The Audi RS7 review—the last ride of a dinosaur

We take one last drive in an old favorite, plus there's some RS6 wagon action.

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[Socks Mingus]

The seats are very supportive and comfortable for long drives, but you have to pay almost $2,000 to add a massage function.

That's what rumble strips are for.

 

[chalex]

I wonder what the expectations are for the number of units of these they will sell. Even around here in VHCOL there are not that many $125k+ cars around.

 

[Maxxim]

My best friend was a serial RS6 Avant buyer - I think he has owned six of them over the years and we had many adventures in them. Wine runs to France, track days, high speed trips around the country, sofa fetching from Scotland and all sorts of adventures where you need a fast estate car.

He switched to an Taycan 'Turbo S Cross Turismo' a while back and it is so ridiculously cartoonishly quick and fun to drive it makes his old RS6 feel like a dinosaur.

Yes the Taycan has a little less space, yes if you abuse it you need to stop to charge, but the RS6 manages single digit MPG on the track and its range is not all that at decent speeds either.

The RS6 and RS7 are amazing, but they are relics now, BEV's have won the war and I am somewhat surprised that Audi are even bothering, surely and E-Tron RS6/7 would sell just as well and be a halo BEV ?

My mate will be here this weekend with his Taycan, really hoping to get some seat time in it again....

 

[dme123]

If this numb elephant with it's flatulent anodyne 4 litre twin turbo is your high point for ICE I can see why you'd welcome EV. Terrible cars, for people who want image but don't actually care or know anything about driving.

ICE peaked maybe 15 years ago, try something with the JLR 5.0 supercharged engine, the AMG 6.2 (badged 63!) or 55k, the NASP BMW M engines.

This generation of turbocharged megahippo is great for top trumps but crap for drivers. Over in Europe all we get now is crap, you guys need to enjoy the mad ass last hurrah supercharged manual stuff you get in the US.

 

[nco]

Always loved the look of Audi sedans, not a giant fan of them going the BMW route of giant grilles though.

Audi went giant grills way before BMW did. BMW copped more flak for theirs though.

 

[MMarsh]

People like you are the sole reason I straight piped my diesel. I have nothing against EV other than not wanting one myself but die hards like you really make it hard to like you bunch.

Not cool, dude. Really not cool.
Please go fix your car properly.

 

[HCB himself]

Obscene and deeply stupid vehicle. Antisocial on about five counts, too. Basically everything that’s wrong with the present German car industry condensed into one grotesque car, with none of the things they occasionally get right by accident or design.

Why give this a platform? It’s not interesting to car enthusiasts, tech enthusiasts, or enthusiasts of a liveable planet or liveable cities. Who’s left? Do they really read Ars?

Here in Europe at least there are still some technologically interesting ICE cars left, even pure ICE ones like the Aygo X that Toyota surprisingly could afford to launch into the teeth of the EU’s tightening fleet-wide CO2 regs.

 

[wagaf]

I’d prefer not to see empty, sanctimonious climate kabuki in car threads just because you feel like putting on a little performance.

You don't need to keep making ad-hominem attacks just because criticism makes you feel uncomfortable.
Attacking people and telling them to shut up will not make reality go away.

 

[MMarsh]

Not a fan of the trend of decent performance wagons finally coming to the US, but with one crucial little catch, they're $125k+.

I might not know what I'm talking about, but it seems like the people that want them can't afford them, and the people that can afford them don't want them.

I'm from a culture where financial literacy is highly regarded, and where wealth is measured by how long you can hold your standard of living after telling your boss "F*** you, I'm outta here" rather than by how much flashy bling you can buy with borrowed money.

As kids, when driving through the ritzy part of town, we'd look at the 6000 square foot mansions with their limestone gate posts and their BMW-filled driveways, and think "that'd be a nice life". But we knew some of those people, too, and felt more pity than envy. They were spending 70+ hours a week (plus commute) in law offices to make the payments on a 1st mortgage, a HELOC, an unsecured credit line, two car loans, a boat loan.... they had almost no time to enjoy the house, the boat would only get like 10 hours a season, and if they ever lost their jobs, they'd be completely cooked in a month or two.

I've always gone by the rule of thumb that you should never buy a car that costs more than three or four months' gross wages. It may be old-fashioned, and it puts these Audis quite firmly out of reach, but I'll stand by it.

 

[Damnicus]

"they won’t make them like this much longer"

This car will also not last very long, since it is one of the most massively over-complicated cars made. It is a first-owner car, and once it starts having the inevitable issues, it will be too expensive/complicated to repair. We will not see "classic Audi RS_" cars in the future. They will all be boat anchors in the future. Pretty typical for the segment as a whole.

 

[MMarsh]

"they won’t make them like this much longer"

This car will also not last very long, since it is one of the most massively over-complicated cars made. It is a first-owner car, and once it starts having the inevitable issues, it will be too expensive/complicated to repair. We will not see "classic Audi RS_" cars in the future. They will all be boat anchors in the future. Pretty typical for the segment as a whole.

Audis spend an insane amount of time in the shop, both under warranty and as they age out of warranty.

And I'm saying this as someone who owns a 19 year old GMC product and who managed to get 398,000 km out of a turn-of-the-century Hyundai.

 

[Snark218]

Obscene and deeply stupid vehicle. Antisocial on about five counts, too. Basically everything that’s wrong with the present German car industry condensed into one grotesque car, with none of the things they occasionally get right by accident or design.

Why give this a platform? It’s not interesting to car enthusiasts, tech enthusiasts, or enthusiasts of a liveable planet or liveable cities. Who’s left? Do they really read Ars?

Here in Europe at least there are still some technologically interesting ICE cars left, even pure ICE ones like the Aygo X that Toyota surprisingly could afford to launch into the teeth of the EU’s tightening fleet-wide CO2 regs.

There is an interesting and thoughtful conversation to be had about car enthusiasm, global warming, praxis, cognitive dissonance, and so on, and it's too bad that instead of having that conversation, you're posting this.

 

[Errum]

Most all of that is styling.

This is a high hp twin-turbo V8. It has twin charge coolers, at least one engine oil cooler, a large coolant radiator, an A/C condenser, brake cooling ducts, and probably some other heat shedding devices I’ve forgotten — likely a transmission cooler.

You’re wrong and the guy you were replying to was exactly right.

 

[Snark218]

You don't need to keep making ad-hominem attacks just because criticism makes you feel uncomfortable.
Attacking people and telling them to shut up will not make reality go away.

You're not criticizing me, my guy. You're just banging a keyboard to show the world what a smart boy you are. And for whatever it's worth, I don't actually disagree with you on the merits. I'm an ecologist and a car enthusiast and I've been involved in autocrossing about as long as I have global change ecology, so I've been chewing over the ethics of enjoying and finding compelling something that's indirectly causing devastation, and the tension between my enthusiasm and my environmentalism, for a very long time, so this is more like me lapping you. It's just that trite self-righteousness isn't a particularly interesting or satisfying viewpoint in that conversation.

 

[crawlernumber23478]

I know I must be in the minority (because I assume it would be an option otherwise), but I absolutely loved driving the A6 wagon around Italy, and every year I look to see if they are bringing something similar to the US. Admittedly, they are bringing something similar, in the sense that this is similar to a Domino's pizza. Seems like we're going to stick with America's current options of trucks, SUVs, sports cars, and mediocre economy cars (but not small or really cheap economy cars).

Anyway, the Audi's are awfully pretty, even if they are out of my price range. Thanks for the review, it's fun to dream.

They sell an A4 Allroad and A6 Allroad both wagons.

They go for around 50k / 70k respectively.

 

[Snark218]

They sell an A4 Allroad and A6 Allroad both wagons.

They go for around 50k / 70k respectively.

I actually really like the A4 Allroad and would happily own one if they could be had as a hybrid.

 

[MMarsh]

I didn’t know these even existed until I saw one leave a parking lot the other day. Exhaust sounded awesome.

View attachment 91499

To each his own. I've seen a couple of those Caddies around; personally, I think the styling is hideous and the engine sound is obnoxious. The overall impression isn't "Woah what a cool souped-up performance SUV", it's "Oh dear, that guy's life must REALLY suck bad if the only way he can get a high point in his day is to climb up into that comically embarrassing monstrosity."

But that's just a matter of taste.

 

[Waco]

Audi went giant grills way before BMW did. BMW copped more flak for theirs though.

The BMW grills are far uglier, IMO.

That said - since Audi no longer sells anything with 3 pedals, I'm not their customer any more.

 

[islane]

This RS7 Performance sounds divine, in fact, with plenty of bass and, in its fruitiest mode, some pops and bangs on the overrun that elicit the odd giggle from the driver. For more mundane occasions with the sport exhaust's valves closed, it's unremarkably quiet and won't wake the neighbors if you leave the house early in the morning (or come home late). A sonorous powertrain is still really the preserve of the internal combustion engine, although some EVs are beginning to play with that idea.

This is the one big loss as we exit the ICE-era. Hearing and feeling the sound emanating from the exhaust is a big part of my best motoring memories. While I haven't heard the Dodge faux-exhaust system in person, that entire idea seems misguided and silly.

I don't agree with Jeremy Clarkson on many points, certainly not his politics, but this quote from their final Grand Tour resonated with me:

^{Clarkson, while reminiscing about the sound of his Lancia (Montecarlo):}
"...There are lots of reasons why we're jacking this show in but for me, one of the main ones is I'm simply not interested in electric cars. "They are just white goods, they're washing machines, they're microwave ovens. You can't review those, you can't enjoy them. They are just shit."

Again, his listening to the exhaust note is important context here that I cannot convey in the text alone... While I don't agree that all EVs "are just shit", there was something genuine and poignant in his reflection that cars are fundamentally different once ICE is gone. You can't stop progress, but losing that visceral connection, like the sound of the exhaust, is something to lament.

 

[crawlernumber23478]

I actually really like the A4 Allroad and would happily own one if they could be had as a hybrid.

Yeah we looked at buying one it does have a mild hybird system, MHEV.

 

[Anemoia]

though that's still a rather unacceptable 24 mpg (9.8 L/100 km).

Common, you're driving a 4,916 lbs car with a V8 producing 621 hp. What do you expect?

 

[Anemoia]

This is the one big loss as we exit the ICE-era. Hearing and feeling the sound emanating from the exhaust is a big part of my best motoring memories. While I haven't heard the Dodge faux-exhaust system in person, that entire idea seems misguided and silly.

I don't agree with Jeremy Clarkson on many points, certainly not his politics, but this quote from their final Grand Tour resonated with me:


Again, his listening to the exhaust note is important context here that I cannot convey in the text alone... While I don't agree that all EVs "are just shit", there was something genuine and poignant in his reflection that cars are fundamentally different once ICE is gone. You can't stop progress, but losing that visceral connection, like the sound of the exhaust, is something to lament.

Having driven the BMW i4 M50 with the Hans Zimmer soundpack, I have to say, it works. It really does.
It gives you that audible queue that something is happening, ensuring all of your senses line up.

And it's a good sound too.

Now, does it match the rumble of an M4 downshifting and screaming? No. But it's close.

 

[Flipper35]

My dad has a Taycan ST. It's......pretty fuckin' good, I have to say.

Right now, are there any P cars that aren't?

 

[Flipper35]

Always loved the look of Audi sedans, not a giant fan of them going the BMW route of giant grilles though.

Audi started the large grill craze back in the late 90s (ish)

 

[Flipper35]

This is a high hp twin-turbo V8. It has twin charge coolers, at least one engine oil cooler, a large coolant radiator, an A/C condenser, brake cooling ducts, and probably some other heat shedding devices I’ve forgotten — likely a transmission cooler.

You’re wrong and the guy you were replying to was exactly right.

No. Al the openings are mostly styling. There are plenty of cars with more hp, more coolers with smaller openings. It is a styling choice. A C7 ZR1 has less frontal area and more HP. So does a Viper, though a Viper is naturally aspirated not supercharged like the Vette.

 

[srh]

"they won’t make them like this much longer"

This car will also not last very long, since it is one of the most massively over-complicated cars made. It is a first-owner car, and once it starts having the inevitable issues, it will be too expensive/complicated to repair. We will not see "classic Audi RS_" cars in the future. They will all be boat anchors in the future. Pretty typical for the segment as a whole.

I mentioned earlier that I used to own an RS7 -- That car I bought used. The MSRP was $150K and at 4 years old and 80,000 miles I paid $63,000. When I bought my e63s a few months later I started shopping it around locally and most dealers were offering me between $30K and $35K (thankfully Carvana paid me $63K, and one of their drivers totaled it the night after they bought it from me, perhaps this is why they're not particularly profitable).

Of note, I contacted a local Audi dealer who told me they wouldn't even buy RS cars that had more than 50,000 miles, because of the cost of potential issues they may have to sort out before being able to sell it as a CPO.

So yeah.. These cars depreciate like an anvil and are best admired from afar, or perhaps leased.

 

[wagaf]

You're not criticizing me, my guy. You're just banging a keyboard to show the world what a smart boy you are. And for whatever it's worth, I don't actually disagree with you on the merits. I'm an ecologist and a car enthusiast and I've been involved in autocrossing about as long as I have global change ecology, so I've been chewing over the ethics of enjoying and finding compelling something that's indirectly causing devastation, and the tension between my enthusiasm and my environmentalism, for a very long time, so this is more like me lapping you. It's just that trite self-righteousness isn't a particularly interesting or satisfying viewpoint in that conversation.

I believe it was clear, my comment and criticism was not meant for you or any commenter. It's simply a criticism of ars coverage.
You chose to take it personally and start personal attacks.
It should be pointed out that it's not the first time you indimidate and personally attack people writing valid criticism about coverage of ICE cars and tell them to shut up. It's just not about you, my dude.

 

[PaulWTAMU]

The 2026 Outback is supposedly going full SUV.

in what way? It looks pretty Outback-y from a quick youtube search. Finally with a hybrid too!

 

[Snark218]

I believe it was clear, my comment and criticism was not meant for you or any commenter. It's simply a criticism of ars coverage.
You chose to take it personally and start personal attacks.
It should be pointed out that it's not the first time you indimidate and personally attack people writing valid criticism about coverage of ICE cars and tell them to shut up. It's just not about you, my dude.

You’re right. I think this entire line of comment is superficial, pointless, and performative, and I call it out every time I see it. It adds nothing to any conversation about a car and it’s always so broadly generalized it could apply to nearly any car, so it’s almost completely off the topic of any article. So I shut it down hard. Stop whining.

 

[nco]

The BMW grills are far uglier, IMO.

That said - since Audi no longer sells anything with 3 pedals, I'm not their customer any more.

No more manuals on non-M BMWs either.

I went for a test drive in a manual M2 a couple of days ago. I'm not thrilled about its looks but I think could live with it in black. However, having driven it, I'm now conflicted. It's too competent and too quick to be fun on the street.

 

[nco]

I believe it was clear, my comment and criticism was not meant for you or any commenter. It's simply a criticism of ars coverage.
You chose to take it personally and start personal attacks.
It should be pointed out that it's not the first time you indimidate and personally attack people writing valid criticism about coverage of ICE cars and tell them to shut up. It's just not about you, my dude.

EV enthusiasts bringing negativity into every single article about ICE cars add nothing but noise to the conversation. As someone who owns an EV, I find it annoying as hell.

 

[nco]

Having driven the BMW i4 M50 with the Hans Zimmer soundpack, I have to say, it works. It really does.
It gives you that audible queue that something is happening, ensuring all of your senses line up.

And it's a good sound too.

Now, does it match the rumble of an M4 downshifting and screaming? No. But it's close.

The Hans Zimmer sound is... okay. I leave it on but it's pretty subtle once you get used to it.

I wouldn't say it's close to the theatre of an M ICE engine.

 

[Anemoia]

No more manuals on non-M BMWs either.

I went for a test drive in a manual M2 a couple of days ago. I'm not thrilled about its looks but I think could live with it in black. However, having driven it, I'm now conflicted. It's too competent and too quick to be fun on the street.

The BMW Z4 can be gotten with one.

 

[Dr Gitlin]

This is the one big loss as we exit the ICE-era. Hearing and feeling the sound emanating from the exhaust is a big part of my best motoring memories. While I haven't heard the Dodge faux-exhaust system in person, that entire idea seems misguided and silly.

I don't agree with Jeremy Clarkson on many points, certainly not his politics, but this quote from their final Grand Tour resonated with me:


Again, his listening to the exhaust note is important context here that I cannot convey in the text alone... While I don't agree that all EVs "are just shit", there was something genuine and poignant in his reflection that cars are fundamentally different once ICE is gone. You can't stop progress, but losing that visceral connection, like the sound of the exhaust, is something to lament.

Here's two counterpoints to that, one from a real skeptic about EV sounds like you are:

https://meincmagazine.com/cars/2023/1...dai-ioniq-5-n-i-finally-get-ev-engine-sounds/
https://meincmagazine.com/cars/2024/0...-5-n-is-the-antidote-to-boring-electric-cars/

 

[deviltry]

I get Audi A/Q models - they look good, they are cheapest german luxury. But the S/RS models - why would you pay that much money for an economy FWD architecture? When BMW or MB exists? Because you can't drive and don't feel the difference between RWD based AWD like xdrive/4matic and quattro? Fine, you want to use launch control and go fast to 100kmh. But then buy an EV and do that way way better?

I just don't get Audi S/RS buyers.

 

[deviltry]

Here's two counterpoints to that, one from a real skeptic about EV sounds like you are:

https://meincmagazine.com/cars/2023/1...dai-ioniq-5-n-i-finally-get-ev-engine-sounds/
https://meincmagazine.com/cars/2024/0...-5-n-is-the-antidote-to-boring-electric-cars/

And here's what real car journalists say about Ioniq 5 N -
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMHamdjQ7nM