Audi Reveals the More Powerful RS6 and RS7

Audi RS 7 (Credit: © Audi)

If you call yourself a gearhead and are not impressed by Audi’s RS lineup, then I am going to request you check the expiration date on your gearhead membership card. Chances are, it’s outdated, as the RS lineup is one of the most amazing performance-oriented luxury series on the market today. And now it gets even better, as Audi has cranked up the power on its RS 6 Avant and RS 7 by way of the new Performance versions.

Both models retain their new, aggressive looks, but Audi took their engines to a new level of awesomeness. Both will continue on with the 4.0-liter TFSI V-8, but they are now rated at 597 horsepower – a 37-horsepower gain over their base models — and 516 pound-feet of torque that temporarily jumps to 553 pound-feet in overboost.

Audi RS 7 (Credit: © Audi)

This V-8 engine mates to an eight-speed auto transmission that tosses the juice to all four wheels by way of Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive. This powertrain results in a 3.7-second jaunt form 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph), which is a 0.2-second reduction compared to last year. Even more impressive, the new RS 7 Performance and RS 6 Avant Performance can hit 124 mph in just 12.1 seconds, which is a 1.4-second improvement over last year. Both models top out at 155 mph from the factory, but buyers can opt to have the dealer crank terminal velocity up to 174 mph.

Buyers can order the new RS 6 Avant Performance and RS 7 Performance in Europe starting in November 2015, but deliveries will not commence until February 2016. There is no mention if/when the RS 7 Performance will launch in the U.S. – the RS 6 Avant is not available in the U.S. — but I assume it’ll come a few months after the European launch, if at all.

If it is coming to the U.S., Audi should soon release the information on the U.S.-spec model, which will likely add a little more clarity to this issue.

The RS 6 Avant Performance will start from £86,000 ($132,500), while the RS 7 Performance will base from £91,600 ($141,128) in the U.K.