Audi RS 7 Performance 605 horsepower Review Miami traffic, instantly Florida roads, torrential rain and heavy police presence aren't things you need on the check power of a 605-horsepower vehicle. Yet that is the unfortunate hand I become dealt for my force of the brand new for 2016 Audi RS 7 Performance. This, after the preceding night time having Stephan Reil, head of improvement at Audi's performance automobile department, Quattro GmbH, deliver me a rundown of the pass quicker modifications his team completed to push the skills of its RS 7 in addition for the new Performance model.
The communicate had me salivating, geared up to the drop the hammer at the RS 7 Performance's upgraded four.0-liter turbocharged V-8 that adopts a new rapid, distinctive exhaust valves and engine management tuning to bump power to 605 horsepower. That's only forty five greater ponies than the normal RS 7's 560 horsepower, but having extra than six hundred horsepower to be had below your right foot does have a nicer ring to it. Peak torque also increases, with an overboost characteristic that swells it from 516 pound-toes to 553 pound-feet.
To handle the greater output, the eight-speed computerized transmission receives more potent clutches to course energy to all four wheels. Audi says the end result is a zero-to-60 mph time of simply 3.6 seconds, a pinnacle speed of 190 mph and not-too-horrific EPA fuel economic system rankings of 15 mpg metropolis and 25 mpg toll road. If all this sounds acquainted, it ought to due to the fact the RS 7 Performance shares its engine and transmission with the lately reviewed S8 Plus.
Does every body really want a 605-horsepower Audi? Absolutely now not, but the enterprise is wagering there are some human beings available who want one. I, for one, am someone who might want the maximum powerful version if my bank account may want to handle it, but on my slog through morning Miami rush-hour site visitors I surely didn't want it. Once out of downtown, the congestion started to clear a few, affording the opportunity to get a small sampling of the RS 7 Performance's energy to slingshot beyond slower cars.
With the Audi Drive Select gadget in Dynamic, laying into the throttle produces an immediately surge of thrust to propel the car toward triple-digit speeds without breaking a sweat, and with a pleasant growl coming from the game exhaust system. The transmission cracks off short and crisp gear adjustments whilst left in full automatic mode, while the manual shift feature is likewise pretty attentive to instructions for a conventional torque-converter unit. Slowing down in the RS 7 Performance is as on the spot as rushing up, with the carbon ceramic brakes hauling me backpedal to socially (and legally) appropriate speeds.
But then the heavy rain commenced to fall, which in aggregate with Florida's arrow-immediately roads truly puts the kibosh on exercising the Performance's standard Dynamic Ride Control suspension, which Reil had additionally instructed me about the previous night. While the everyday RS 7 comes with air suspension, the Dynamic Ride Control system at the Performance makes use of conventional metallic springs with adaptive hydraulic surprise absorbers. The diagonally antagonistic shocks are related by using a vital valve that sends more oil to the out of doors surprise to lessen body roll underneath hard cornering, consequently enhance handling. Unfortunately, I will ought to experience its cornering overall performance at once more, although I can say that with Drive Select in Dynamic, ride first-rate is firmer without being uncomfortable, and matters smooth out properly in Comfort mode.
Visually putting the Performance aside from the same old RS 7 are a gloss-black front grille, carbon-fiber exterior mirror housings, unique 21-inch cast aluminum wheel designs and an available Ascari Blue steel paint it truly is unique to the Performance trim. The blue topic continues internal with the provision of blue assessment sewing and twill blue inlays inside the carbon-fiber trim portions. While none of the changes are significant, I'd argue the RS 7 appears imply sufficient already, making any drastic upgrades pointless.
For the ones trying to upload some more chocolates to their RS 7 Performance, optionally available features consist of adaptive cruise manipulate, car excessive-beam headlamps, corner-view digital camera gadget, lively lane help (side cameras screen lane markings and gently steer the automobile lower back into one's lane need to the driving force inadvertently wander), and night-imaginative and prescient assist that uses an infrared digicam and thermal imaging to warn of pedestrians or huge animals in advance within the darkish. Sadly, the RS 7 Performance does not help either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto in the mean time, however it ought to after an infotainment machine software replace arrives this summer season.
The interior highlights for me are the front RS recreation seats that, at the side of the chairs discovered in a few Volvo models, remain some of the maximum secure and supportive seating available. They're high-quality for sitting in site visitors, yet they're nevertheless remarkable for containing you in vicinity for the duration of warm corners (I've skilled them in environments aside from Florida site visitors).
As in the S8 Plus, the same old head-up show proves useful to help pay most attention to the street, and the blind-spot monitoring machine is splendid to provide reassurance before changing lanes, in particular while using in climate that limits visibility. My check car's $four,900 non-compulsory Bang & Olufsen audio system turned into additionally amazing, unsurprisingly.
Is the RS 7 Performance well worth the more money over the everyday RS 7? The engine improvements, performance-oriented suspension and carbon ceramic brakes absolutely aren't small-price ticket improvements, and together, they help the Performance's $20,100 price top rate no longer appear too ludicrous. In the give up, it would be tough guilty every body for allotting the total $129,000 for this version, as you are already in six-parent territory for the usual automobile. That is, except you live in Florida and sit down in Miami rush-hour visitors on a daily foundation. In that case, save some cash and simply get a RS 7 -- or even the perfectly lovable regular-power A7 -- because now not being able to faucet into the Performance's full skills is just painful.
Specs
- MSRP $108,900
- Invoice $101,278
- Fuel Gasoline Fuel
- MPG 18 MPG
- Engine Turbocharged, 8 Cylinder Engine
- Drivetrain All Wheel Drive
- Transmission Transmission w/Dual Shift Mode, A/T, 8-Speed A/T
- Body style Hatchbacks
- Roof Generic Sun/Moonroof, Sun/Moonroof
- Brakes ABS, 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
- Suspension Active Suspension, Air Suspension
- Differential Locking/Limited Slip Differential
- Steering Power Steering
- Tires Tire Pressure Monitor
- Audio Smart Device Integration, CD Player, Auxiliary Audio Input, Satellite Radio, Hard Disk Drive Media Storage, AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Player, HD Radio, Premium Sound System, WiFi Hotspot
- Mirrors Heated Mirrors, Power Mirror(s), Power Folding Mirrors, Mirror Memory, Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror, Driver Vanity Mirror, Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror, Passenger Illuminated Visor Mirror, Passenger Vanity Mirror
- Tech Trip Computer, Rear Parking Aid, Heads-Up Display, Engine Immobilizer, Security System, Back-Up Camera, Power Liftgate, Variable Speed Intermittent Wipers, Rain Sensing Wipers, Intermittent Wipers, Remote Trunk Release, Automatic Headlights, Fog Lamps, Navigation System, Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Bluetooth Connection, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Leather Steering Wheel, Keyless Start, Universal Garage Door Opener, Cruise Control, Cargo Shade
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