The monstrous price of power
BACK in business with a bang. This is the first really fast car that I’ve tested since the companies opened the doors to their press garages and started sending motoring journalists cars to test. It’s a monster, this Audi RS7 Sportback.
Monstrous in many different ways. First, it’s ridiculously powerful. Under the bonnet sits Audi’s twin-turboV8 engine which in this car produces a ridiculous 592bhp. Much more power than you’ll ever need on the public road.Top speed is 155mph but if that isn’t fast enough or might be an embarrassment down at the pub (remember them?), you can upgrade the top speed to 174mph.
Still not enough? If you have specified the optional carbon ceramic brakes,Audi will uncork the RS7 still further to a top speed of 189mph.
While we’re on the subject of options, let’s talk money. Most of the cars that we are given to test come with a stack of extras that crank up the price but hopefully persuade you, the reader, to spend even more down at the dealership.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a car with as many optional extras as this mighty Audi has attached.
The list price is already an eye-watering £97,050 but this car comes with a mind-numbing £45,000 worth of extras.
The aforementioned ceramic brakes are one, with red painted callipers for £9,700.Then there’s an audio system upgrade for another £6,300.Tot up the vast list and you have a car costing £138,765.
You’re getting dangerously near the price of a Bentley Continental GT which in its each cheapest form uses the same engine. Oh I nearly forgot: our car does have the upgrade to enable it to reach 189mph and that costs an extra £1,550. Crazy.
The new RS7 (this is the second generation, by the way) is 40mm wider than the A7 on which it’s based.And here’s one of the reasons why Audi charges so much for this car: that extra width comes
from bespoke metalwork including front and rear wings.
And the result is certainly impressive because our priceless super saloon looks absolutely amazing and very aggressive in its red paint.That mighty engine drives through an eight-speed automatic gearbox to both front and rear wheels.
UP TO 85 per cent of the power can be directed to the rear wheels but the RS7’s brain is constantly working out where is best to send it for ultimate grip and security.
Unlike rivals from BMW and Mercedes-AMG (the M5 and E63 respectively) the RS7 isn’t equipped with an infantile and pointless drift mode.
The powertrain is also able to go into a coasting mode for short distances in order to save fuel and the engine itself switches off four of its cylinders on light throttle openings to the same end.
There’s also a mild hybrid system fitted for the first time which also increases mpg.
Finally, four-wheel steering is fitted to make the car, which weighs almost two tons by the way, more agile in corners and reduces understeer.
The RS7 comes standard with air suspension which gives the car an extremely comfortable ride despite its combat aircraft performance and aggressive looks.
Needless to say our extremely specified test car is fitted with sports suspension plus, which apart from costing another grand and a bit, makes the ride rather more choppy on British roads.
You won’t be disappointed by this monster Audi’s interior. On the practical side the car now has an extra seat in the back making it a full five-seater. In front you have a full array of screens and the latest version of Audi’s pioneering virtual cockpit digital instruments that are bespoke for the RS7.
Audi invented this tech and is ahead of the game compared to rivals that have adopted it.
There’s also a head-up display that has very crisp graphics.
I’m a big fan of HUDs, not least because it shows the speed that you’re doing when in a car as wide as this, all your attention needs to be focused on the road.
The RS sports seats are supremely comfortable and look wonderful.The whole interior is a class act right up to the Alcantara trim on the steering wheel. Mind you, at this price it should be pretty special. Fabulous V8 engine note, unbelievably secure handling particularly on wet roads and a much more sporty driving experience than provided by the previous RS7 and one that you’d expect from a two-ton car.
This is a car for a very flush Audi enthusiast. Our test car, despite its pages of options, is the basic model.The RS7 Sportback quattro Vorsprung is the range leader at £113,550 before you’ve added any goodies.
If I was going to buy a car this expensive with such unrealistic performance from the Audi catalogue it would probably be the RS6 Avant.
It’s mechanically identical to this car but has the bonus of estate bodywork.
I’ve always loved fast estate cars even if they are over the top.