2014 Audi RS7: Touring the Austrian Alps

With the RS7, the quattro GmbH engineers created what is perhaps the ultimate sleeper. The uninitiated see it as nothing more than a nice A7, but those in the know see it as a luxury car that offers performances worthy of a supercar thanks to its 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine that develops 560 horsepower. That’s as must as the Porsche 911 Turbo S.

The lighter 911 Turbo S reaches 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds while the much heavier RS7 takes 3.9 seconds. The 911 Turbo S is also faster in turns, but the RS7 is livelier and more satisfying to drive than the latest performance sedan that I drove on similar roads, namely the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG.

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And where better to evaluate the vehicle’s handling than the Austrian Alps? It was there that I first met the S63 AMG and the RS7 last month. On corners, the S63 AMG seemed a great deal heavier while the RS7 proved more agile and capable of attacking turns at high speed. It remains a 1,920-kilo beast with AWD, but the RS7 hides it well. Its handling is balanced thanks in part to its torque-vectoring rear differential.

Significant torque

The maximum torque of 516 lbs.-ft. is available over a very wide range, from 1,750 to 5,500 rpm, which makes for lively accelerations regardless of the gear selected on the eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s both fast and responsive, but it isn’t as sublime as a twin-clutch gearbox. Because of the engine’s very high level of torque, it’s not suitable for the S Tronic gearbox. This is one of the RS7’s weaknesses.

Despite this minor issue, the RS7 is absolutely exhilarating because it’s easy to drive extremely fast and smoothly at the same time. With the Audi Drive Select system, simply select choose Individual mode to set the suspension to Normal and the rest to Dynamic – the result is a car that is pleasant to drive and comfortable for the passengers.

The RS7’s base price is $115,000. If this fits your budget, here’s my advice: Order it in Suzuka Grey, as it will make the front deflector less apparent. While you’re at it, ask that the RS7 insignias be left off: the result will be a sleeper featuring a smooth and relaxed ride and sharper handling depending on your mood. In this regard, it’s very hard to do better than the RS7.