INGOLSTADT: More powerful and faster than any RS 6 and RS 7 to date, the new Audi RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance are loaded with extras that sharpen the models’ appearance and make for a more emotive driving experience.
The potent 4.0-liter V8 biturbo TFSI engine now has an engine power of 463 kW (630 PS) and a maximum torque of 850Nm. From Dec 8, the RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance are available for €135,000 (RM631,000) each.
At Audi, “performance” means more power. For example, larger turbochargers and an increase in boost pressure from 2.4 to 2.6 bar in the 4.0-liter V8 biturbo TFSI engine that both the RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 Sportback performance boast, allow an increase of 30 PS in engine power and 50 Nm more torque compared to the base versions.
This means a total increase in power from 441 kW (600 PS) to 463 kW (630 PS) and in maximum torque from 800 to 850 Nm. The performance models sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than the RS 6 / RS 7 base versions.
Reduced insulation between the engine compartment, the interior, and the rear of the vehicle ensures the RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance will thrill customers with an exciting, sound experience – the reduction also makes the car 8kg lighter.
The RS 6 Avant performance has a total unladen weight of 2,090 kg whilst the RS 7 Sportback performance weighs 2,065 kg.
Power from the 4.0 TFSI engine flows through a standard eight-speed tiptronic with faster shifting times to the permanent all-wheel drive quattro.
The strictly mechanical centre differential distributes engine power to the rear axle at ratio of 40:60 and if slippage occurs, more drive torque is automatically applied to the axle with better traction – up to 70 percent can flow to the front axle and up to 85 percent to the rear axle.
The self-locking centre differential is lighter and more compact, improving driving dynamics plus offering noticeably more precise cornering which makes for less understeering at the handling limits.
As an added improvement, the self-steering response is more exact with passengers benefitting from a more agile driving experience overall.
The new RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 Sportback performance roll off the line on standard 21-inch aluminum cast wheels in a 10-spoke star design and 273/35 tyres.
For an even sportier appearance, 22-inch lightweight wheels are also available, alongside the standard 22-inch aluminum cast wheels – in burnished glossy metallic black, matte gray, matte black, or matte neodymium gold.
Inspired by motorsport, the airy 5-Y spoke design aids brake cooling and the lighter rims are manufactured in a high-tech forging-milling process. The new lightweight wheel is around five kilograms lighter than the 22-inch aluminum wheel on the current RS 6 Avant or RS 7 Sportback – this 20-kilogram weight reduction in unsprung masses improves the throttle response.
New high-performance Continental “Sport Contact 7” 285/30 tyres, which are part of the new lightweight wheel, play a key role in reducing weight.
The tyres offer consistently better grip on both dry and wet roads and reduce understeering when cornering at speed, making for overall more precise handling across the entire speed range.
Additionally, the brake path is up to two metres shorter with the new wheels when braking from 100 to 0 kph.
The Audi drive select dynamic handling system lets the driver control the vehicle’s behaviour. Six profiles are available: efficiency, comfort, auto, dynamic, as well as two customisable RS-specific RS1 and RS2 modes.
But experience of the driving modes in the performance models is much more unique. For example, the coasting mode now only activates automatically in the efficiency profile, which means in speed ranges up to 160kph, it switches off the combustion engine and coasts with no fuel consumption or drag torque from the engine.
Additionally, fine-tuning to the engine control unit software makes for tighter load changes in S mode when the “dynamic” drive select mode or driving mode S is active, further increasing the emotionality. The updated software in the transmission control unit makes for faster shifting times and a noticeably increased spread between the various driving modes.
The RS Dynamic Package is standard equipment in the RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 performance models.
This includes the increase in maximum speed to 280kph, dynamic all-wheel steering (the RS-specific software update helps the driver with active steering corrections on the front and rear axles), and the quattro sport differential on the rear axle.
The RS Dynamics Package plus is also available as an option, which in addition to the RS Dynamics Package, raises the top speed to 305kph and includes an RS ceramic brake system.
The new RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 Sportback performance are available in a total of 16 exterior colours – for the first time, metallic and matte Ascari Blue and matte Dew Silver are included.
The performance models stand out with standard RS exterior components in matte gray, including the exterior mirrors, the front spoiler, the front side flaps, the side sill inserts, the roof rails, and the trim on the side windows and rear diffuser.
A matte carbon/black optics package is also an option, in which the roof rails and trim on the side windows are black. The Audi rings and model name is available in the customer’s choice of chrome or black.
In the interior, the familiar RS design packages in gray and red have been expanded to include the colour blue.
The steering wheel rim in Alcantra black features contrasting stitching in Mercato blue, whilst the floor mats, the side of the centre console, and the selector lever cuff also come with blue contrasting stitching.
The seat belts are full-surface ocean blue with the decorative inlays in a carbon twill structure with optional blue accents.
The selector lever knob and the side of the center console are made with Dinamica microfiber, which consists of around 45% recycled PET fibers and the sports seats feature high-quality Valcona leather upholstery perforated with honeycomb stitching with contrasting stitching in Mercato blue. Another distinguishing feature is an entrance LED in the front doors that projects the lettering “RS performance” onto the ground next to the car.
Customers can order RS design packages in the three available colour variants with optional additional features: decorative inlays, door armrests and centre armrest in Dinamica microfibre.
Customers can use the new “Audi Exclusive Customizer” visualisation tool to design their vehicles in thousands of individual combinations and thus create their own personal special edition.
The displays of the standard 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus offer new features including a blinking shift indicator in manual transmission mode which changes the rpm display from green to yellow to red, blinking in a manner identical to that used in motorsport, to indicate the optimal time to change gears.
Plus, Launch Control, which fully exploits the acceleration potential of the RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance by signalling the ideal moment to accelerate off the line, with new traffic light icons.
Keyword: Audi RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 Sportback performance unveiled