Audi’s plan is to establish the Audi Sport division as a pure rival to Mercedes-Benz AMG’s brand and BMW’s M.
Almost daily I am asked, "Driven anything interesting lately?"
This year it's the 2014 Audi RS 7, a twin-turbo V-8 with joyously innovative quattro permanent all-wheel-drive grip. Audi's 560-horsepower performance flagship sedan – well, actually it's a four-door hatchback – is a lightweight design effortlessly capable of 0-100 km/h in less than four seconds.
Yet it's not some primal, punishing beast. Shifts of the eight-speed automatic gearbox, which you can do yourself via paddle shifters – are delightful. And you can live with this car in the most tiresome stop-and-go traffic over the worst quality roads, enjoying the delicious cabin, right down to the pop-up tweeters. Practical? There's space inside for four adults in a cabin that's roomier than key rivals such as Mercedes' CLS63 AMG, Aston Martin's Rapide, and BMW's M6 Gran Coupe.
And just in case you're worried this sexy beast won't last, Audi is the best European brand in the Consumer Reports reliability ranking.
The look here is familiar enough, but beautifully executed: long hood, flowing C pillars, a sharply sloping rear end set off by striking touches that include the Singleframe grille with the black honeycomb typical of RS models. A central front air inlet has "quattro" lettering, the headlights are programmable projector beams and, at the rear, is a power spoiler for higher-speed spins that put a Joker-like grin on your face.
The cabin is delightful. The front buckets are covered in soft leather, but are properly bolstered as they should be in a sporty car. Audi's Multi Media Interface isn't perfect, but it's the best of this sort of infotainment controller from any German car maker. The instrument cluster glows red and delivers plenty of information.
I have heard criticisms about the RS 7's high-speed track handling, that perhaps the power can overwhelm the chassis when you get near the edge. You'd need to be some driver to get there – or perhaps a very poor one.
Finally, note that the RS 7 joins an already wide range of RS Audis. The plan is to establish the Audi Sport division as a pure rival to Mercedes-Benz AMG's brand and BMW's M.
As Audi sales boss Luca de Meo said, "This is another step forward in our effort to become the leading premium car brand worldwide."
TECH SPECS
Base price: $115,000; as-tested: $140,100
Engine: 4.0-litre V-8, twin-turbo
Transmission/Drive: Eight-speed automatic/full-time all-wheel drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 13.7 city/7.8 highway, premium fuel
Alternatives: Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, Aston Martin Rapide, BMW M6 Gran Coupe
You'll Like This Car If: You want a sexy beast of a four-door car, one capable of amazing things on the road.
Ratings
Looks
Love the fundamentals, the long nose, the sloping roofline, the power rear spoiler, the 21-inch polished aluminum wheels mounted with performance rubber. The faux brake ducts and dual exhaust tips are disappointing, however.
Performance: This Audi will carve corners and eat up the autobahn with aplomb, yet the car won't pound you into tears when the pavement is crusty, rutted and unrefined.
Interior: This is among the most comfortable high-zoot automobiles in the world. The seats hold you tight in corners, yet are comfortable in traffic and covered in rich-feeling hide. Love those pop-up Bang & Olufsen tweeters, part of the $6,500 optional advanced sound system.
Technology: Audi's quattro all-wheel drive is a tidy bit of science and engineering and puts grip where you need it when you need it.
Cargo: Decent cargo space and it's easily accessed through the rear hatch.
The Verdict 9.0: Lots of power on top, and all that performance is wrapped in a lovely design.
If you have questions about driving or car maintenance, please contact our experts at globedrive@globeandmail.com.
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