At the moment, German automaker Audi has got a limited lineup in our market. The Audi India portfolio consisted of only the A6 mid-size sedan, A8 full-size sedan and Q8 mid-size luxury crossover but now, the company has launched the performance-focused Audi RS7 Sportback at an ex-showroom price of Rs 1.94 crore.
Bookings for the performance coupe-ish sedan were opened last month for a downpayment of Rs 10 lakh. As the name suggests, it is based on the current-gen Audi A7 (which may not come to India) and primarily rivals the Mercedes-AMG E63 and BMW M5 — both of which have received significant improvements recently.
The new Audi RS7 Sportback, regarded as a ‘five-seater couple-like grand tourer’, is sold as CBU product. Nationwide deliveries will begin in August 2020 or after a slight delay if the dealership location comes under COVID-19 lockdown protocols.
Compared to its regular A7 sibling, the RS7 sits lower and wider. Custometic features such as the front grille, advanced full-LED lighting setup and bar taillamp configuration remain identical. Exclusive to the ‘RS’ model is a prominent rear diffuser, active spoiler, revised twin oval-shaped exhausts, 21- or 22-inch wheels and various other customisation or performance upgrades.
On the inside, the sedan gets RS Alcantara sports seats with contrasting stitches. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit digital instrument console has greater functionalities. The interiors also boast of ‘RS’ flat-bottom steering wheel, aluminium paddle shifters, aluminium pedals, dedicated drive modes (RS1 and RS2), etc.
Powering the new-gen Audi RS7 Sportback is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo TFSI V8 petrol engine coupled to a 48V mild-hybrid system. The power plant churns out 596bhp @ 6,100-6,800rpm and 800Nm @ 1,750-6,000rpm while mated to a fast-shifting 8-speed Tiptronic torque converter automatic transmission.
The output is sent to all four wheels via Audi’s proven Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Put together, the performance sedan can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. This can be dialled up to 305km/h by opting the ‘RS Dynamic Plus’ package.
Despite being an all-out road-legal performance machine that can seat five, the 2020MY Audi RS7 features Cylinder on Demand (COD). The system essentially cuts power from up to four cylinders during light-footed high-gear driving in order to return maximum fuel economy. Cylinder deactivation is becoming common in regular cars as well. For instance, the Indian-spec Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI petrol can run on ‘two cylinders’ in certain conditions.