2016 Audi RS 7

The 2016 Audi RS7 doesn’t beat too much around the bush and offers a simple choice when opting between trims. The RS7 is available in two trim options, namely, Prestige and Performance Prestige. Although completely identical inside and out, the Performance Prestige features a higher state of tune on the V8 motor which helps spit out even crazier numbers. The Audi RS7 starts at $108,900 with the Performance Prestige demanding a pretty premium and bumping up the price to $129,000.

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No matter how much cash you have at your disposal, we would advise you not to blow your money on the higher specced Performance Prestige as both the trims are completely identical. Walking into your nearest tuning shop would see you waltz past the Performance Prestige’s power output by shelling out maybe a grand or so which is significantly cheaper than what Audi seems to demand!

It wouldn’t be a surprise that Audi employs a 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 under the hood of the 2016 RS7 that generates a mind-numbing 560 hp and 516 lb-ft. of torque. The moment you lose restraint on your right foot, the RS7 is catapulted forward like a torpedo, and boy does the thing fly! The sheer amount of refinement on offer doesn’t even let you realize how fast one is moving which is just something to experience. 

The 8-speed automatic gearbox that is mated to this engine delivers smooth and precise shifts making the acceleration appear seamless. Even when just piloting the Prestige RS7, one never bothers to question whether this car needs more power, yet Audi seems to believe that there are some maniacs out there that would want to be behind the wheel of the Performance Prestige that puts out 605 hp instead!

With a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, the Audi RS7 manages to be the front dog amongst its peers. Even though the CLS 63 AMG is the most powerful of the lot, it is the Audi that puts in the fastest acceleration figures as well as the fastest quarter-mile times. It is genuinely no surprise as the Audi feels the most raucous to be behind the wheel even though all the vehicles in question here are amazing to pilot! But if you have money to burn then opt for the Panamera Turbo S variant which pushes the power figures even higher.

For a vehicle that was designed to melt your face off without scaring away your office colleagues, the 2016 Audi RS 7 manages some reasonable efficiency figures especially with a big ol’ V8 under the hood. With EPA estimates of 15 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, the RS7 proves to be rather reasonable with fuel if you aren’t going ham on the throttle!

The Porsche Panamera Turbo is definitely the most fuel-efficient of the lot as it not only pulls in the highest EPA estimates but also the highest range estimates as it tacks on the largest fuel tank amongst all of its fellow peers in question. The BMW M6 Gran Coupe surprisingly ranks in last which isn’t commonplace for a BMW especially since they are routinely one of the more fuel-efficient German Vehicles.

We have said before and we will say it again, the Germans, especially Audi, know how to do interiors exquisitely well, period. The moment you swing open the frameless doors of the RS7, you are greeted with an opulent cabin that is bathed in top-quality materials such as leather, metal, and wood. One would be hard-pressed to find hard plastic bits of any sort and even if you do manage to find one, it would be reserved for places so deep in the abyss that you wouldn’t bother to look again.

The seats on offer are fantastic, to say the least as they offer stupendous comfort and spot-on support. It is tough to strike the perfect balance between the two but with the 2016 Audi RS7, we believe Audi has hit it right on the money. The RS7 badging on the seats and steering wheel serve as a reminder to you that you aren’t in any ordinary Deutsch mobile and the comfort of the cabin makes you question if the RS7 is a sports car with luxury on the inside or a luxury car with a bonkers engine under the hood.

The notchback design of the Audi RS7 lends it to the most usable cargo space and the difference between the cargo capacities is rather massive. Yes, all the vehicles that are up for debate do offer some great cargo solutions but for a four-door four-passenger vehicle, the Audi does offer fuss-free cargo space which would come in handy when going on your next uphill trip. Standout interior features:

• RS-specific carbon-fiber inlays and aluminum pedals
• Ambient LED lighting
• Power Adjustable sports-style seats
• Optional Comfort Seating package offers massaging seats
• Heated Front Seats
• Valcona leather seating with honeycomb stitching
• Moonroof
• Push Button Start
• Dual Zone Climate Control

How intuitive is the 2016 Audi RS7’s infotainment unit?

The 2016 Audi RS7 features the famed Audi MMI system that lacks a touch screen but does feature a stow-away 8-inch display. Although we do believe that the MMI interface isn’t as great as iDrive when it comes to operation with a controller, it is still one of the better systems on the market.

The 14 speaker Bose audio system that the RS7 comes standard with is a system to be heard as it has amazing audio separation and a wide soundstage. It arguably delivers the best sound signature in its class and is worthy of the best audio setup tag in its segment. Standout infotainment features:

• 8 Inch Foldable Display
• USB Connection
• 14-Speaker Bose Sound System
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• Audi MMI System
• Smart Device Integration
• WiFi Hotspot

The silhouette of the Audi RS7 features the iconic swooping roofline that is an integral part of A7, S7, and RS7. The overall exterior of the 2016 Audi RS7 makes it look extremely butch and the wide track and stance of the RS7 might be one of the only giveaways of its actual intention.

With the few minor cosmetic tweaks that are featured in 2016 MY, the revised bumper styling and updated light design breathe in a ton of fresh air into the already relevant design. The 21-inch alloy wheels look extremely purposeful when viewed especially from the three-quarters angle.

The Audi RS7 is undoubtedly one of the nicer vehicles to look at in the segment, but to give credit where credit is due, we do believe that the Mercedes-Benz CLS has an extremely timeless design as well. Yes, if we were to pick out our favorite of the bunch we would definitely rally towards the Audi RS7, but the CLS, as well as the M6, are stunning-looking vehicles by themselves. The Porsche on the other hand has a love it or hate it kind of design and the bulbous proportions that it offers right now aren’t very befitting of its athletic abilities. Standout exterior features:

• Headlights with LED and darkened-trim designs
• Giant rear exhaust outlets
• Powered Moonroof
• Standard 21-inch titanium-finish wheels
• Retractable rear spoiler
• Optional Carbon Optics package
• Aggressively raked roofline

Being an Audi, the RS7 comes with a healthy list of active safety features onboard and is also one of the safest vehicles in its segment. Although the NHTSA and IIHS haven’t crash-tested the RS7 since they expect it to be a low volume product, one can rest assured that Audi has cut no corners when it comes to loading this particular vehicle with some of the best active safety features that are available on the market right now. Some Notable Safety Features are as follows:

• Blind Spot Monitoring
• Cross-Traffic Alert
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Centring Assist
• Adaptive Cruise Control

The Audi RS7 serves to be one of the hottest vehicles in its segment and is arguably pretty much the definition of an unsuspecting sleeper. Yes, the 20-inch wheels and humongous exhaust pipes in the rear do serve to be a dead giveaway to anything but a casual eye, even then the RS7 is definitely worthy of the stealth mobile tag. The RS7 is definitely no entry-level pocket rocket from Audi and demands a considerable premium for all of its abilities, but we do believe that the RS7 is a fantastic machine to pilot and the 4.0 L V8 that is its heart is an aural sensation that is becoming rarer in the market.