0-62mph in
just 3.9 seconds and 189mph top speed earn executive class Sportback the right
to wear the world renowned RS badge
·
New RS 7 Sportback makes its debut at the North American
International Automobile Show (Jan 14-27)
·
Available to order in the UK in the summer priced at
approximately £84,000 OTR – first UK
deliveries in the latter part of 2013
·
Powered by V8 biturbo petrol engine with
cylinder-on-demand technology – 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, top speed governed at
155mph but can be increased on demand to 174mph or 189mph, up to 28.8mpg
possible (combined)
·
Eight-speed tiptronic transmission, quattro
all-wheel-drive with sport differential, standard RS-specific adaptive air suspension
with option of steel-sprung suspension incorporating Dynamic Ride Control (DRC)
Audi is to bring some searing
heat to the bitter cold of Detroit this week as the new RS 7 Sportback makes
its world public debut at the North American International Automobile Show.
Combining seductive curves with slingshot performance, the newcomer uses
twin-turbo V8 power to send its acceleration time plunging to just 3.9 seconds
and its top speed climbing to 189mph. It also employs advanced cylinder-on-demand
technology to ensure that economy holds true to Audi efficiency ambitions, with
up to 28.8mpg possible despite the ferocious pace.
Available to order in the summer
of 2013 priced in the region of £84,000 OTR, and due in the UK towards the end
of the year, the
RS 7 Sportback shares its 4.0-litre V8 TFSI engine with the recently announced
RS 6 Avant. This means that with the help of its two turbochargers formidable peak
power of 560PS arrives between 5,700 and 6,700 rpm, and peak torque of 700 Nm is
constantly available between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm.
The two large twin-scroll turbochargers located,
along with the intercooler, inside the ‘V’ of the cylinder banks, produce up to
1.2 bar of boost pressure, helping to generate incredible accelerative force.
The RS-specific engine management and unthrottled intake system also contribute
to the engine’s dramatic response, and this is delivered with all the charisma
expected of a V8. Switchable flaps in the exhaust system can make the sound
even fuller at the touch of a button, and customers seeking an even more
dramatic drive can choose a sports exhaust system from the options list.
Variable top speed
‘Standard specification’ in performance terms for the
new RS 7 Sportback – although anything but standard – is a phenomenal 0-62mph
acceleration time of just 3.9 seconds and a governed 155mph top speed. Customers
with Autobahn aspirations can increase the latter to 174mph by specifying the
optional Dynamic package, and boost it even further still with the Dynamic plus
package, which calls a halt to acceleration at 189mph.
Despite performance of this magnitude, the RS 7
Sportback nevertheless manages to maintain a firm grasp on reality where
economy is concerned. Thanks partly to an engine start-stop system and
innovative thermal management technology, but primarily to the new engine’s cylinder
on demand (COD) system, it can cover up to 28.8mpg according to the combined
cycle test. At low to intermediate loads and engine speeds, the
cylinder-on-demand system shuts down the intake and exhaust valves of cylinders
2, 3, 5 and 8. The engine then runs as a four-cylinder until the driver demands
strong accleration. Efficiency in the active cylinders is increased because the
operating points are displaced toward higher loads.
The switch between four and eight-cylinder operation
takes just a few hundredths of a second, and the only real indication to the
driver that it is taking place is a visual signal within the instrument
cluster. The COD technology reduces ECE fuel consumption by roughly five per cent.
Even greater savings of approximately 10 per cent are possible when driving at
moderate speeds. Active engine mounts use out-of-phase counter-oscillations to
compensate for the vibrations that occur during four-cylinder operation.
The 4.0-litre TFSI is paired with the familiar, and
highly favoured, eight-speed tiptronic transmission featuring shortened shift
times and offering ‘Sport’ and ‘Manual’ modes in addition to the standard
‘Drive’ setting. For manual shifts drivers can use the paddles on the steering
wheel or the RS-specific selector lever. The lower gears of the tiptronic are
tightly spaced for optimum performance, while a tall eighth gear reduces fuel
consumption.
In the RS 7 Sportback the quattro permanent all-wheel
drive system which is one of the hallmarks of the RS lineage incorporates
torque vectoring, a self-locking centre differential with an elevated locking
value and a sport differential on the rear axle to distribute power steplessly
between the rear wheels.
RS 7 adaptive air
suspension
The unparalleled controllability the quattro system
imparts is complemented in the RS 7 Sportback by impressive ride refinement
which comes courtesy of adaptive air suspension with RS-specific settings. The specially
tuned set-up lowers the body by 20 millimetres, and incorporates damping with
configurable settings. As an alternative, sports suspension plus with Dynamic
Ride Control (DRC) will also be available. This system employs steel springs
and three-way adjustable shock absorbers that are interconnected diagonally by
means of oil lines and a central valve for improved body roll stability.
Both set-ups are controllable via the Audi drive
select adaptive dynamics system, which enables the driver to choose between
Comfort or Dynamic modes depending on their preference, or an Automatic mode in
which sensors automatically adjust the settings based on driving style, speed
and prevailing conditions. An Individual mode is also available in which the
driver can assign one of these three settings to each individual component of
the driving experience, from the suspension or steering weighting to the
throttle response and the sport differential. It will also be possible to
further enhance the adaptability of the steering by choosing the extra cost dynamic
steering option, which allows the driver to steplessly vary the actual ratio
and boost and can also be controlled via the Audi drive select system.
The exceptional performance and handling calls for
brakes of the first order, and in the RS 7 Sportback the four internally vented
discs with their weight-saving wave-like outer contour more than meet the brief.
The front discs measure 390 millimetres in diameter and are gripped by
six-piston calipers which are available in either black or red. Also available
as an option are carbon fibre-ceramic brake discs with anthracite grey calipers
which measure 420 millimetres in diameter.
Polished 20-inch alloy wheels in a seven twin-spoke
design will be standard for UK RS 7 Sportback models, and three 21-inch cast
wheels will be available at extra cost.
20 per cent aluminium
The body plays a major role not only in the handling,
but also in heightening the sense of refinement and precision engineering the
RS 7 Sportback exudes. It comprises roughly 20 per cent aluminium, and a
sizeable proportion of components made from high-strength steel, and is notable
for its outstanding rigidity.
Numerous RS-specific design details subtly embellish
the body without detracting from its elegantly tapering lines. Most noticeable
are the matt titanium applications, the high gloss black honeycomb radiator grille,
exclusive bumper design and, at the rear, a diffuser and two large, elliptical
exhaust tailpipes. In common with the other members of the A7 Sportback range,
the RS 7 Sportback is also pinned more securely to the road by an electrically
extending rear spoiler providing additional downforce.
Nine exterior colours, including the new Nardo Grey
and the exclusive Daytona Grey matte, will be available, along with two
optional exterior design packages – Matt Aluminium or Carbon – which give the
RS 7 Sportback an even more distinctive stance.
The interior of the RS 7 Sportback conveys the
sporting theme with similar subtlety, but leaves passengers in no doubt that
they are travelling in a very special Audi flagship. RS logos appear in the
dials with their black faces, white dials and red needles, on the flat-bottomed
three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, in the illuminated entry sills, in the
rev counter and in the displays for the MMI and the colour Driver’s Information
System (DIS). They are also punched into the front RS super sports seats with
their pronounced bolsters, integrated head rests and honeycomb-quilted Valcona
leather upholstery. The two-seat rear bench also has pronounced contours for
optimum grip. A combination of Alcantara and leather can be specified as a
no-cost alternative upholstery option, and power-adjustable front comfort seats
can also be added at extra cost to replace the more overtly sporting RS
originals.
New shift light feature
A new feature in the RS menu of the DIS is the shift
light. Green segments are illuminated as revs increase. The bar turns red and
begins to blink when revs approach the red line. Displays for the gear
selected, boost pressure, oil temperature and a digital speedometer round out
the RS 7-specific driver information system.
The footrest, pedals and switches in the MMI
navigation plus terminal have an aluminium look which contrasts with the piano
finish for the decorative bezel surrounding the retractable monitor and the carbon
inlays. A black headlining is standard, but Moon Silver or black Alcantara options
are also available.
As befits the ultimate incarnation of the A7
Sportback, the RS 7 will feature a generous list of standard equipment, and it
will be possible to upgrade this list even further with a portfolio of exceptional
driver assistance, driver entertainment and driver information systems, including
adaptive cruise control, night vision, the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound
System with 15 speakers and 1,200 watts of total power and mobile phone
preparation – High with Audi connect, bringing web-based services to the car.
Source: News Press
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