Yahoo Autos 2020 Audi RS7 Enthralls with Dynamite Looks and Big Power
The Audi Sport performance division has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to have the street cred of Mercedes-AMG or BMW M, both of which have worked hard to create aggressively tuned performance versions of nearly every model in their respective brands' lineups. Audi only sells a select few RS models in the United States—more are on the way—but after driving the fantastic new 2020 Audi RS7 we think that the current quality-over-quantity approach is working.
The new RS7 is a wonderfully well-rounded, highly desirable sport-luxury hatchback. (Audi calls it a Sportback.) The last RS7 was, too, and even though we don’t love the new A7 as much as the old one, the impressive upgrades present in the RS model make up for many deficiencies, starting with its shape. On the road, the RS7 looks stunning. Thanks to a 1.7-inch-wider body, the stance is menacing, especially on the optional 22-inch wheels. The details—such as larger air intakes, a pop-up rear spoiler, and RS badging—are just short of overwrought. It’s a showstopper.
Eight Is Great
Audi's luscious 4.0-liter V-8, which used to be found in both the S7 and RS7 models, is now reserved for the top-dog RS models only (the new S7 gets a twin-turbo V-6). We've long proclaimed this twin-turbo mill to be one of the great engines in existence, and it's gotten slightly better still for the new RS7. The turbos are bigger, and it's now paired with a 48-volt hybrid system that allows for a very aggressive stop-start strategy to save fuel.
Totals of 591 horsepower—31 ponies more than the old model's base trim and just shy of the previous RS7 Performance's 605 horses—and 590 lb-ft of torque are on tap. A conventional eight-speed automatic transmission paired with a real center differential send the torque to all four wheels. This is a hugely impressive amount of oomph, but the RS7 never feels bombastic, instead effortlessly building speed, making the RS7 easy to drive smoothly and very, very quickly. The exhaust note is deliciously subtle, although Audi says U.S. models will be slightly louder than the Euro-spec cars we drove.
Of the two suspension setups offered, Audi R&D chief Victor Underberg says he'd choose the greater range of adjustability brought by the standard air springs. They do indeed provide a cushy ride when in Comfort mode. But, at least on the fine pavement in Germany where we sampled the RS7, we loved the optional Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) setup, which will be offered in the States as a stand-alone option. In addition to lowering the RS7 0.2 inch, DRC consists of steel springs and adaptive dampers that are diagonally linked to assist in quelling roll and pitch. There's a noticeable uptick in firmness in the DRC car no matter which driving mode is selected, but we felt it was worth it for the extra measure of precision and feel it imparts in corners—again, noting the caveat that we were driving on the beautifully smooth roads of Germany.
Still Comfortable and Compliant
On the few less than pristine sections of asphalt we did encounter, we were impressed by the RS7's wheel control. You'd think those hefty 22-inch wheels that look so amazing would lead to a significant degradation in ride quality, but there was a surprising lack of harsh impacts. We will reserve further judgment until we get a chance to subject these huge rims to American Midwest roads, but the initial impression is promising.
The Audi has a remarkable amount of compliance engineered into its dynamic demeanor, which makes it the kind of pleasant all-rounder that we've come to expect from the four-ring brand.
In many ways, the Audi RS7 does not follow the formula of BMW M and Mercedes-AMG models, and it's all the better for that. Rather than overbearing power and aggressive visual add-ons, the RS7 relies on grace and elegance—and, granted, still a lot of power—to distinguish itself from the standard A7 and the middle-spec S7. It was a successful combination in the previous RS7, and we’d say it's equally compelling in the new second-generation model. Now that we know that the closely related RS6 Avant wagon is headed to America, we're almost starting to feel spoiled by Audi Sport.
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