2016 Audi RS7 Test Drive Review

Audi RS7 Review

Car Tested: 2016 Audi RS7 Facelift; Road Test No. 681

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 1.81 crores

The Audi RS7 can make your blood run cold with its savage performance and bold styling

A couple of years back the Audi RS7 held the title of being the most powerful Audi car in production. Now that ‘most’ has changed to ‘one of the most’ because, of course, the new Audi R8 produces mad performance numbers. The performance centric Sportback has an identity of its own getting an off-beat design that really catches great attention. We have driven the pre-facelift RS7 a while back and now it’s time to taste the same wine in a new bottle. Yes, Audi has given it a mid-life update that comes with some fresh styling details. We get behind the wheel of the tarmac scorching Audi and see what’s new on offer.

Motor Quest: The Audi RS7 is a performance version of the Audi A7 which is also offered in the S7 guise that is a milder performance version compared to the RS7. It is based on the A6 platform which was developed by Volkswagen. The Audi RS7 globally competes with the likes of Mercedes CLS 63 AMG and BMW M6 Gran Coupe

Exteriors – Since the Audi RS7 is based on the A7, it is supposed to be a sleeper car with understated styling and mad power. However, the RS7’s styling is such that even some animals on the streets can’t ignore this beast pass by, forget laymen. Some might say that it looks beautiful with those sharp creases and sloping roofline but according to me it looks like a villain of a thriller movie, especially with the updated styling. Those new Matrix LED eyes give it a furious look styled in a T shape. The razor sharp bumper get huge airdams on either side, designed to gobble maximum air to keep the fire breathing engine temperature under control.

The aggressive styling & sporty elements make it stand out of the crowd

On the side profile you would immediately notice the XL sized murderous 5-blade 21-inch alloys hiding sizeable ceramic brakes inside. The coupe roofline has a steep rake that blends perfectly with the tail giving the RS7 a unique stance and that’s the USP of its design. There is a hidden active rear spoiler that pops out automatically above 120 km/hr. The only change at the back are the new LED detailing on the tail lights in the same T pattern as the front. It makes the rear look more fresh while the black diffuser with dual exhaust pipes at the bottom spice things up. The paint quality is epic and this dark blue shade just adds to the electrifying experience of driving this sporty yet wild German.

Interiors – The changes on the inside are quite minimal compared to the pre-facelift Audi RS7. After seeing the newer lot of Audis with a straightforward dashboard design, this one tends to look a bit old now. The dark colour theme of the cabin includes black upholstery, carbon fibre panels and brushed silver elements that make it one hell of a sporty cockpit. The driver oriented dashboard comes with a flat bottom steering wheel that is quite pleasing to hold and comes with new paddle shift design. The instrument cluster is revised and comes with a large digital display in the middle and analogue metres on either side that set your heart on fire once you floor the throttle. The RS7 now comes with a heads-up display which is a convenient feature. The MMI infotainment system has been updated that gets a touchpad control and a huge display that is foldable. It also offers accurate Navigation system along with a display for parking cameras.

The RS7’s cabin is practical enough for 4 being a hardcore performance machine

There is a sea of buttons on the centre console including AC controls, driving mode selector, media controls, etc. However, the most interesting button of them all is for the active spoiler. It’s meant for a different purpose altogether but looks damn cool while operating when waiting for the green signal, feels like the tail will start spraying bullets at the cars behind. There are seats for four passengers and no there is no provision for the rear middle passenger as no cushioning has been provided. The sports seats hug you tight while pushing around the bends and are electrically adjustable for your preference. There is decent amount of legroom but headroom is just adequate because of the sloping roofline. The electrically operable boot is huge and can accommodate quite a lot of luggage or even a couple of dead bodies.

Performance – 0-100 km/hr in a claimed 3.9 seconds is blisteringly fast for a 5-door sedan. This is possible with a massive 4.0-litre TFSI bi-turbo V8 engine that produces 560 BHP of crazy power and 700 Nm of twisting force. Floor the throttle and the RS7 just shoots away with a wild growl and kickback notes from the dual exhausts. The thrust is such that it feels like god is punching you back into the seat. The V8 engine is progressive from the word go and as those big turbos spool up from the mid-range, the power gets stronger and relentless until the redline of around 7000 RPM. This engine though, has a dual personality and it can run in a calm and sedate way as well. This is possible because of the dual-clutch 8-speed automatic transmission and the cylinder on demand technology.

The 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 engine revs freely and gets wild near the redline

The transmission is quick in shifting cogs and extremely fun in the manual mode but it upshifts on its own near the redline. When you are consistently maintaining low engine speed, four cylinders deactivate by shutting off fuel injection and closing their valves. This makes the RS7 a daily driver too as it doesn’t consume much fuel and feels tamed in city traffic. At 100 km/hr in the top gear, the tachometer just hovers around 1500 RPM, which is almost like idle. Audi claims 10.20 km/l of fuel efficiency. The RS7 comes with Audi Drive Select from which you can choose between comfort, dynamic, custom and auto that tweak the steering, engine, transmission and suspension options.

Driving Dynamics – You can choose the way it moves as the Audi RS7 gets adaptive air suspension with different driving modes. In Comfort mode, the steering remains light, suspension is pliant surprisingly in spite of having low profile tyres. As the name suggests, this mode is meant for relaxed and easy driving in the hustle and bustle of city traffic. The Dynamic mode makes the setup tauter and urges you to push the car hard around the bends, where it feels totally composed. The RS7 is eager to take the corners at high speeds and the grip is just epic from those Pirelli P Zeros along with the legendary Quattro all-wheel drive system. It tends to understeer and doesn’t let loose its tail that easily. The performance sedan is sharp enough to feel like a 2-door sports car but there could be more feedback from the steering wheel, which is quick to respond but lacks a bit of feel. The carbon ceramic brakes are extremely effective that shed speed very quickly.

Safety and After Sales Service – As they say, with great power comes great responsibility and Audi hasn’t compromised a bit on safety with the RS7. The performance sportback comes with airbags for all the passengers including dual front, rear side and curtain airbags along with knee airbags. It also has electronic stabilisation control along with torque vectoring system that keeps the car under control when it tends to slide with power and hard cornering. The Audi RS7 is a CBU import and hence the parts and spares cost is high. However, Audi has a wide enough network across the country to service your RS at an authorised Audi workshop.

Verdict – The new Audi RS7 comes with very few updates on its mid-life facelift and doesn’t offer anything substantial over the previous version. However, the Matrix LEDs make the car look more dramatic with the brighter daytime running lights and new detailing at the rear. The interior doesn’t get noticeable changes and feels a tad dated when compared to the newer generation Audis we are getting these days. The super powerful engine though will make you forget everything every time you floor the throttle. It’s just mind numbingly fast on the straights and very engaging to drive around twisties. That along with a practical nature of seating four adults and having a huge boot is a unique package for a performance car. If you have the money and you don’t want to spend it on a full length chauffeur driven saloon, get the RS7.

What’s Cool

* Sharper and brighter new DRLs with Matrix headlights
* The fact that it’s a four seater sedan and can do 0-100 km/hr in 3.9 seconds
* The RS7 with 560 BHP and 700 Nm never gives up on power, always ready to plunge forward
* Versatile dynamics, surprisingly comfortable ride in Comfort mode
* Excellent grip thanks to the mix of wide section tyres and Quattro all-wheel drive system

What’s Not So Cool

* No substantial changes over the pre-facelift RS7
* Interior styling feels a tad old now

Alternatives: BMW M6 Gran Coupe

Testers’ Note:

Further Reading –

2014 Audi RS7 Test Drive Review
2012 Audi A7 Test Drive Review