Each car has all-wheel drive, adaptive dampers, brake rotors the size of Saturn's rings, and a twin-turbo V-8 of at least 4.0 liters making completely unbuttoned dyno numbers. The brands started with the bones of a buttoned-down sedan and crafted a version with a narrow-eyed performance-car glare, a dropped roofline, and a sloping tail. In response to the question "How do you make a 600-hp sports sedan?" Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-AMG have turned in answers so similar that if this were an exam, they'd be accused of cheating. The Editorial department is independent of ’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.From the May 2021 issue of Car and Driver. In line with ’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. It’s a reunion I am very much looking forward to.Įditor’s note: This story was updated March 6, 2020, to reflect in the headline the correct model year of the 2021 RS 7.Ĭars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. No word yet from Audi on when the 2021 RS 7 will go on sale, but for me it can’t arrive soon enough. It will feature Audi’s dual-touchscreen center stack as well as the Audi Virtual Cockpit, swapping out traditional gauges for a 12.3-inch display behind the steering wheel. The multimedia system offers specialized RS displays that relay pertinent information to the driver, such as tire pressure, torque and horsepower output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure and G-forces among other gauges. Inside, RS sport seats get a honeycomb pattern, as well, and are wrapped in Valcona leather, with an “RS” logo embossed into the seat. 2020 Audi S4 Review: Lost in the Shuffle or Ready to Hustle?.2019 Audi A6 Review: New and Unimproved.Hey, Cool Dad! The Audi RS6 Avant Wagon Is Coming Stateside.With E-Tron Sportback, RS Q8 and Much More The rear of the RS 7 is highlighted by a large diffuser, with a lip spoiler that deploys at speeds above 60 mph. The front grille is an RS-specific honeycomb design finished in gloss black, flanked by Matrix-LED laser headlights and a pair of oversized air inlets. Flared wheel arches add about an inch of width to both sides of the car - and though it looks similar to the A7 in profile, only the front doors, roof, tailgate and hood are shared between the two vehicles. The RS 7’s exterior styling is aggressive in places, but only offers subtle hints at the copious speed it’s capable of. 2021 Audi RS 7 | Manufacturer image Exterior Styling No mention yet of a Performance version of the RS 7 that Audi offered on the previous generation, though I would not be surprised to see one (or some other kind of special edition) to arrive within the next couple years. Also available are a sport exhaust system and a set of ceramic brakes that increase the car’s top speed from 155 mph to 190 mph. This system was offered on the previous RS 7, as well, and I loved it in that application. The optional suspension adds Dynamic Ride Control, a system that is designed to offer pitch and roll compensation to keep the RS 7 more composed. Other standard performance features include dynamic all-wheel steering, an RS adaptive air suspension with three modes, customizable RS1 and RS2 drive modes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. This setup launches the RS 7 from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, an estimated figure that narrowly bests the 3.7-second figure from the 2018 model. That engine is hooked up to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and all-wheel drive, with a rear sport differential that can actively split torque between each of the rear wheels. The RS 7, unsurprisingly, shares its powertrain with the RS 6 Avant, with a bi-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that in this application makes 591 horsepower and 590 pounds-feet of torque. The RS 7 will start at $114,995 (including a $995 destination charge), which for a pleasant surprise is only a $120 increase over the 2018 model. Things get even more exciting with the arrival of the line-topping RS 7 and RS 6 Avant. This year, brought the S6 and S7 models to add some needed performance to the 2021 model lineup. The RS 7 has been in hibernation the past couple years, most recently offered for 2018 with the A6 and A7 getting complete redesigns for the 2019 model year. Related: 2019 Audi A7 Review: Tech Updates Keep Old Favorite Fresh The 2017 RS 7 Performance was one of my favorite vehicles that I have ever tested, a luxurious and stylish touring car that doubled as an absolute rocketship. It’s been three long years and then some since I last drove an Audi RS 7, I don’t even have to dig through my personal records to find when it last was because I remember it so clearly.
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