Since its introduction nearly a decade ago back in 2013, the Audi RS7 has become one of the market’s most popular full-size sports sedans. This latest generation of the Audi RS7 Sportback is the second iteration of the company’s flagship four-door coupe.

The current RS7 shares its underpinnings with the second-generation A7 that first broke cover in 2017. It boasts a much more aggressive exterior, a completely redesigned interior packed with premium features and cutting-edge technology, and under the skin lies a more powerful drivetrain with Audi’s legendary Quattro AWD.

Let’s kick things off with what’s under the hood. The second-generation RS7, like its predecessor, features a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine that produces a respectable 590 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, which is about 40 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque more than the previous generation. Audi has tweaked the eight-speed Tiptronic transmission to work with the larger powerplant and sends power to all four wheels via a Permanent Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The RS7 hits 62 mph in 3.5 seconds which is three-tenths of a second faster than before it and the top speed is 155 mph by the German gentleman’s agreement. However, as an optional extra, Audi will raise the top speed to a blistering 190 mph, which is just 14 mph shy of the flagship V-10-powered Audi R8 coupe’s top speed of 204 mph. The RS7 also employs a 48-volt battery for better gas mileage. The belt alternator starter can recuperate up to 12 kW of power and store it as reserve power in the lithium-ion battery.

This occurs when you let go of the gas pedal between 34 and 99 mph and only happens when the car’s computer does not decide to engage the coasting function. The Audi Drive Select system determines this based on the driving conditions and the drive mode selected.

Coming to the dynamic hardware, the RS7 now boasts optimized shift times, a revised launch control mechanism, and a better front-to-rear weight distribution of 40:60. The sport rear differential actively splits torque between the two rear wheels and should help the RS7 exit corners with composure.

While both the A7 and the RS7 share the chassis, the suspension system is exclusive to the RS7. The adaptive air suspension, also known as Dynamic Ride Control ($1,250) features adjustable damping, and electronic leveling, with three levels. The basic configuration maintains the RS7 0.8 inches lower than the A7 at speeds up to 74 mph and lowers the body 0.4 inches more.

As for brakes, you get slotted steel rotors, 16-inches up front and 14-inches at the rear. Optional Carbon-ceramic brakes with red calipers ($9,000) should offer additional bite, a great addition if you intend to do some track work with your RS7.

Modify the RS7’s characteristics with the Audi Drive Select feature. Six profiles are available, which include:

Toggle between two RS-specific modes known as RS1 and RS2, from the steering wheel. Pushing the RS1 button sharpens and alters the sound, and throttle response and suspension settings while switching to RS2, turns off driver aids.

The latest RS7 Sportback is unmistakably based on the second-generation A7, which debuted in 2018. As a result, you get all of its posh sibling’s updated design features, including a more angular and aggressive appearance than its predecessor, but in a more beefy avatar.

The headlights and Singleframe grille have sharper angles and a sleeker overall appearance. The standard headlights of the A7 make way for matrix LED laser lights on the RS7, and have RS-specific animation sequences whenever you lock and unlock the car.

The RS7 now features redesigned bottom-side vents. These are triangular in shape, with higher outside edges and the same honeycomb mesh as the main grille. A black splitter and an "RS7" badge complete the front face of the sporty sedan.

Moving to the sides, the low shoulder line, robust fenders, contoured side skirts, and notchback-style roof are the same as on the A7. 21-inch rims come as standard, but you can choose from four more styles of 22-inch rims in different finishes.

The RS7 retains the curved trailing edge and a strip of LED lights connecting the primary taillights. This is one of the greatest improvements that Audi incorporated into the second-generation A7. The taillights include LED technology and the same animation sequence as the headlights. Like the front, the rear too has black Audi rings and an "RS7" badge with black and red lettering.

For a more sinister look, you can opt for the Black Optic Package ($2,750), which as the name suggests blacks out the badges, grille, the rocker panel, front, and rear bumper inserts, and 22-inches V-Spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels with performance summer tires.

Audi also provides carbon-fiber trim for enabling you to give the RS7 a race-inspired look. For an extra dose of aggression, the Carbon Optic Package ($6,650) gets you carbon fiber on the door blades, front and rear bumpers, and mirror caps, along with everything that comes with the Black Optic Package.

Overall, the RS7 distinguishes itself from the A7 with a more dramatic diffuser with black highlights and honeycomb mesh, as well as larger, oval exhaust pipes, beneath the tailgate. Sport exhaust with black tips ($1,000) is a no-brainer.

Step inside a cabin, that manages to pull off ultra-modern and luxury; beautifully, exactly the sort of thing that you expect from a prestige marque like Audi. The German automaker is well-known for its top-notch interiors and the RS7’s cabin is no exception.

You get some sleek lines and sharp angles along with a pair of screens that dominate the dash. To maintain a clean look, these screens have been neatly integrated and it blends in with the rest of the dash when you turn off the ignition.

The subtle use of ambient lighting also lifts the cabin up and this can completely tranfroms the ambiance at night. Now Despite the RS7’s super aggressive styling, it is actually quite practical with seating for five people. For added convenience, the RS7 is now available with a three-seater rear bench.

If you feel that the regular A7 isn’t particularly luxurious, the RS7 comes standard with Valcona leather-wrapped sports seats. The seat bases and seatbacks have a honeycomb pattern, as well as "RS" embossing. You can opt for either red, black, or grey stitching against the black leather interior. A Cognac-brown option is also available. The steering wheel, which has a flat bottom and a perforated leather surround, is likewise RS-style.

The RS7’s shift paddles are larger and made of aluminum. The RS Mode button i.e the RS1 and RS2 buttons toggle the RS displays in Audi’s virtual cockpit on and off. Although the door panels and dashboard have a lot of aluminum trim, they are also covered in leather.

Additional carbon-fiber pieces for the bottom dashboard, upper door panels, and center console are also available. The Alcantara-covered gear selector knob is a small but welcomed addition. The Black Dinamica headliner ($3,000) maintains a sporty theme but is a fairly pricey option.

The center console comprises of two screens. The upper unit is a 10.1-inch display that handles the primary infotainment functions, while the lower 8.6-inch display handles climate control and seat-heating. This bottom display also has handwriting recognition for the Nav. Do note that although these touchscreens do offer haptic feedback, you will need to apply some pressure for the system to register your inputs.

A 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Google, Maps, Sirus XM satellite radio, HD radio, four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capabilities are all standard. If you desire more oomph from your stereo, you can also consider the 1820 watts, 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen 3D Advanced Sound System ($4,900)

The driver gets access to Audi’s highly configurable 12.3-inch Virtual cockpit display, which is one of the best in the industry. The Executive Package ($2,500) gets you extended leather on the center console, door armrests, and on top of the instrument panel, heated rear seats, power soft-closing doors, and a heads-up display.

The trunk capacity with the back seats in place is 24.6 cubic feet. Thanks to its hatchback opening, the cargo space on the RS7 is generous and more easily accessible when compared to the competition.

The 2022 Audi RS7 starts at $118,500 and this excludes the $1,095 destination and handling charge. This is a $49,300 premium above the base Audi A7, which starts at $69,200. But if you want a sporty coupe with four doors, Audi’s RS division sure has worked its magic on the A7 and has completely transformed the luxury cruiser into something that’s savage and visceral in terms of performance. You can configure your Audi RS7 here.

As you’d expect, the Audi RS7 Sportback comes packed with a whole suite of safety and driver assistance features it offers. As standard, you get airbags (front, knee, side), auto emergency braking, lane departure warning, 360-degree surround-view cameras, cruise control

The Driver Assistance Package ($2,250) gets you :

Night Vision Assistant ($2,500) is a great addition to the RS7’s safety kit as it displays thermal imagery within the driver’s display and it offers both visual and audible warnings.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t rated the latest generation of the Audi A7 but the 2021 model was the Insurance Institute of Highway and Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ in the Large Luxury Car, 4-door hatchback category

At $118,500, the Audi RS7 Sportback sits at the pricier end of the four-door luxury sedan market. Surprisingly, in this SUV-crazy market, you still have some decent alternatives. Mercedes in fact has two options, both of which are considerably cheaper than the Audi. The Mercedes Benz CLS 53 AMG starts at $82,600 while the Mercedes-AMG GT53 4-Door Coupe costs $103,650.

The Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid comes close to the RS7, priced at $116,050. At $131,995 the BMW M8 Gran Coupe is the priciest of the bunch. Here’s how the Audi RS7 Sportback stacks up against its rivals in terms of power and performance.

All the above models come with all-wheel drive, but the two Mercs feature a six-cylinder engine and the Porsche has a V-6 mill under the hood. The Audi meanwhile packs good old V-8 power and this is the same engine that you’ll find across a range of other high-performance VW Group cars.

You’ll find this same engine in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the Bentley Bentayga, the Lamborghini Urus,, and the Porsche Panamera Turbo which starts at $181,150. In that aspect, the Audi RS7 now looks like a bargain, and if ist subtlety and clinical form, that you’re after from your big sporty four-door coupe, the RS7 fits the bill rather well.

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