The 2018 Audi RS7 is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo Premium V-8 engine. The same engine also powers the Porsche Panamera Turbo. The engine remains the same for both trim levels of the Audi RS7. The motor manages to produce a maximum power of 560 horsepower and a peak torque of 516 lb-ft. The power figures are already among the best in the class for a four-door sedan. If you want even more power, you can get the Performance trim which produces 605 horsepower while the torque output remains the same. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission which sends power to all four wheels.
No matter which trims level you select, the Audi RS7 will always keep a big smile on your face whenever you take it out for a spin. The car will push you back in the seats when you press the gas paddle. The Performance things make things even better with the extra power it offers. The standard Audi RS7 takes only 3.6 seconds to reach from 0 to 60 miles per hour which are already among the best in its class. The things get even better with the Performance trim as it takes only 3.2 seconds to achieve the same speed.
Models
|
Audi RS7
|
Porsche Panamera Turbo
|
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 63 S
|
BMW M6 Gran Coupe
|
MSRP
|
$113,900
|
$150,000
|
$108,900
|
$119,800
|
Engine
|
4.0-liter twin-turbo Premium V-8
|
4.0-liter twin-turbo Premium V-8
|
5.5-liter twin-turbo Premium V-8
|
4.4-liter twin-turbo Premium V8
|
Drivetrain
|
AWD
|
AWD
|
AWD
|
AWD
|
Transmission
|
8-speed automatic
|
8-speed automatic
|
9-speed automatic
|
7-speed automatic
|
Power (hp @ rpm)
|
560 @ 5700
|
550 @ 5750
|
550 @ 5500
|
560 @ 6000
|
Torque (lb.ft. @ rpm)
|
516 @ 1750
|
567 @ 1960
|
531 @ 1750
|
500 @ 1500
|
0-60 MPH (seconds)
|
3.6
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
4.1
|
Quarter Mile (seconds)
|
11.3
|
11.5
|
11.6
|
11.9
|
Top speed (MPH)
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
NA
|
The Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 63 S is the fastest car in the segment in the 0 to 60 mph sprint with a small margin. However, the Audi RS7 is ahead of all its rival in the quarter-mile race. The performance is quite impressive from all the cars in the comparison and none of them can be termed as slow by any means. The BMW M6 Gran Coupe which happens to be the slowest car to reach 0 to 60 mph takes only 4.1 seconds which is not at all slow by any means.
How well does the 2018 Audi RS7 handle?
The handling of the 2018 Audi RS7 is impressive considering it is an Audi. The adaptive suspension allows you to change between the driving modes depending on the driving situation. There is a driving mode to drive comfortably in the city when the steering wheel is light and the suspension goes to comfort mode to tackle the road imperfections. The Dynamic mode changes everything and the steering wheel gains weight. The steering becomes more precise and offers great feedback in the Dynamic mode. The same goes for the suspension setup as it stiffens up to provide better agility.
The Audi RS7 has good enough driving dynamics to make use of the immense power on offer. However, it is not the best handling sedans in the segment. Some of the other rivals are ahead of the Audi RS7 in the handling department and are better in overall driving dynamics. The Audi RS7 shines when it comes to the ride quality of the car. It manages to handle the road undulations pretty well and offers a comfortable ride to the passengers.
2018 Audi RS7 Braking Performance
The braking performance of the Audi RS7 is as good as the performance of the car. It gets massive brake calipers that are clearly visible when you look at the wheels. The front wheels of the car get 15.4-inch brake rotors while the rear wheels get 14-inch brake rotors. The braking hardware is quite capable and Audi has calibrated it pretty well. The brakes offer positive bite and feel progressive. The braking distance is also excellent for the segment as it manages to stop the car from 60 mph to a standstill in just 101 feet.
Models
|
Audi RS7
|
Porsche Panamera Turbo
|
Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS 63 S
|
BMW M6 Gran Coupe
|
Brake Rotors: Front (inches)
|
15.4
|
16.1
|
14.2
|
13.7
|
Brake Rotors: Rear (inches)
|
14
|
15
|
14.2
|
13.6
|
Curb Weight (lbs)
|
4,497
|
4,398
|
4,420
|
4,430
|
60-0 (feet)
|
101
|
111
|
113
|
108
|
The Audi RS7 does not get the biggest braking hardware in the segment but the braking performance is among the best in the class. The Audi RS7 offers the best braking distance in the competition at 101 feet. The BMW M6 Gran Coupe comes second in terms of braking distance with a braking distance of 108 feet. The Porsche Panamera Turbo gets the biggest brake and is also the lightest of the lot, but the braking distance is not as good as the Audi and the Bimmer.