630 PS & 850 NM: Audi RS 6 Avant & RS 7 Sportback performance!

At Audi, “performance” primarily stands for more power. Larger turbochargers and an increase in boost pressure from 2,4 to 2,6 bar in the 4,0-liter V8 biturbo TFSI engine in the RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance allow an increase in output of 30 hp and 50 Nm more torque compared to the basic versions. The output increases from 441 kW (600 hp) to 463 kW (630 hp) and the maximum torque from 800 to 850 Newton meters. The performance models sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,4 seconds, an improvement of 6 seconds compared to the basic RS 7/RS 0,2 models.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz1QRrbdJeA

• Performance increase of 30 hp and 50 Newton meters more ensures a faster sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3,4 seconds
• Matt exterior features and blue accents in the interior underline the exclusive character of the performance models
• More precise handling thanks to the optimized self-locking center differential, new 22-inch lightweight wheels and high-performance tires

Less is sometimes more: Thanks to the reduced insulation between the engine and interior and in the rear part of the vehicle, the RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 Sportback performance impress with exciting acoustics at a new level, and eight kilograms of weight are saved. Overall, the RS 6 Avant performance has an unladen weight of 2.090 kilograms, the RS 7 Sportback performance weighs 2.065 kilograms.

For added driving dynamics: new self-locking center differential

A standard 8-speed tiptronic with faster shift times transfers the power of the 4,0 TFSI to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. A purely mechanical center differential distributes the drive forces in a ratio of 40:60 to the front and rear axles. If slip occurs, more drive torque automatically goes to the axle with better traction - up to 70 percent can flow to the front or up to 85 percent to the rear. The optimized self-locking center differential is lighter and more compact. It improves driving dynamics, ensures noticeably more precise cornering and allows the car to understeer less, especially at the limit. In addition, the steering behavior is even more precise. The customer benefits from an overall more agile driving.

Exclusive and high-performance: 22-inch wheels with high-performance tires

As standard, the new RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance roll on 21-inch cast aluminum wheels in a 10-spoke star design, which are covered with tires in the 275/35 series. In addition to the current 22-inch cast aluminum wheel, there is also a choice of 22-inch lightweight wheels for an even sportier appearance – in black metallic with a high-sheen finish, gray matt, black matt or neodymium gold matt. The airy 5-Y-spoke design is inspired by motorsport and thus benefits brake cooling. The weight-reduced rim is manufactured in a complex forging and milling process. Compared to the 22-inch aluminum wheel of the current RS 6 Avant or RS 7 Sportback, the new lightweight wheel is around five kilograms lighter. Thanks to the weight reduction of 20 kilograms of unsprung masses, the vehicle is more responsive.

The new high-performance tire Continental "Sport Contact 7" in the dimensions 285/30, which is part of the new lightweight wheel, also contributes to this. It offers a consistently higher level of grip on both dry and wet roads and ensures less understeer when cornering dynamically and all-round more precise handling across the entire speed range. In addition, the braking distance from 100 km/h to 0 km/h is reduced by up to two meters with the new tires. The character of the vehicle can be influenced with the driving dynamics system Audi drive select. There are six profiles to choose from: efficiency, comfort, auto, dynamic and the two individually configurable RS-specific modes "RS1" and "RS2".

The experience of the individual driving modes is significantly more differentiated in the performance models. For example, coasting mode is only automatically activated in the efficiency profile, which means that it switches off the combustion engine at speeds of up to 160 km/h and coasts without fuel consumption or engine drag. A fine-tuning of the software of the engine control unit also ensures tighter load changes in mode S when the driving mode "dynamic" or driving gear S is engaged via drive select - this contributes to the further increase in emotionality. In addition, revised software in the transmission control unit leads to reduced shift times and ensures a noticeably greater spread between the individual driving modes.

RS dynamic package is part of the standard equipment

The RS dynamic package is part of the standard equipment of the RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 performance. This includes increasing the top speed to 280 km/h, dynamic all-wheel steering, which with its RS-specific software adaptation supports the driver with active steering interventions on the front and rear axles, and the quattro sport differential on the rear axle.

The RS dynamic package plus can also be ordered as an option, which, in addition to the RS dynamic package, enables the top speed to be increased to 305 km/h and includes an RS ceramic brake system. Here the brake calipers are optionally available in grey, red or blue. Their discs measure 440 millimeters (front) and 370 millimeters (rear). The RS ceramic brake system weighs a total of around 34 kilograms less than its steel counterpart and thus reduces the unsprung masses.

For a special appearance: new exterior colors and styling packages

The new RS 6 Avant performance and RS 7 Sportback performance are available in a total of 16 exterior colors. For the first time, the Audi RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance also include the colors Ascari blue in metallic and matt and dew silver in matt. The performance models stand out from the crowd with RS exterior features in matt gray as standard. Among other things, the exterior mirrors, the front spoiler, the side flaps at the front, the inserts for the sill extensions, the roof rails and the decorative strips on the side windows and the rear diffuser are finished in matt grey. Alternatively, the optics package carbon matt/black is available. In this case, the roof rails and decorative strips on the side windows have a black look. The Audi rings and the model name are available in either chrome or black.

Everything in blue: new accents and features in the interior

In the interior, the well-known RS design packages in gray and red have been expanded to include the color blue. The steering wheel rim is in black Alcantara with contrasting stitching in Mercato blue. The floor mats, the side of the center console and the selector lever gaiter also have contrasting stitching in this color. The seat belts shine all over in ocean blue and the inlays can optionally be ordered in a carbon twill structure with blue accents. The selector lever knob and the side of the center console are made of Dinamica microfibre, which consists of around 45 percent recycled PET fibre. The high-quality Valcona leather was perforated for the upholstery of the honeycomb-quilted sports seats, which also have contrasting stitching in Mercato blue. In addition, as a special distinguishing feature, there is an entry LED in the front doors: it projects the lettering "RS performance" onto the ground next to the vehicle.

Optionally, RS design packages plus can be selected in three color variants with additional features: the inlays, door armrests and center armrest are made of Dinamica microfibre. Exclusively in this equipment variant, the center panel of the seat has an insert in grey, red or blue. The respective color shimmers through the perforation of the sports seats. There is also RS embossing embroidered in a matching color on the seat backrests. With the new "Audi exclusive Customiser" visualization tool, customers can design their vehicles in thousands of individual combinations and thus create their own personal one-off.

You can choose from a variety of customized paint finishes and leather and stitching colors. The visualization takes place live in the 3D model. The displays of the standard 12,3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus have new features in the new performance models. A shift light indicator in manual transmission mode scales the engine speed from green to yellow to flashing red, analogous to motorsport, to indicate the optimum time for a gear change. The launch control, which fully exploits the acceleration potential of the RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance, signals the ideal moment for the start with its new traffic light symbol.

Performance has tradition: from the RS 6 Avant plus to today

With the RS 6 Avant performance and the RS 7 Sportback performance³ of the C8 generation, the longstanding Audi Sport strategy of the plus and performance models is being continued. It all started with the RS 6 Avant plus of the C5 generation. The former quattro GmbH (today Audi Sport GmbH) launched a special series limited to 2004 units with a subtle power boost shortly before the series was phased out in 999. Engine power increases by 30 to 480 hp. Special feature: For the first time since the RS2, an Audi is officially running faster than 250 km/h. Audi Sport throttles the RS 6 plus to 280 km/h and is thus building the fastest sports station wagon. Without derating, it runs over 300 km/h.

The plus version of the C6 generation comes onto the market in 2008 and is limited to 500 units. Unlike its predecessor, it does not get any additional power, the V10 remains 580 hp. But Audi installs a different speed cap: the special models of Avant and Sedan regulate only at 303 km/h. Back then, only the R8 drove faster. With the C7 generation, the “plus” becomes a “performance” – in 2016 the Audi RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback performance appear. With detailed modifications to the engine, the power increases to 605 hp, ie 45 hp more than in the base. In the "dynamic" driving mode, a torque of 750 Newton meters is available for a short time ("overboost"). Depending on the equipment, the speed is limited to 250, 280 or 305 km/h.