Audi RS7 Sportback
Audi, the German automobile manufacturer with a huge amount of experience in long distance motor racing – think Le Mans 24-hour – recently rolled out several of its high performance cars at Phillip Island for us to enjoy.
On the track were the Audi RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback models, both new to the Audi line-up Down Under. In the wings for a road loop were the Audi S8 plus and Audi SQ5 plus.
First up was a chance to put the Avant and Sportback to some harsh treatment on a hosed down section of the track. With stability control systems disconnected the cars were put through a slide. We were to attempt to get them sideways and, followed by steering correction and touch of the brakes, to have the quattro all-wheel drive put things to rights.
For a start, making a car with such a high standard of built-in safety go awry is not easy, neither is it something experienced drivers who pride themselves on keeping out of trouble are called on to do every day. Needless to say, generally, everything went to plan with both cars handling the situation with aplomb.
An extended trackwork session brought the best out of both vehicles. The RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback are aimed at customers who are always looking for an edge in high-performance machines.
Audi RS6 Avant
With V8 design convention thrown out of the window, the stonking 4.0-litre TFSI twin-turbo engine, stumping up 445 kW and 700 Nm (750Nm on overboost), has the exhaust and turbochargers sitting inside the ‘V’, and intakes plumbed to the outside of the engine.
The greater thermal efficiency of this layout aids better fuel efficiency and lower emissions (Euro 6 compliant). Also in play is the innovative cylinder-on-demand technology which shuts down four of the eight cylinders under partial load to save fuel.
Performance is not left wanting in either vehicle. Acceleration has both reaching 100 km/h from rest in just 3.7 seconds (0.2 sec quicker than the originals), with a top speed of up to 305 km/h possible with the Dynamic Package Plus. That’s V8 Supercar class.
Power is put to ground via an eight-speed tiptronic automatic and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.
Setting the pair apart from their run-of-the-mill siblings extends to a titanium-look finish, with accents on the single-frame grille, front spoiler and air intakes, mirror caps, window surrounds and rear diffuser. New 21-inch wheels are in keeping with their matt titanium finish.
Audi RS6 Avant
Innovative Matrix LED headlights are said to really light up the night without blinding other road users. We haven’t tested them at night as yet, but will do so when we borrow a test car for a week.
This exacting standard of presentation is continued inside the cabin with the high-resolution Driver Information System (DIS) between the speedometer and tachometer readouts displaying clear map-based navigation in the driver’s natural field of vision.
An overboost display is also present in the DIS, and an Audi Drive Select button is situated on the multi-function steering wheel, allowing the driver to dial up different performance modes offered.
Cabin furnishings include Audi Exclusive combination of Alcantara and Valcona leather upholstery highlighted by Marcato blue honeycomb stitching with a carbon fibre blue twill inlay. Additional leather touches and contrasting stitching can further set these models apart.
In practical terms the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback performance vehicles complement each other. The RS 6 Avant is more versatile, with an extra 30 litres of luggage space (RS 6: 565 litres and RS 7: 535 litres) due to the squarer load area, yet the distinctive silhouette and styling of the RS 7 Sportback will make it the preferred choice for the design driven.
As expected, sitting at the summit of the Audi RS range, both models come with a high level of standard equipment, including adaptive air suspension; digital TV with DAB plus; quattro sports differential; RS sports exhaust; head-up display; Audi parking system plus with front, rear and 360 degree view; park assist; panoramic (RS 6 Avant) glass sunroof; RS leather covered multi-function flat-bottom three-spoke sport steering wheel; and electric tailgate with gesture control.
If that is not discerning enough, a $4900 dynamic package adds dynamic steering, a higher top speed of 280 km/h matched with Dynamic Ride Control suspension system, replacing the air setup with a hydraulic, diagonal link between the front and rear dampers to ensure the car is perfectly poised during dynamic driving.
A $25,840 Dynamic package plus adds all of the above with an even higher top speed of 305 km/h and the incredible stopping power of ceramic brakes. A Carbon styling package ($8500) gives the vehicle a distinctive exterior, with a number of appealing touches in a raw carbon fibre finish.
The RS 6 Avant performance 4.0 TFSI quattro tiptronic sells for $245,400, the RS 7 Sportback performance 4.0 TFSI quattro tiptronic $258,000, plus on-road costs. Both models are on sale now.
In all situations throughout the drive day, technology and engineering of aerospace calibre were responsible for the impeccable behaviour of all the Audis in such uncompromising conditions.
