in January 2013 at the Detroit Auto Show — while the Q3 RS may arrive in March 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show.
The upcoming Audi RS7 will likely be mechanically identical to the recently launched RS6 Avant, meaning it will be powered by a 4.0-liter TFSI V-8 engine with an output of about 560 ponies and a top speed of 190 mph. The Q3 RS, on the other hand, will most likely retain the engine used in the concept version: a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine tuned to produce 355 horsepower.
More details will be unveiled in the upcoming weeks, stay tuned!
The Audi A7 has not even been on US shores for a year and already the engineers from Ingolstadt are busy making this hatchback a land rocket, as shown by new spy images of the RS7 version. The tuned up S and RS versions are reportedly going to be propelled by the brand new turbocharged Bentley V8. In the RS, the engine will produce about 600 horsepower. In addition to more horsepower (20 more than the outgoing V10 from the previous RS6) this engine weighs less than the outgoing engine, which points to the fact that Audi appears to working hard on lightening and improving the balance of the RS7. What makes us salivate even more is the fact that an Audi engineer admitted that the RS7 won’t just be a Bavarian drag racer. He said, "The last RS6 has focused too much on straight-line performance. We want to put more emphasis on cornering ability...We want to bring back the feeling of raw power that the first RS6 gave drivers. That means more sound, more responsiveness, more connection between car and driver."
Full story after the jump.