Audi RS7 Sportback Performance

There are fast cars and very fast cars. And when the word “Performance” is added on to them, well they sprint like nobody’s business. The Performance version of the Audi RS 7 Sportback is no different. This is a more powerful variant of the RS 7 which in a way is Audi’s way of telling the BMW Ms and the Mercedes-Benz AMGs that its arsenal is loaded too. Audi has squeezed in a lot more horses in Performance version from 560 in the Sportback to as many as 605 in this!

Though the engine produces the same 700Nm of torque, it now gets an overboost function which enables the driver with another 50Nm for a temporary period. The overboost helps the engine to belt out a total of 750Nm from 2500-7500rpm, while peak power of 605hp comes in at 6100rpm and lasts till 6800 revs.

The moment you press the start button, the 4 -litre V 8 turbocharged petrol engine roars to life and you can feel the horses inside tugging ferociously at their reins to let go. A gentle tap of the accelerator make the twin exhausts scream out to signal the beginning of a great drive. I shift the gear to “Drive” mode and floor the accelerator pedal. I can feel the mighty G forces pushing me back into my seat almost forcefully. And then all you can see is the car gobbling the road ahead with ferocious tenacity.

The Audi RS 7 Sportback Performance is a dynamo with impeccable manners.  It does a 0-100kmph in 3.7 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 305kmph. To get the real top speed of 305kmph one needs to purchase Audi's Dynamic Plus package. Not to forget an unused airstrip to test its top speed too!

The RS 7 Sportback Performance also gets Audi's trademark Quattro setup. This car is well-behaved and even when you put it though a corner at high speed it will not bring its tail out. A 4-corner adaptive air suspension caters to a very seamless ride experience which is complimented by a smart damping control setup. The engine has also been mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox which is silky smooth.

Audi has added its Cylinder On Demand (COD) to the RS 7 Sportback Performance. When needed all 8 cylinders of the engine run at optimum performance. However, while in the city or driving casually, the COD will utilise only 4 cylinders. This improves fuel efficiency, but not the way commuter cars do. This car gives you just about 10.56km per litre of petrol. And the more you floor the accelerator indiscriminately, the worse the fuel average!

Almost everything on the interior and exterior remains more or less the same when compared to the RS 7 Sportback. But the steering now gets the addition of a toggle for drive modes (Auto, Comfort, Dynamic  and Individual) while on the outside only 21 inch rims are available unlike the 20's optional on the standard version.

The Performance version of the Audi RS 7 Sportback is more of a bold statement from Audi to take on the performance cars from the stables of its competitors. With so much power stacked so brilliantly inside its engine, the RS 7 Sportback Performance is the right Bazooka for peace times!