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It’s been three long years and then some since I last drove an Audi RS 7, I don’t even have to dig through my personal records to find when it last was because I remember it so clearly. The 2017 RS 7 Performance was one of my favorite vehicles that I have ever tested, a luxurious and stylish touring car that doubled as an absolute rocketship.
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The RS 7 has been in hibernation the past couple years, most recently offered for 2018 with the A6 and A7 getting complete redesigns for the 2019 model year. This year, brought the S6 and S7 models to add some needed performance to the 2021 model lineup. Things get even more exciting with the arrival of the line-topping RS 7 and RS 6 Avant. The RS 7 will start at $114,995 (including a $995 destination charge), which for a pleasant surprise is only a $120 increase over the 2018 model.
The RS 7, unsurprisingly, shares its powertrain with the RS 6 Avant, with a bi-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 that in this application makes 591 horsepower and 590 pounds-feet of torque. That engine is hooked up to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and all-wheel drive, with a rear sport differential that can actively split torque between each of the rear wheels. This setup launches the RS 7 from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, an estimated figure that narrowly bests the 3.7-second figure from the 2018 model.
Other standard performance features include dynamic all-wheel steering, an RS adaptive air suspension with three modes, customizable RS1 and RS2 drive modes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The optional suspension adds Dynamic Ride Control, a system that is designed to offer pitch and roll compensation to keep the RS 7 more composed. This system was offered on the previous RS 7, as well, and I loved it in that application. Also available are a sport exhaust system and a set of ceramic brakes that increase the car’s top speed from 155 mph to 190 mph.
No mention yet of a Performance version of the RS 7 that Audi offered on the previous generation, though I would not be surprised to see one (or some other kind of special edition) to arrive within the next couple years.
The RS 7’s exterior styling is aggressive in places, but only offers subtle hints at the copious speed it’s capable of. Flared wheel arches add about an inch of width to both sides of the car — and though it looks similar to the A7 in profile, only the front doors, roof, tailgate and hood are shared between the two vehicles. The front grille is an RS-specific honeycomb design finished in gloss black, flanked by Matrix-LED laser headlights and a pair of oversized air inlets. The rear of the RS 7 is highlighted by a large diffuser, with a lip spoiler that deploys at speeds above 60 mph.
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Inside, RS sport seats get a honeycomb pattern, as well, and are wrapped in Valcona leather, with an “RS” logo embossed into the seat. The multimedia system offers specialized RS displays that relay pertinent information to the driver, such as tire pressure, torque and horsepower output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure and G-forces among other gauges. It will feature Audi’s dual-touchscreen center stack as well as the Audi Virtual Cockpit, swapping out traditional gauges for a 12.3-inch display behind the steering wheel.
No word yet from Audi on when the 2021 RS 7 will go on sale, but for me it can’t arrive soon enough. It’s a reunion I am very much looking forward to.
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 6, 2020, to reflect in the headline the correct model year of the 2021 RS 7.
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