The world of super-fast sedans has been mostly dominated by the three big German names, Audi, Mercedes, and BMW. The 2016 Audi RS7 is here to continue that tradition with minor updates that bring it even closer to perfection. It’s not a major facelift but rather small upgrades here and there, most similar to those found on the normal A7 and the S7. Considering the fact that the RS7 has always been the first to get updated among the German group it’s no surprise that it only gets small improvements just to freshen it up.
2016 Audi RS7 Review
The front of the car remains largely the same, with the exception of new headlights that are almost the same on the A7 and S7. That’s by no means a bad thing, considering how mean looking the 2016 Audi RS7 is, but it would be nice to have a bit more distinction from the less expensive prepositions of the A7.
The back of the car follows the same story because only the headlights have been really changed to a noticeable amount. This luxury car is just as good looking as it has ever been, but with the new headlights it just looks sharper. Standard 20 or optional 21-inch wheels contribute to the aggressive look too. Overall, it’s understated aggression, just the right amount.
Interior
Inside it’s business as usual. All of the fit and finish that we’ve come to expect from Audi is here. Seats are very comfortable, extremely supportive and are electronically adjustable. The dash and everything else, including the floor and roof, is super soft to the touch and immediately show off its high-quality. It’s a place where you would easily be capable of relaxing, even on long journeys. It’s a cabin that you just enjoy and can’t wait to get into.
Technology bits and pieces are carried over from the last facelifted version, but now there’s even more of it. We are getting one much bigger driver-information display that now has Google Earth for your convenience and is located right in the middle of the instrument panel. All of the graphic features on the displays throughout the car are improved and every infotainment system now works in conjunction with each other.
The telematics is upgraded too, and LTE communications are used as standard whenever available. Driving it at night has been made even easier with the improved night-vision display that is now better both in terms of camera quality and screen resolution. As a result, safety has been pushed to a much higher level.
Performance
All of that is great and is expected in such a vehicle, but if we’re honest you don’t need the 2016 Audi RS7 if you just want the luxury and technology, even the A7 can provide that. The reason you really lust after the RS7 is its insane performance.
Performance that comes from the same 4.0 liter V8, producing a monumental 560 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It’s usable torque as well, coming online from just 1750 rpm and holding on nearly until the car’s redline at 5500 rpm. It’s not just fast for a sedan, it is fast, full stop. If this is not enough, you can opt for the Prestige trim that utilizes the same engine but this time with 605 hp.
There’s no shortage of straight line performance thanks to that monstrous engine. The 0-62 mph run is completed in a supercar beating 3.9 seconds and given a long straightaway the RS7 will run to a top speed of 190 miles per hour. In a car that’s as big as the RS7, that’s nothing short of mind-blowing. The U.S. version will likely be limited to “just” 174 miles per hour, however. Realistically, you’re never going to drive it at those speeds, but it’s good to know it can do them.
Another positive side effect of that V8 is the beautiful noise it produces. Just starting it up you can hear it burbling away. It’s by no means annoying or too loud. Shifting through the gears you get a satisfying pop with each upshift while every lift-off generates crackles. The sound of the intake, exhaust and combustion noises suggest this engine would actually spit out flames if it weren’t for the restrictions in place preventing it from doing so.
All of that fury is connected to a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox instead of the dual-clutch like in the S7. While some might consider this to be a bad thing, considering the price and performance of the RS7 over the S7, the reality is the ZF gearbox is really good and everyone has had nothing but good comments about it. It’s more than smooth enough for the RS7, and you’ll hardly be able to notice a difference over the dual-clutch gearbox.
Suspension wise the car still retains the same setup as before. The rear differential still features torque-vectoring that makes the car extremely maneuverable and agile, but at times maybe too much, giving the car a fake, artificial impression. It does a great job of absorbing all of the bumps and road imperfections and has great body control, but push it too much and you notice the heavy mass of the car as it starts going into understeer.
The understeer isn’t as bad as you might think, especially compared to Audi cars of previous generations, but it really shows the car’s mass. The 2016 Audi RS7 weighs in at 4453 pounds and that’s heavier than the M6 Gran Coupe and the CLS63 AMG. It’s almost always been heavier than its German counterparts. Audi, consider putting it on a diet and shaving some weight off of it. It would greatly improve performance and handling on an already amazing car.
MPG is claimed to be 25, but that’s optimistic in our book. Realistic 20 mpg are possible if you’re not hoofing the gas, but beware, it can drop in the single-digit numbers. While most people who can afford to own one don’t even care, be warned that if you go in expecting 20+ mpg, you’re not going to get them.
Price
If you’re still tempted by the proposition, shell out $107,000 and it’s yours. Well, the basic model is anyway. Add a couple of options and the price skyrockets to over $130,000 easily. The RS7 Dynamic package is a good investment. It has sports-tuned suspension and a performance exhaust system. All in all, a good buy for anyone who decides to get one, certainly Quattro GmbH’s best product to date.
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