Audi’s brutal 412 kW, 4.0-litre V8 TFSI engine has found an equally brutal new home in the recently unwrapped Audi RS7 Sportback. The newest and most esteemed member of the Audi RS family (Audi are unlikely to ever make an Audi RS8 limousine) was recently unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.
The 4.0-litre V8 TFSI power is something we’ve already become accustomed to in the Audi S8 saloon, but it’s the no-holds-barred exterior styling that will win favour with many an Audi-phile. Visually, the RS7 Sportback gains a new honeycomb grille treatment, two large oval tailpipes (a classic RS model tell-tale) and chunkier side skirts.
The executive express then comes standard with 20-inch, or optional 21-inch, alloy wheels, to tell it apart from its lesser A7 brethren. The RS7 Sportback features a choice of ten exterior colours, including the new shade of Nardo Gray and the exclusive finish in Daytona Gray with matte-effect.
The two styling packages available are matte-aluminium and carbon fibre. With the carbon styling package, the front splitter and rear diffuser are more boldly shaped. No matter what detailing package you go for, the central air intake will sport a big, brash ‘Quattro’ badge. How do you say “in your face” in German?
Beneath the pebble-rounded bonnet, the RS7 Sportback thrums out an impressive 412 kW and 700 Nm of torque. Unlike the normally aspirated V8 in some previous Audi RS models, the power and torque of the twin-turbo engine is now available consistently between 1 750 and 5 500 r/min. The engine is connected to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission and the brand’s Quattro, permanent all-wheel drive of course.
When it comes to the RS7’s blistering performance, Audi claim a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of 3.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 250 km/h with the car in standard configuration. Buyers can however, opt for the ‘Dynamic Package’, in which case the top speed is lifted to 280 km/h, or the ‘Dynamic Package Plus’ that allows the car to reach 305 km/h.
When we drove the Bentley Continental GT V8 with the same engine last year, we were thoroughly impressed with the fuel economy potential of the 4.0-litre V8. As you would expect, the fuel economy has improved markedly for the RS moniker, with the downsizing from a 5.2-litre V10 (in the previous RS6) to the current 4.0-litre V8. Audi says it returns an average consumption of 9.8 L/100 km. This is possible in some part due to the V8 TFSI featuring a cylinder on demand (COD) system, which at low to medium loads and engine speeds, can deactivate half the cylinders to improve fuel economy.
A specially tuned air suspension lowers the body by 20 mm and features adaptive damping, with a sport suspension featuring steel springs, three-stage adjustable dampers and dynamic ride control (DRC). Stopping power is provided by 390 mm brakes discs, while 420 mm carbon-ceramic discs (designated by anthracite gray calipers no less) are offered as an option.
Throw in torque vectoring for the Quattro drivetrain, a self-locking centre-differential, adaptive air suspension, three-way adjustable dampers and you have a cocktail for brutal all-grip, all-the-time, Autobahn thumping performance.
The interior of the RS7 Sportback is beefed up with a flat-bottom sports steering wheel, carbon inlays, body hugging sport seats, illuminated door entry sills and revised instrument panel graphics.
There is no word yet on when the new Audi RS7 Sportback will arrive in the South Africa but the great thing with Audi S and RS models these days, is that you can expect prices to start the right side, the correct side, the cheaper side, of its German competitors.
