2014 Audi RS7 Test Drive Score Sheet

The matte finish of this hyper Audi may ensure that it stays under the radar, but then so does a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft. Let’s just say that this Audi is brimming with virtually as much tech…

With the RS7, Audi appears to be truly living up to its tag line – Vorsprung Durch Technik, or Advancement through Technology.

There are those who argue that the automobile hasn’t moved on much since Karl Benz’s invention in the late nineteenth century. But those folks should take a drive in the Audi RS7 to see just how far we’ve come.

Being an Audi, of course, the interior is impeccable. The alcantara seats hold you firmly in place. And they need to, because this is one of the fastest cars here – with a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that churns out 553 horses, which propels this stealth rocket ship to 100km/h in under 4 seconds. And it certainly feels every bit as fast when you get out on track. Hit the gas in a straight line, and it sucks you into the seat and shoots you towards the horizon. It really is very, very fast. Get to a corner, and the electronics take control in an effort to ensure that the RS7 defies the laws of physics.

And they do succeed. Well, almost! If you let the electronics work for you, driving the RS7 can be a very rewarding experience. But when you start to really get on it, it tends to pull, push, and tug in the middle of corners – all at the same time. The clever electronic differential that controls the Quattro all-wheel drive system appears to be working a little too hard to get this car to dance. But if you don’t fight it, the electronics will tuck the nose in on corner entry and then allow you to get on the power with impunity as it pulls you through the corner at light-speed.

The lap time, however, was a little slower than we expected. The steering feel is vague at best, and the electronics just don’t allow you to get into a rhythm. It just seems like the engine is too hot to handle. Plus, the brakes on our test car weren’t perfect, and that affected the performance. On the whole though, the RS7 is an incredible technological achievement. The drivetrain is stupendously good.

So, if you want a Q car that has supercar performance in a svelte, but subtle, body – this is clearly the car for you.

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