It was about time for me to get behind the wheel of something more visceral that stimulated the senses

Car Reviewed: Audi RS 7 Sportback Performance Carbon Black

I seemed to have been driving electric vehicles for aeons. The performance of the Audi RS 7 Sportback was now my focus.

The most recent RS 7 is quicker and more powerful than any previous model to date, and it comes loaded with accessories that give the car a more aggressive look and a more engaging ride. The powerful 4.0-liter V8 biturbo TFSI engine can now produce 621 horsepower and 850 Newton-meters of torque. There is no need for any additional power at all.

As a result, the RS 7 achieves supercar acceleration, going from 0 to 62 mph in under 3.4 seconds. An eight-speed automatic transmission transfers power from the engine to all four wheels; the rear axle can get up to 85% of that power.

Audi has minimised the insulation between the engine compartment, the interior, and the back of the vehicle to help save weight. As a result, the V8’s full-throated roar is even more vocal, an experience that electric car competitors cannot match. Squeezing the accelerator or dropping a gear always puts a grin on your face.

The four-door coupe can reach a top speed of 174 mph with the optional RS Dynamic Package from Audi, which also includes all-wheel steering and a quattro performance differential in the back. Thanks to the traction, all that power is never distributed in an unorganised manner. Regarding traction, handling, and confidence in the wheel, the RS 7 is unrivalled. The carbon ceramic brakes, an optional £9,200 accessory, provided my vehicle with superior stopping capability.

Manoeuvring becomes a breeze with the four-wheel steering. Surprisingly smooth for a vehicle of its size, weight, and power, it handles multi-story parking garages with the same ease as it does motorway cruising. An additional £1,300 RS Sports Suspension Plus was installed on my vehicle; it swaps out the regular air suspension for a system of diagonally interconnected coil springs. While you’re out in the country, you’ll feel sharp, taut body control and a firm but controlled ride around town.

A 621-horsepower, two-tonne coupe will obviously not have the best fuel economy. Even if it says 22.8mpg, you’ll get significantly less if you give in to the temptation to rev up the V8.

Along with the gloss black RS sport exhaust, Audi rings, and emblems, the external style package in matte grey is now standard as well. An Alcantara flat-bottom steering wheel and the RS design package in red, blue, or grey are now standard features.

Reaching new heights of performance, Lightweight 22-inch wheels in matte black are part of the Carbon Black package, together with high-performance Continental Sport Contact tyres, matte carbon accents, and Dinamica upholstery.

Everything within the Audi is of the highest quality, as one would anticipate; the craftsmanship is exquisite. A tall front passenger will have plenty of room to stretch their legs comfortably and headroom is good. Two tall adults in the rear will have plenty of space to stretch out in, even if it has a Sportback style. Three grown-ups riding shotgun in the back will struggle to find a comfortable position.

A 12.3-inch screen, rather than analogue dials, replaces them in the standard equipment of the RS 7 with Audi’s virtual cockpit. In manual transmission mode, one of the new additions is a flashing shift indicator that, similar to what you’d see in motorsport, changes the colour of the rpm display from green to yellow to red to show when it’s the best time to swap gears. Using updated traffic light indicators, Launch Control makes the most of the RS 7’s acceleration capabilities by indicating when it’s time to accelerate off the line.

The infotainment screens are located in the centre of the dashboard. The upper one is 10.1 inches and has functions like radio, navigation, and smartphone connections. Another 8.6-inch touchscreen, this one for climate control and other handy functions, sits just below it. Throughout the range, wireless phone charging is the norm.

Upgrades to the base performance model include a Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System with 3D sound, a Head-up Display, 360-degree cameras, 22-inch alloys in matte grey, a Park Assist Pack with park assist plus, and more. Staying on a high beam without blinding other drivers is also possible with the super-bright adaptive matrix LED headlights.

There is 523 litres of luggage capacity thanks to the standard power-operated wide-opening tailgate, and that number can be raised to 1,382 litres by folding the back seats, which are likewise 40/20/40 split.

Author Rating 4/5

★★★★★

Car Reviewed: Audi RS 7 Sportback Performance

on the road price with options as tested £122,175

0-62mph 3.4secs
Top speed 174mph
Mechanical 3,996cc, 8-cylinder, twin turbo
Fuel Economy 23.28mpg
Max Power 630PS
Torque 850Nm
Dimensions MM 5009 L/1950 W/1424 H
CO2 emissions 276g/km
Transmission 8-speed automatic Quattro AWD
Bootspace 535 / 1390 1itres (seats folded)

Steve Grant

Motoring Journalist

One of the West Country’s leading motoring writers, Steve Grant has been working as a senior news journalist for nearly 30 years, and has been News & Motoring Editor of the Western Morning News, Chief Reporter of Bristol Evening Post, and held the posts of Business Editor and Local Government Correspondent at the Evening Herald, Plymouth.

Currently secretary of the Western Group of Motoring Writers. Steve’s been a committed petrolhead since he was a small boy, constantly pestering local dealerships for posters, brochures and anything else car-related.