Remember that song ‘ What’s That Coming Over The Hill Is It A Monster’ by The Automatic? Well it could prove appropriate for our featured car; the Audi RS7 Sportback Performance. The only difference is that this car is more Prince Charming than it is Shrek.
Audi Power
More powerful and faster than any RS 7 model to date, the current model RS 7 Sportback Performance is full to the brim with extras that sharpen the premium models’ appearance and make for a more emotive driving experience. Power derives from a potent four litre V8 bi-turbo TFSI engine (with mild-hybrid tech) with an output of 622BHP (630PS) and a maximum torque of 850Nm. This special car is a prestige powerhouse that means business. Drive is through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel-drive is standard.
Adding the word ‘Performance’ quite simply means adding more power. For example, larger turbochargers and an increase in boost pressure allows for an increase of 30PS in engine power and 50Nm more torque compared to previous versions. The Performance model sprints from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the base versions.
On The Road
Yet less is sometimes more: reduced insulation between the engine compartment, the interior, and the rear of the vehicle ensures the Performance model will thrill drivers with an exciting, next-level sound experience. Start-up may have the neighbours peering out of their windows.
The star of the RS7’s driving experience has of course to be the engine. It is fabulous, and every bit as brutish as any monster. Accompanied by a standard sports exhaust, it’s a raucous thing that is even better now reduced sound insulation means it’s more readily audible. Further, the RS7 is a very easy car to configure to your settings, with a few button presses being all that’s needed to turn it from a fairly sedate cruiser into the Incredible Hulk. Two ‘RS’ driving modes on the steering wheel give you quick access to your preferred sporty settings. The Audi ‘drive select dynamic’ handling system lets the driver control the vehicle’s character. Six profiles are available: ‘efficiency’, ‘comfort’, ‘auto’, ‘dynamic', as well as two customisable RS-specific RS1 and RS2 modes.
On the road, considering that this is a big car, the RS7 is remarkably agile. The grip levels and traction are immense, partly courtesy of the very best tyres (variable brands) which offer consistent grip on both dry and wet roads and reduce understeering when cornering at speed, making for overall more precise handling across the entire speed range. Point and commit and the RS7 Sportback Performance will pull you around. The steering is well-weighted and has good feel, and makes it very easy to place under power. A revised differential and tweaked gearbox unlock yet more aggression and fun characteristics. Top speed is a limited 174mph, which is probably just as well.
Specialised adaptive air suspension allows the Sportback to sit fractionally lower than a standard A7 variant in Auto, Comfort, or Efficiency modes. The car drops another 0.4 inch at speeds above 75 mph or when the car is in ‘Dynamic’ mode. All-wheel steering and upsized brake rotors are standard and available upgrades include a hydraulic ‘Dynamic Ride Control’ suspension and wider tyres, optionally. Flared wheel arches complete the picture and there’s also a diffuser under the car’s rear end plus a lip spoiler that deploys above 60MPH for extra downforce.
Better Equipped
On the current model there has been an uplift in the level of standard equipment. The entry Performance models now benefit from a Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound, ‘Park Assist Pack’ with, additionally, ‘park assist plus’; ‘Head-up Display’, ‘360-degree’ cameras and lightweight alloy 22 inch wheels in matt grey. Visually, the exterior style package in matt grey is also now standard, while the RS sport exhaust comes finished in gloss black, along with the Audi rings and badges. The RS design package is also standard along with an Alcantara flat bottom steering wheel.
Stepping up to ‘Performance Carbon Black’ brings 22 inch wheels in matt black, matt carbon styling and mirror housing, and ‘Dinamica’ interior headlining. Meanwhile ‘Carbon Vorsprung’ models now benefit from ‘Night Vision assistant’ and carbon twill inlays on top of the already generous specification.
On The Inside
In the interior, the familiar RS design packages from previous versions in grey and red have been expanded to include the colour blue. The steering wheel rim in Alcantra black features contrasting stitching in ‘Mercato’ blue for example, whilst the floor mats, the side of the centre console, and the selector lever cuff also come with blue contrasting stitching. The seat belts are full-surface ‘ocean blue’ with decorative inlays in a carbon twill structure with optional blue accents.
The selector lever knob and the side of the centre console are made with ‘Dinamica’ microfibre and the sports seats feature high-quality ‘Valcona’ leather upholstery perforated with honeycomb stitching with contrasting stitching, again in ‘Mercato’ blue. Another distinguishing feature is an entrance LED in the front doors that projects the lettering “RS performance” onto the ground next to the car.
On the ‘Carbon Black’ specification and above, customers benefit from RS design packages in the three available colour variants with optional additional features like door armrests and a centre armrest in ‘Dinamica’. An added benefit of this equipment variant is the seat centre panel with a grey, red, or blue inlay, whilst the customer’s chosen colour shows through the perforated sports seats and the seat backs feature RS embossing in matching colours.
The displays of the standard 12.3 inch Audi ‘virtual cockpit plus’ offer new features including a blinking shift indicator in manual transmission mode which changes the rpm display from green to yellow to red, blinking in a manner identical to that used in motor sport, to indicate the optimal time to change gears. Plus, Launch Control, which fully exploits the acceleration potential of the RS 7 Sportback performance by signalling the ideal moment to accelerate off the line, with new traffic light icons.
MHH International With Audi
MHH International are proud to export premium model cars from the German car maker, Audi. Please see our listings on this page. Their prestige vehicle catalogue offers a huge range of premium vehicles to suit all purposes, including high performance driving as featured here. MHH International export to many different global destinations including Kenya, New Zealand and Mauritius. There’s a full list of destinations on our website along with details of money-saving VAT-free options and all about our comprehensive market-leading service. Get in touch to find out more.
