There are some things which, no matter how much you want them, don't happen too often, if not often enough. There are also some things which happen so fast that you wonder if someone answered your prayers or there's some darker, supernatural stuff at work. Most of the time, it's usually coincidence and advanced engineering simply working together. How, then, would you explain something like this – the Audi RS 7?
The Audi A7 came about as a result of a burgeoning yet untapped four-door coupé segment. More powerful engines were inevitable, and with downsizing already on everyone's top-10 list, if not done and dusted, the big twin-turbo V8, or rather, the smaller (compared to a twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12) twin-turbo V8 from the Bentley Continental GT made its appearance in a 420-PS guise in the S7. But Audi didn't stop just there. Boost was upped and the engine was given steroids to turn the already manic wolf into a rabid wolverine. Enter the RS 7 – the unification of matte-grey, carbon-fibre, alcantara, 560 PS and hell's bellows.
Get inside the RS 7, and the finely crafted elements and layout catch your gaze immediately. The play of dark fabric headliner, almost-black leather and alcantara leather seats, carbon-fibre inlays and dashes of aluminium make for a cabin that is extremely classy and elegant, but just as hardcore sport as you can get without having paper-thin paint on exposed welds. The media equipment list is extensive. The excellent Bang & Olufsen surround sound system delivers theatre-class audio. There's a big high-resolution LCD screen, radio, sat-nav, reverse camera, an optical disc player, two SD-card slots and another connector I didn't recognise for a device I don't have. There isn't a USB port, although Bluetooth does take care of a lot
The leather and alcantara seats are extremely comfortable and quite snug. They hold you in place well and let you exploit the potential of the car around the corners. There's no active or adjustable bolster support, but it's not really missed. The RS steering wheel feels good to hold and is actually very light. The air suspension ensures the ride quality is sublime, even with those low-profile tyres. Even in the rear, being a six-footer, I was quite comfortable save for a minor portion of the top of my head touching the rear headliner. If you need a 2+2 family car with a performance edge, this is surely the way to go. Front or rear, it doesn't make you feel like getting out once you're in there.
With more power comes the hankering for more power. Not quite so with the RS 7 Sportback. A big 4.0-litre twin-turbo FSI V8 engine is more than enough. It makes 560 PS between 5,700 and 6,600 RPM with a hefty 700 Nm of torque coming in from 1,750 to 5,000 revs. It also features cylinder management, running on four cylinders when required. There's no sudden build-up, it's all progressive. The power flows to the quattro all-wheel-drive system through a new eight-speed automatic transmission and self-locking centre differential. The RS 7 just handles it. It can, all of it, with aplomb. It makes you push. It coaxes you to try your limits. It makes you want more of the road, and it lays the rubber down when you go all out and try and hit the apex. The Audi DriveSelect modes help tailor the package further.
What matte-grey, twin-turbo V8 sports car would not want to have an aggressive stance. The RS 7, with its dark theme, big 21-inch wheels and low-profile rubber and even bigger black front grille with a 'quattro' emblazoned lower air-dam completes the menacing look. The 4.0-litre TFSI V8 starts up with a subtle low-frequency burble. Get on the move and it stealthily picks up speed effortlessly. Hit 2,000 revs and the turbochargers spool up, emanating the sound of jet turbines gathering thrust. The awe of that lasts until 3,000 RPM when your mind begins to focus on the bellows beginning to warm up. As you approach and cross 5,000 revs, the engine goes on song. The rude braps from the quad tail-pipes cause tingles that crack a wider grin with each expulsion of carbon dioxide! Step on it, and the burble and bellowing peak with a crackle and pop with 100 km/h taking just over four seconds. The red-line is 6,600 and you really don't want to cross that threshold for your own good.
Yes, it's an Audi, but it's like few other Audis. A dark fastback with piercing all-LED eyes and subtle red LED rear signature on the move isn't something anyone comes across too often. Then there's the RS badge which makes you smile on the inside, knowing you don't need any better. It's limited to 250 km/h, but with Dynamic Package Plus, that is raised to 305 km/h. Coming to efficiency, the RS 7 delivered four kilometres to the litre in the city and seven on the highway; not bad for a four-wheel drive, two-tonne V8 2+2 sports car. Oh, it also costs Rs 1.29 crore plus tax!
There is nothing I would change about the RS 7. Yes, it's very tempting. Yes, it's very practical too, and, dare I say it, you can use it every day. It's a cheetah in panther's clothing and it has the will and the heart as well. It is aimed at a specific market, and given what it brings, you just can't go wrong!
There is nothing I would change about the RS 7. Yes, it's very tempting. Yes, it's very practical too, and, dare I say it, you can use it every day. It's a cheetah in panther's clothing and it has the will and the heart as well. It is aimed at a specific market, and given what it brings, you just can't go wrong!
The Audi A7 came about as a result of a burgeoning yet untapped four-door coupé segment. More powerful engines were inevitable, and with downsizing already on everyone's top-10 list, if not done and dusted, the big twin-turbo V8, or rather, the smaller (compared to a twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12) twin-turbo V8 from the Bentley Continental GT made its appearance in a 420-PS guise in the S7. But Audi didn't stop just there. Boost was upped and the engine was given steroids to turn the already manic wolf into a rabid wolverine. Enter the RS 7 – the unification of matte-grey, carbon-fibre, alcantara, 560 PS and hell's bellows.
Get inside the RS 7, and the finely crafted elements and layout catch your gaze immediately. The play of dark fabric headliner, almost-black leather and alcantara leather seats, carbon-fibre inlays and dashes of aluminium make for a cabin that is extremely classy and elegant, but just as hardcore sport as you can get without having paper-thin paint on exposed welds. The media equipment list is extensive. The excellent Bang & Olufsen surround sound system delivers theatre-class audio. There's a big high-resolution LCD screen, radio, sat-nav, reverse camera, an optical disc player, two SD-card slots and another connector I didn't recognise for a device I don't have. There isn't a USB port, although Bluetooth does take care of a lot
The leather and alcantara seats are extremely comfortable and quite snug. They hold you in place well and let you exploit the potential of the car around the corners. There's no active or adjustable bolster support, but it's not really missed. The RS steering wheel feels good to hold and is actually very light. The air suspension ensures the ride quality is sublime, even with those low-profile tyres. Even in the rear, being a six-footer, I was quite comfortable save for a minor portion of the top of my head touching the rear headliner. If you need a 2+2 family car with a performance edge, this is surely the way to go. Front or rear, it doesn't make you feel like getting out once you're in there.
With more power comes the hankering for more power. Not quite so with the RS 7 Sportback. A big 4.0-litre twin-turbo FSI V8 engine is more than enough. It makes 560 PS between 5,700 and 6,600 RPM with a hefty 700 Nm of torque coming in from 1,750 to 5,000 revs. It also features cylinder management, running on four cylinders when required. There's no sudden build-up, it's all progressive. The power flows to the quattro all-wheel-drive system through a new eight-speed automatic transmission and self-locking centre differential. The RS 7 just handles it. It can, all of it, with aplomb. It makes you push. It coaxes you to try your limits. It makes you want more of the road, and it lays the rubber down when you go all out and try and hit the apex. The Audi DriveSelect modes help tailor the package further.
What matte-grey, twin-turbo V8 sports car would not want to have an aggressive stance. The RS 7, with its dark theme, big 21-inch wheels and low-profile rubber and even bigger black front grille with a 'quattro' emblazoned lower air-dam completes the menacing look. The 4.0-litre TFSI V8 starts up with a subtle low-frequency burble. Get on the move and it stealthily picks up speed effortlessly. Hit 2,000 revs and the turbochargers spool up, emanating the sound of jet turbines gathering thrust. The awe of that lasts until 3,000 RPM when your mind begins to focus on the bellows beginning to warm up. As you approach and cross 5,000 revs, the engine goes on song. The rude braps from the quad tail-pipes cause tingles that crack a wider grin with each expulsion of carbon dioxide! Step on it, and the burble and bellowing peak with a crackle and pop with 100 km/h taking just over four seconds. The red-line is 6,600 and you really don't want to cross that threshold for your own good.
Yes, it's an Audi, but it's like few other Audis. A dark fastback with piercing all-LED eyes and subtle red LED rear signature on the move isn't something anyone comes across too often. Then there's the RS badge which makes you smile on the inside, knowing you don't need any better. It's limited to 250 km/h, but with Dynamic Package Plus, that is raised to 305 km/h. Coming to efficiency, the RS 7 delivered four kilometres to the litre in the city and seven on the highway; not bad for a four-wheel drive, two-tonne V8 2+2 sports car. Oh, it also costs Rs 1.29 crore plus tax!
There is nothing I would change about the RS 7. Yes, it's very tempting. Yes, it's very practical too, and, dare I say it, you can use it every day. It's a cheetah in panther's clothing and it has the will and the heart as well. It is aimed at a specific market, and given what it brings, you just can't go wrong!
There is nothing I would change about the RS 7. Yes, it's very tempting. Yes, it's very practical too, and, dare I say it, you can use it every day. It's a cheetah in panther's clothing and it has the will and the heart as well. It is aimed at a specific market, and given what it brings, you just can't go wrong!
Price: 1.29 crore + taxes
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for posting a comment