2014 Audi RS 7

The 2014 Audi RS 7 is available as a standalone trim. The single trim itself is well-equipped and feature-rich, offering most of the compelling features as standard which include the adaptive air suspension and 20-inch wheels. The symphony resonates with the BOSE Surround Sound System inside the cabin. The feel and touch are bestowed with Valcona leather seats, among which the front ones have RS 7 imprinted. Moreover, it is surrounded by an array of sensors like the front and rear parking sensors.

The RS 7 is expensive and is within a reach of a few because of multiple reasons, one among them being the tech-artillery of safety assurance with the Rear Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Blind-Spot Monitor. The powertrain gives you a real push with its G-Force but is also considerate for saving fuel when not required with its Cylinder-Deactivation Technology. The MMI Navigation and Audi Connect have also been embedded into it.

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The 2014 Audi RS 7 comes as a single trim, which means you are not to get confused. However, buyers shall opt from several optional packages like the Driver Assistance Package, Innovation Package, Comfort Seating Package, Cold Weather Package, and Optic Package for an enhanced experience, and that will hardly impact your budget if you can afford the base price. Well in the era where V8 is observing its spatial freedom getting squeezed, getting that vibration and sound are themselves a motivation for some.

The 2014 Audi RS 7 is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0 TFSI V8 engine churning out 560 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It is also equipped with Cylinder-Deactivation Technology. The engine powers the Quattro all-wheel drivetrain via an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission unit. The powertrain-drivetrain coupling let the RS 7 sprint to 60 MPH within 3.7 seconds, which is clearly the fastest acceleration figure in the competition. However, the quarter-mile is completed in 12.3 seconds.

Audi RS 7 is the fastest in the segment to accelerate, followed by the Bimmer and Benz. However, the AMG CLS 63 turned out the figures in the quarter-mile race, dragging the rest of the rivals behind it. As far as top speed is concerned, the M6 Gran Coupe comes into action and outclasses all with 195 mph on the reading scale. The impressive yet least dominant among them is the Jaguar XFR-S.

The 2014 RS 7 returns 16 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on highways, and 19 MPG combined. It gets a 19.8-gallon fuel tank, letting you go 317 miles and 535 miles respectively with a full capacity. The engine is somewhat thirsty and inefficient, especially in traffic. Moreover, the cylinder deactivation aids in improving the figures to some extent, but this is of relatively lower importance as per this segment's purpose. 

The 2014 Audi RS 7 is more fuel-efficient than the rest of the rivals and also offers a better range. Others like the M6 and XFR-S lag behind it by some 100 miles at the max, which is quite a lot. The CLS 63 ranks in the middle with all figures being neither too impressive nor too dull at the same time. But as it has been mentioned, this specific department should not affect your bull mentality towards any one of them.

The interior of every Audi has mesmerized the eyes of viewers. There has hardly ever been an Audi that has lacked in this domain. The 2014 RS 7 follows the same path as that of its predecessors and gets enriched with the Valcona leatherette with an impression of RS 7 on the front seats. One has power-flexing and heating assist to get herself/himself at ease in the honeycomb quilting positioned seating. The ironic duo of the Voice Activated Dual Zone Front And Rear Automatic Air Conditioning and Residual Heat Recirculation is also there at your disposal.

The figures clearly show that the BMW M6 Gran Coupe gets the best-in-class headroom for the front and rear seats. However, all the rivals offer similar spacing figures on the whole when taken into comparison. Apart from that, the RS 7 gets the best cargo space, while others lack the facility by at least 8 cu-ft. In terms of seating capacity, the M6 Gran Coupe and XFR-S are superior ones with 5 in a go, while the other two have 4 each, but it is important to note that the arrangement of 5 would not be desirable at all in any one of them. Salient interior features include:

• Valcona Leather seats
• 3-spoke perforated multi-function sport steering wheel
• RS-specific shift knob and interior door handles
• Heating, Ventilating and Memory function

How intuitive is the 2014 Audi RS 7’s infotainment unit?

Coming to the infotainment department, the 2014 Audi RS 7 gets an 8-inch display screen with standard features like the CD player, HD Satellite radio, iPod interface, Bluetooth connectivity, and voice controls. The musical playlist can be intensified with the standard 14-speaker Bose audio sound system which can be upgraded to the 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen Surround-Sound audio system. It does get a Navigation unit and Audi Connect along with SiriusXM Traffic information in its bin. Standout infotainment features include:

• 8-inch infotainment screen
• 14-speaker Bose audio sound system
• Optional 15-speaker Bang & Olufsen Surround-Sound audio system
• Wi-Fi connectivity up to 8 devices
• Navigation System

The 2014 RS 7 can doubtlessly be titled as the epitome of aesthetic design. There is no pothole in its design approach. The matte aluminum finish on the grilles on a dark background and that too with sleek LED headlights give it the aggressive personification throughout its fascia. The 20" Forged 7-Twin Spoke wheels look muscular with the stamped fender from the side view. The Audi badging itself looks contrasting in the center of the front. The rear gets an active spoiler that keeps adjusting as per driving maneuvering in conjunction with the dual stainless steel exhaust.

The RS 7 is the longest among the rest after the Bimmer and has the highest ground clearance, which allows for better airflow management. The dimensions are well-proportioned, and the vehicle is well-weighted to ensure efficiency and performance without any compromise in the handling characteristics. The others in the segment have somewhat the same storyline, and hence, all of them can be rated exemplary in their own senses. Standout exterior features include:

• Full LED exterior lighting
• Adaptive Air Suspension
• Singleframe front grille with honeycomb grille inserts
• RS-specific oval exhaust tips
• Sunroof

Audi has always been keen on ensuring that the passengers are kept safe inside their vehicles. Thus, the RS 7 offers a long list of active and passive safety features, including several driver-assistance features. The vehicle gets parking sensors on the front and rear along with a rear-view camera. A long list of features includes a blind-spot warning system, lane-departure warning system, lane-keep assist, and many more. Optional features include Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control. The cabin insulation and structural integrity have also been restored for maximum assurance, but they have not been tested by the NHTSA and IIHS yet simply because of their cost sheet. Salient safety features include:

• Front and Rear Parking Sensors
• Rear-view camera
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-Keeping Assist
• Night Vision with Pedestrian detection
• Adaptive Cruise Control

The 2014 Audi RS 7 is one of the most powerful and premium vehicles in the segment with immense quality and performance figures. With up-class overall performance and brisk acceleration figures, the vehicle packs everything a buyer would demand in the specified segment within competitive pricing. With the most advanced tech inside, best-in-class cargo capacity, and practical engineering, the RS 7 is a viable choice for any buyer.