Brace yourselves

They’re on their way – the two fastest RS cars Audi Sport has ever produced. The RS 6 Avant at $216,000*and the RS 7 Sportback ($224,000*) are set to arrive in dealerships from July 24th, heralding in a new era of ultra high-performance in an area of the market the brand has very much made its own.

Both are powered by the awesome 4.0-litre twin-turbo TFSI V8, they each sport supercar performance, the 441kW and 800Nm of torque translating to a 0 to 100km/h sprint of just 3.6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 280km/h. Those hungry for even more performance can even dial that up a nothch with the addition of an RS Dynamic package plus with ceramic brakes and a raised 305km/h top speed.

More impressive still is the fact that both are full sized vehicles, the RS 6 Avant a large wagon and the RS 7 Sportback a five-door grand tourer – each boasting extraordinary room for up to five passengers and luggage alike.

“The idea of a high-performance sports car that is also refined and versatile enough for everyday driving is one that Audi has excelled in over the last 25 years,” says Paul Sansom, Managing Director if Audi Australia. 

Vehicles capable of these sorts of times and speeds – and with the handling and agility to match – are special enough, but the fact that the luggage capacity for the RS 6 and RS 7 is 565 and 535 litres respectively, with 1680 and 1390 litres available with the seats folded forward, they add a whole new dimension to the very idea of supercar.

There are no prizes for guessing at a glance that these are something special. The styling is aggressive but understated in the RS tradition and their low, powerful stance makes quite an impression on. 

Both vehicles are significantly wider than the models on which they are based, the RS 6 Avant growing 40mm each side while the RS 7 Sportback has grown an additional 20mm.

The wide Singleframe grille features a black gloss finish with the distinctive RS honeycomb insert, flanked by massive air inlets and standard HD Matrix headlights (with front and rear dynamic indicators) creating a strong, visual impression. Both feature Audi laser light technology which doubles the lighting range at speeds of over 70km/h.

Distinctive 22-inch Audi Sport alloy wheels are standard, housing the braking system comprising red 10-piston calipers clamping 420mm front discs and 370mm at the rear. For those wanting to really push on, an optional RS ceramic braking system is also available made up of 440mm discs and a choice of colour for the calipers (grey, red or blue).

Other exterior highlights include the black exterior styling package, panoramic glass sunroof and metallic paint, and of course inside each model is a beautifully crafted cabin upholstered in fine Nappa leather, with RS sport front seats swathed in Valcona leather with full electric adjustability, heating and lumber support. 

You can take items like the convenience key, electric tailgate, electric/heated/folding mirrors, privacy glass, power-assisted door closure and electric steering column adjustment as a given, and of course the standard of infotainment, connectivity and interior appointment is of the highest order.

Features such as the MMI navigation plus with MMI touch response (with dual touchscreens), Audi connect plus, Audi virtual cockpit, Audi smartphone interface with wireless Apple CarPlay, Audi phone box light wireless smartphone charging, DAB+ digital radio and a 705K Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system with 16 speakers are all standard kit.

Likewise a full suite of Audi driver assistance systems that includes everything from Adaptive cruise assist with Stop&Go and traffic jam assist to active lane assist and 360-degree cameras with kerb view – and that’s just the beginning. Not only that but both vehicles offer several equipment option packages with further interior customisation available, including a sensory package, the carbon and black styling package.

But it’s the stonking performance that really captivates and excites with these two. The 4.0-litre TFSI V8 engine with two twin-scroll turbochargers is a work of art. The aluminium crankcase weighs just 39.1 kg, while internals like the plasma-coated cylinder linings, variable intake and exhaust camshafts, twin high-pressure fuel pumps and a fully variable oil pump, represent the state-of-art in engine technology.

The massive 800Nm of torque kicks in from 2050 and is on tap until 4500rpm, dispatching the 0 to 100km/h in the aforementioned 3.6 seconds, while the 200km/h mark arrives in 12 seconds.

The engine also features Audi’s 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system, which can recover up to 12kW of power coasting or under light throttle. The start/stop system also draws on the 48v electrical system and functions at speeds up to 22km/h, providing potential fuel savings of up to 0.8 litres of fuel, per 100km. Add to that the cylinder on demand (COD) technology which shuts down half of the cylinders under light throttle load, and you have a supercar that utilises the very latest technology to minimise fuel usage when not under load. Of course the COD is so seamless the driver and passengers will not even be aware that one bank of cylinders have been shut down, nor is there the slightest lag in resurrecting them with a stab on the loud pedal.

Both vehicles use an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and of course power is delivered to the road via quattro all-wheel drive.

Under normal driving conditions, torque is distributed asymmetrically: 40:60, front to rear respectively, providing the perfect platform for dynamic handling with optimal traction. But up to 85 percent of engine torque can be directed to the rear wheels when required. The quattro sport differential can provide further adjustment, directing almost all of the rear axle’s torque to either wheel during particularly dynamic driving.

For the first time, the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback feature dynamic all-wheel steering forming part of the RS Dynamic package, which is now standard on all Australian vehicles. The new adaptive air suspension is also standard equipment, able to adjust ride height and the balance between suppleness and firmness depending on the driving conditions. Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), which diagonally links the car’s suspension hydraulically, can also be added as an option. 

All of these dynamic systems, the Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) and the standard RS sports exhaust, are integrated through the Audi Drive Select system, which features the new RS 1 and RS 2 modes that can be easily accessed and configured for specific high-performance settings.

These are incredible vehicles in every respect. It’s no surprise that their predecessors have been so highly prized amongst those seeking the highest levels of performance and luxury in the one package. Incredibly though, these new incarnations of both the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback take the whole equation up another gear, and that is nothing short of extraordinary and certainly something to look forward to.

(*Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)