OFFICIAL PHOTOS AND INFO
We dig the Audi A7 and S7 sedans for their beautiful looks and near perfect overall execution, but the real mindbender is the RS7. Packing an awesome 560-hp twin-turbo V-8, it recently took the top podium spot in a comparison test against the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG and the BMW M6 Gran Coupe. Just a few days ago, Audi released information and photos of the updated 2016 A7 and S7, but the RS7 was conspicuously absent. Apparently, the four-ringed brand felt that the beastliest member of the family served its own turn in the spotlight.
Like its lesser siblings, the RS7 gets new, sleeker LED headlamps and new taillights that abandon helix-decorated innards in favor of horizontal and diagonal bars. The new lights look more technical and contemporary, and they provide a visual link to the most recently unveiled Audi models, such as the third-generation TT. The upper corners of the grille have been clipped, as they were on the A7/S7, but the RS7’s front and rear fascias look essentially unaltered. But that’s because they’re still fairly fresh, as the über A7 was just launched last summer. The upshot: The RS7 remains the best-looking member of a pretty handsome family.
There are no changes to the RS7's powertrain, which is very much okay with us. This hatchbacked monster still features a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that cranks out 560 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque at 1750 rpm. (It will still deactivate cylinders under light load to increase fuel efficiency. How thoughtful.) Top speed is governed at 190 mph, and the sprint from 0 to 60 mph should take the same 3.4 seconds that we measured from the pre-refresh comparo car.Inside, the RS7 gets a few “discreetly revised” components, including the gauge cluster, the airflow controls for the vents, the paddle shifters, and the Quattro emblem on the instrument panel. Be glad we told you, because you likely wouldn’t notice otherwise. What you will be able to notice is the upgraded infotainment system, which is faster in operation and more capable than ever. It incorporates LTE-based connectivity and an optional improved night-vision system. Oh, and there are a few new colors and wood trim options.
That's supercar territory, and, again, we’re cool with everything in the engine room, but it’s a bit surprising that Audi didn’t bump output to the level of BMW's575-hp M5/M6 Competition Package and Mercedes’ 577-hp CLS63 AMG S-model.
The face-lifted RS7 will launch in Europe in the third quarter of 2014 and will arrive here in early 2015. Pricing should stay close to the current model, which starts at $105,795.
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