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PRICE : For 2014 Audi RS7 $104,900
Audi claims that the RS 7 is capable of dispatching the zero-to-60 mph sprint in just 3.9 seconds, while models equipped with an optional sport package can hit a top speed of 190 mph.
Providing corner-carving capabilities commensurate to the awesome acceleration is the buyer's choice of an air suspension or a stiff steel-sprung suspension. Both feature adjustable dampers that can electronically adapt to whatever driving conditions - be they rough, rutted roads or curvy switchbacks - the RS 7 encounters.
Accelerator response, transmission shift points and steering effort can be tailored to suit the driver's fancy through Audi Drive Select, which offers a choice of Comfort, Auto and Dynamic or custom modes. An optional dynamic steering system works through Drive Select and uses a superposition gear to vary the steering ratio by nearly 100 percent as a function of speed. The system also countersteers slightly at the cornering limit.
Hiding behind the standard 20-inch seven-spoke wheels (21-inchers are optional) are substantial brakes with six-piston brake calipers; even larger and more powerful carbon ceramic units can specified at an extra cost.
Despite its size and performance potential, the RS 7 will actually be surprisingly efficient (official EPA efficiency ratings have yet to be released) thanks to a stop-start system that cuts the engine at stops and a cylinder-deactivation system that effectively turns the motor into a V4 in low-throttle cruising situations...
EXTERIOR
The design of the RS7 Sportback follows the primary line of Audi: Aesthetics and function form a unit; they highlight the beauty of the technology. Many detailed solutions come from racing, and as in the Audi race cars they assume specific functions. The vertical blades in the large air inlets, for example, serve as a pre-spoiler, directing the slipstream in such a way that it flows cleanly on the flank very early. Their appearance underscores the car's firm road stance. The slim honeycomb grilles at the front allow high air throughput, and a retractable rear spoiler plus a rear diffuser reduce rear axle lift.
The dynamic character of the Audi RS7 Sportback is apparent at first glance. The distinctive bumper and the Singleframe grille with its beveled upper corners characterize the front end. In combination with the styling packages, a separate segment of the grille designed as an air duct is located below the license plate. The flat headlights widen toward the fenders, shifting the optical focus outward.
Viewed from the side, the five-door, high-performance coupé presents a strongly defined line. Its roof arch is a flat dome; the C-pillar stretches endlessly to the rear and flows into the shoulder of the body. It encompasses a third side window with an upward pointing tip. The ratio of painted body surfaces to the frameless windows is two-thirds to one-third, a typical Audi proportion.
Another distinguishing design element of the Audi RS7 Sportback is the sharp tornado line spanning the flank. It starts at the headlights and extends along the fenders, the doors and the rear side walls as it gently slopes toward the tail lights. Above the striking side sills is the dynamic line, which runs slightly upward over the doors before turning sharply upward at the rear...
INTERIOR
The cockpit is rigorously tailored to the driver, with the center console oriented in the driver's direction. The selector lever features a perforated leather knob and sports an RS badge. The shift paddles have an aluminum-look finish. The dial instruments have black faces, white numbers and red needles. RS7 badges, some three-dimensional, adorn the tachometer, the three-spoke flat-bottomed multifunction steering wheel, the illuminated entry sills and the seven-inch color display of the driver information system. The bars of the door openers are open-worked, another typical RS element.
A special feature in the driver information system is the shift light for the eight-speed tiptronic's manual mode. As engine speed increases, green segments in the display form a bar. The bar turns red and blinks shortly before the red line is reached. Displays for the gear selected, boost pressure, oil temperature, speed and a lap timer round out the RS-specific driver information system. The driver information system and MMI monitor welcome the driver with specific RS7 start screens.
The decorative bezel below the retractable eight-inch monitor and the infotainment bezel sport a black piano finish look. Carbon is used for the standard inlays. Four additional materials are available, including piano lacquer and the particularly elegant aluminum/Beaufort wood black. The footrest, pedals and soft keys in the MMI navigation plus terminal gleam in an aluminum-look finish. The headlining is made of black cloth, with options for lunar silver or black Alcantara.
Standard equipment includes heated RS sport seats with pronounced side bolsters, integrated head restraints and embossed RS7 logos. They are power-adjustable and have pull-out seat cushions. The seats, whose center sections feature diamond quilting, are covered in a combination of black Alcantara and leather. Upon request, Audi also covers the seats with particularly high-grade, naturally processed Valcona leather in either black or lunar silver and with honeycomb quilting..
Also available are comfort seats with memory function, with the option of a massage and ventilation function. The rear of the Audi RS7 Sportback has two sportily sculpted individual seats with integrated head restraints. Regardless of which options, the uncompromising quality and polished finish with which Audi builds its cars is evident in every detail.
The RS7 Sportback has a long, electrically actuated rear lid that extends far up into the roof. The cargo area already offers a capacity of 535 liters (18.89 cu ft) in the base configuration, and this can be increased to 1,390 liters (49.09 cu ft) by folding down the split rear seat backs. Thanks to the straight side walls and virtually flat floor, the space can be utilized very well...
INTERIOR TECHNOLOGY
The dial instruments feature black faces, white dials and red needles. RS logos and screens adorn the key, the flat-bottomed, three-spoke, multifunction steering wheel, the illuminated entry sills, the tachometer, the large driver information system display and the power-retractable monitor of the MMI navigation plus system. The selector lever features a knob covered in perforated leather with an RS badge, and the shift paddles have an aluminum-look finish. Additional highlights are provided by trim elements with aluminum and piano finish look finishes as well as carbon inlays.
RS sport seats with pronounced side bolsters and integrated head restraints are standard. They are covered in a combination of black Alcantara and leather; the center sections feature diamond quilting. The seats can alternatively be covered in particularly high-grade, honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather in either black or lunar silver. Audi offers optional power-adjustable comfort seats with memory function. The two rear seats are sportily contoured. Luggage capacity ranges from 535 to 1,390 liters (18.89 to 49.09 cu ft) depending on the position of the rear seat backs.
Standard equipment in the new Audi RS7 Sportback also includes four-zone automatic air conditioning, MMI navigation plus with touchpad control (MMI touch) and the Audi sound system. Optional high-end features range from a head-up display and the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System to the driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with stop & go function and the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians. Audi connect including a car phone brings tailored online services on board. Passengers can surf the web freely via a WLAN hotspot..
V8 HAS BEEN RIGOROUSLY DESIGNED
The Audi RS7 Sportback's performance speaks for itself. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes just 3.9 seconds Audi limits the top speed in the standard configuration to 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Top speed with the optional dynamic package is 280 km/h (173.98 mph) and 305 km/h (189.52 mph) with the dynamic package plus.
The new top-of-the-line model consumes just 9.8 liters of fuel per 100 km (24.00 mpg) in the NEDC. The 4.0 TFSI features numerous efficiency technologies. The Audi cylinder on demand (COD) system is particularly effective. At low to moderate load and engine speed, it deactivates cylinders two, three, five and eight by closing their valves and shutting off fuel injection. The 4.0 TFSI runs as a four-cylinder engine in this mode - until the driver presses firmly down on the gas pedal. The operating points in the active cylinders are displaced toward higher loads, increasing efficiency. The COD technology reduces consumption in the NEDC by around ten percent.
The standard eight-speed tiptronic has been specially matched to the sporty character of the RS7. Drivers can choose between D and S modes or change gears themselves. When the transmission is in manual Tip mode, a shift light in the driver information system display indicates when the rev limit is reached. While the lower gears of the tiptronic are closely spaced for sporty response, eighth gear is tall to reduce fuel consumption.
The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system gives the powerful five-door coupé a decisive advantage in traction and driving safety. At its heart is a newly developed center differential with a high locking rate. It distributes the power as needed with great flexibility. In the standard configuration, 40 percent flows to the front axle and 60 percent to the rear axle. Torque vectoring supports the work of the differential at the limit. Audi also offers the optional sport differential for the rear axle, which actively distributes the power between the wheels...
SPECIFICATION
►Model:RS7
►Engine:V8
►Horsepower @ RPM:560 @ 5700
►Torque @ RPM:516 @ 1750
►Displacement:4.0 L
►0-60 Time:3.9 sec.
►Top Speed:189 mph
AIR SUSPENSION
Audi offers the tauter RS sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) as an alternative to the air suspension. It uses steel springs and three-stage adjustable dampers that are connected to one another via oil lines and one central valve each. Another option, which can also be integrated into Audi drive select, is the dynamic steering with its steplessly variable steering ratio.
The Audi RS7 Sportback comes standard with 20-inch forged aluminum wheels in seven twin-spoke design. Three different 21-inch wheel designs are available as options. The internally vented brake discs feature a wave design for a weight savings of nearly three kilograms (6.61 lb). The front discs measure 390 milli-meters (15.35 in) in diameter and are gripped by six-piston calipers. Audi installs carbon fiber-ceramic discs as an option. The electronic stabilization control system (ESC) has a Sport mode that can be deactivated altogether...
BODY
More than 20 percent of the body is made of aluminum. The struts in the engine compartment and the cross-members behind the front and rear bumpers are aluminum sections. The front fenders, the engine hood, the cross-member below the instrument panel, the long rear lid and the doors are made of aluminum panels. Die-cast aluminum serves as the material for the strut brace in the front section of the car. With a weight advantage of a good 10 kilograms (22.05 lb) over steel, the two strut braces contribute to the finely balanced axle load distribution.
For Audi, the principle of lightweight design means using the right material in the right place to achieve optimum function. Many components made of hot-shaped steel are therefore used in the passenger compartment. These components are first heated in a furnace to over 1,000 degrees Celsius and shaped immediately thereafter at around 200 degrees Celsius in a water-cooled pressing die. This abrupt change in temperature creates an iron-carbon structure of exceptional tensile strength. These high-tech steels are relatively thin and therefore light. Audi also uses tailored blanks - sheets made of individual sheets of different thicknesses - in many areas.
The body of the Audi RS7 Sportback is very rigid and strong, providing the basis for its sporty precise handling, the uncompromising build quality, the excellent crash safety and the quiet on board, free of intrusive noise. Vibrational comfort is another strength. Vibration levels at the contact points between the passengers and the body have been painstakingly minimized, and all points where force inputs occur when the car is in operation are reinforced.
The Audi RS7 Sportback has a frontal area of 2.29 m2 (24.65 sq ft) and a coefficient of drag of 0.30. In its aerodynamic concept, even the smallest details are very important. The paneled underbody channels air in a controlled manner, and air flows through the engine compartment with minimal losses..
ENGINE
The 4.0 TFSI that powers the RS7 Sportback takes Audi's downsizing strategy to the high-performance class. The biturbo V8 develops prodigious power from a displacement of 3,993 cc (bore x stroke 84.5 x 89.0 millimeters [3.33 x 3.50 in]). Its peak output of 412 kW (560 hp) is available between 5,700 and 6,600 rpm; peak torque of 700 Nm (516.28 lb-ft) is already available at 1,750 rpm and remains constant through 5,500 rpm.
Numerous details document the high-tech character of the turbocharged V8. The aluminum-silicon crankcase is manufactured in a low-pressure permanent mold casting process, which ensures a high level of material uniformity. A frame for the bottom bearing bridges of the crankshaft further enhances its rigidity. The engine is only 497 millimeters (19.57 in) long; the chains run on the rear side to save space. Its weight, with all of its key add-on components, is 224 kilograms (493.84 lb).
The intake system is optimized for minimal flow losses. Switchable flaps in the intake ports induce a rolling type of movement in the incoming air. Depending on their position, they optimize either filling of the combustion chamber or combustion itself. The directly injected and intensively swirled fuel cools the combustion chambers. This allows a high compression ratio of 10.1:1.
The cylinder heads have the intake side on the outside and the exhaust side on the inside. This sophisticated concept enables short gas pathways with minimal flow losses and spontaneous response. The two large turbochargers and their air-water intercoolers are located in the 90° inside V of the cylinder banks. Elaborate insulation of hot components ensures thermally stable conditions.
The two turbochargers generate up to 1.2 bar of relative charging pressure. The so-called twin-scroll technology, in which the exhaust from two cylinders each flows to the turbine wheel via separate ports, prevents undesired interactions between the gas flows. This results in the early and steep torque build-up.
Sound flaps in the RS exhaust system give the V8 an even more voluminous sound. They are controlled independently from engine load and speed, the mode in the Audi drive select dynamics system and the eight-speed tiptronic's operating mode. An RS sport exhaust system with black tailpipe tips and a more distinctive sound is available as an option..
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
One pioneering innovation from Audi is the cylinder on demand system (COD). At low to moderate engine speed and load - up to around 3,500 rpm and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) - the COD technology deactivates cylinders two, three, five and eight by closing the valves and stopping fuel injection to them and ignition. Efficiency in the active cylinders is increased because the operating points are displaced toward higher loads.
This changeover takes place within a few hundredths of a seconds and so smoothly that the driver practically only recognizes four-cylinder operation by the message in the instrument cluster display. The cylinders are reactivated as soon as the driver firmly presses the accelerator. The COD technology reduces the Audi RS7 Sportback's NEDC fuel consumption by around five percent; at a constant 100 km/h (62.14 mph) the reduction is around 10 percent.
While the V8 is temporarily running as a V4, ignition only takes place at every 180 degrees of crankshaft angle and the engine's torsional vibrations are correspondingly higher. Active engine mounts use electromagnetic oscillation coil actuators to induce phase-offset counter oscillations that largely cancel engine vibration...
TRANSMISSION
The eight-speed tiptronic, which is integrated into the engine's thermal management system, plays a major role in the efficiency of the Audi RS7 Sportback. Its lower gears are closely spaced for sporty response while the top gear is tall to reduce fuel consumption. The spread of 7.1:1 is very wide. The Audi RS7 Sportback accelerates powerfully from a standing start and operates at relatively low rpm even in eighth gear. The torque converter lockup clutch connects the gearbox directly to the engine in most driving situations, thus further increasing efficiency.
The heart of the quattro drivetrain is a newly developed center differential that can widely vary the distribution of torque. In normal driving, the purely mechanical differential sends 40 percent of the engine's power to the front axle and 60 percent to the rear axle. When required, it can immediately distribute up to 70 percent of the torque to the front, or up to 85 percent to the rear. Yet another strength of this new differential, whose temperature is modulated by a dedicated oil cooler, lies in its low weight. Indeed, it weighs 1.8 kilograms (3.97 lb) less than the previous generation.
The center differential works closely with the torque vectoring. When the latter detects that the wheels on the inside of the curve, which are under a reduced load, are about to slip, it brakes these wheels ever so slightly by applying the pads to the discs with minimal pressure. This makes handling at the limit even more neutral and safe. If the electronic stabilization control (ESC) has to intervene at all, it does so later and more gently...
DYNAMICS
The sport differential is an extension of the classic rear differential. It has a superposition gear on both sides that turns ten percent faster than the drive shaft. An electrohydraulically actuated, multi-plate clutch provides the connection between the shaft and the superposition stage. When the clutch closes, it steplessly imposes the higher speed of the superposition gear on the outside wheel. The additional torque required is drawn away from the inside wheel...
CHASSIS
The backbone of the front suspension is the integral subframe. Made of high-strength steel, it is bolted rigidly to the front end, further increasing the latter's rigidity. The suspension control arms are aluminum forgings to keep the unsprung masses low. The wheel carriers and pivot bearings are also made of this same material. The anti-roll bar fabricated from a high-strength steel tube is also relatively light. The front track of the Audi RS7 Sportback measures 1,634 millimeters (5.36 ft).
The rear suspension with a track of 1,625 millimeters (5.33 ft) follows the self-tracking trapezoidal link layout, which is characterized by sporty and reliable handling as well as compact dimensions. Two hydraulic bearings connect the steel subframe with the body. The overhead control arms and the track rods are aluminum forgings. A steel tube also serves here as an anti-roll bar. The two trapezoidal links are precipitation-hardened aluminum castings; the wheel carriers are of chill-cast aluminum.
The electromechanical power steering unit in the Audi RS7 Sportback is a compact and lightweight component. Its low mounting position on a level with the center of the wheel promises agile response, high precision and sensitive feedback. The 13.0:1 ratio is sporty and direct. Steering boost, which varies as a function of speed, has been specially tuned to the character of the dynamic top-of-the-line model.
The electromechanical power steering is highly efficient because it does not require any energy while driving straight ahead. When braking on a surface that is slippery on one side, it helps the driver by facilitating the proper corrections and makes improper steering movements more difficult.
Audi offers dynamic steering with RS-typical characteristics as an option. The heart of this system is a superposition gear in the steering column. It steplessly varies the steering ratio as a function of speed, from very direct when maneuvering to indirect on the highway. At the cornering limit, it countersteers with minimal pulses, making the handling even more dynamic, fluid and safe.
The Audi RS7 Sportback comes standard with a sportily tuned air suspension. The RS adaptive air suspension lowers the body by 20 millimeters (0.79 in) compared with the A7 Sportback. Its damping is varied as a function of road conditions, driving style and the mode chosen in Audi drive select. The driving dynamics system integrates key components. Besides damping, these include the steering, engine management, the sound flaps in the exhaust system, the tiptronic and the optional components adaptive cruise control, sport differential, RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), dynamic steering, belt tensioners and cornering light. The driver can vary the function of these systems between the comfort, auto, dynamic and individual modes...
RC SPORT SUSPENSION PLUS WITH DRC
The brake system of the Audi RS7 Sportback delivers maximum performance. The discs are internally vented and perforated. Their wave-like outer contour reduces overall weight by roughly three kilograms (6.61 lb). Stainless steel pins connect the steel discs to the aluminum brake caps. This concept borrowed from racing reduces tensions, quickly dissipates the heat and prevents the transmission of temperature spikes.
The front brake discs measure 390 millimeters (15.35 in) in diameter and are gripped by black (optionally red), six-piston calipers. Optionally available are carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs measuring 420 millimeters (16.54 in) in diameter. Their calipers are painted Anthracite Gray and bear "Audi ceramic" badges. The high-brakes are virtually fade-free, extremely durable, powerful, long-lasting and substantially lighter. The ceramic brake discs alone save 14.6 kilograms (32.19 lb) of weight compared with the steel discs.
The electronic stabilization control (ESC) has been specially configured for the dynamic profile of the Audi RS7 Sportback. With the touch of a button, the driver can select a sport mode that deactivates the engine interventions. The ESC can also be deactivated entirely for particularly dynamic driving. A practical subfunction of the system is hold assist, which makes it easier to start out on slopes.
Machine-polished 20-inch forged wheels in seven twin-spoke design and fitted with 275/35-series tires are standard on the Audi RS7 Sportback. Optional 21-inch wheels in five-spoke "Blade" design are available in three different versions, including machine-polished high-gloss black and machine-polished titanium-look. These wheels are fitted with 275/30 R 21 tires..
DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS
One particularly sophisticated optional system is the radar-supported adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop & go function. It regulates the interval to the car a head at speeds between 0 and 250 km/h (155.34 mph). At speeds below 30 km/h (18.64 mph), the system initiates maximum braking if it detects an impending collision.
ACC with stop & go function works closely together with the Audi pre sense safety system. Audi side assist, which is also linked to a sub-function of Audi pre sense, uses rear-mounted radar to help drivers change lanes safely. Audi active lane assist helps the driver to remain in a given lane by gently intervening in the electromechanical steering, if necessary.
It draws its imagery from the same camera as the speed limit display, which presents recognized traffic signs on the driver information system display or the optional head-up display.
The park assist system with 360° display, another high-end system, handles steering instead of the driver. The night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians, makes for more relaxed driving at night. Its thermal imaging camera is far infrared system (FIR), meaning that the camera reacts to the heat radiated by objects. A computer converts the information from the camera into black and white images and shows them on the driver information system display. If the system detects a pedestrian in front of the car, it uses optical and acoustic signals to indicate them to the driver...
EQUIPMENTS
Sophisticated features contribute to the tremendous performance of the new top model. These include the RS adaptive air suspension, the wave-design brake discs, the 20-inch wheels, the eight-speed tiptronic with shift paddles and launch control, the Audi drive select dynamics system and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with torque vectoring.
The leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed multifunction sport steering wheel, heated RS sport seats covered in Alcantara/leather, carbon inlays, illuminated entry sills and the RS-specific driver information system impart a special flair to the black interior. The parking system plus, the electromechanical parking brake, folding rear seat backs, four-zone automatic air conditioning, cruise control, ambient lighting, the Audi sound system and MMI navigation plus round out the list of standard equipment.
Audi offers the optional Audi connect including car phone as the ideal complement to the top navigation system. It connects RS7 to the Internet. Rounding out the infotainment lineup are high-end options such as the Bose surround system, digital radio tuner or the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System.
Customers seeking the ultimate in dynamics can order the carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs, the RS sport differential, dynamic steering, 21-inch wheels and the sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC). The dynamic package (with top speed extension to 280 km/h (173.98 mph) and the dynamic package plus (305 km/h) (189.52 mph) include most of these features.
The aluminum matt and carbon styling packages and the red brake calipers make the look of the dynamic top-of-the-line model even more distinctive, while the RS sport exhaust system with black tailpipe tips enhances the engine sound.
What's more, the Audi RS7 Sportback can also be equipped with all the luxurious options available for the A7. These include LED headlights with a unique design, power-assisted closing for the doors, the convenience key with gesture-controlled opening of the rear lid, the head-up display, the comfort package and the comfort seats, to name a few. The Audi exclusive range from quattro GmbH offers countless customization options for the inlays, seat covers and many other interior details. Customers can choose to make their cars as unique as their fingerprints.
There is also a comprehensive range of driver assistance options. These include ACC stop & go, the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians, Audi side assist, Audi active lane assist, the speed limit display, park assist and the Audi pre sense plus assistance package.
Delivery of the large, five-door coupé is scheduled to begin in fall of 2013 at a base price of €113,000. Among the most important markets besides Germany are China and the USA...
AUDI RS7 ( VIDEO )
By : Automotive News & Super Modified Sports Cars