Audi recently relaunched its driving experience: a world-class driving programme designed to teach safe driving techniques and performance modules in a controlled environment.
A full-day course at Midrand’s Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and Franschhoek’s Plaaspad Racetrack, it uses a range of Audi high-performance models such as the RS 3 Sedan and Sportback, RS 4 Avant, RS 5 Sportback, RS 6 Avant, RS Q8 and electric RS e-tron GT.
As a refresher, Audi last week hosted members of the motoring press at Kyalami to showcase this skills-building offering and also introduce us to the new RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback performance: two freshly launched flagships offering some serious firepower.
Compared to the standard RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback models, now no longer available in the SA market, these performance derivatives up the ante with more potent 4.0l twin-turbocharged V8 engines featuring larger turbochargers, increased boost pressure and remapped ECU software. The upshot of this modding exercise is an absolutely mega 463kW (+22kW) and 850Nm (+50Nm) of torque. Claimed performance is rapid enough to give supercars sleepless nights with both models capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and reaching limited top speeds of 250km/h. Specify the optional (R90,000) RS dynamic package plus and the latter is increased to 280km/h.
Backing up this increased muscle is an 8kg weight reduction thanks to Audi ripping out insulation material. Owners can save a further 20kg by ticking the box on lightweight 22-inch 5-Y spoke design alloy wheels (R47,600).
Driving hot laps around Kyalami, I was immediately struck by how fast these machines are in a straight line. Whether you pick the RS 6 Avant or RS 7 Sportback, both models will blow you away with their innate ability to reel in the horizon so effortlessly.
The soundtrack is unfortunately a bit muted. Even with less sound-deadening material, the timbre of both models would certainly benefit from more crackle and pop.
The eight-speed Tipronic transmission can be left to its own devices, but I swapped cogs using the shifter paddles mounted on the steering wheel. Audi has upgraded this gearbox’s software for quicker shift times and it certainly felt pleasingly rapid when negotiating the twistier sections of the circuit. My only criticism here is aimed at the shift paddles, the action of which feel less considered than the ones on my sim-racing wheel. Audi, please engineer in more of a tactile “click”.
For such large vehicles, offering so much everyday liveability, both these models offer surprisingly sharp handling at the limit. The RS 6 Avant I found to be particularly impressive, disguising its considerable heft and sniffing out apexes with as much verve as its smaller RS4 Avant stablemate.
With its standard RS adaptive air suspension set to Dynamic mode, initial turn-in is crisp and immediate while tremendous mid-corner stability feeds your confidence to unleash all of this wagon’s power on corner exit. And when you do, you can feel that quattro all-wheel drive system working hard to automatically shift torque to the axle needing it most. While lovers of power oversteer histrionics might wish to look somewhere else, those seeking an easy way to go fast will be smitten by what these Audi performance models bring to the party; they really are designed to flatter whoever is sitting behind the wheel.
Equipped with RS steel brakes with glossy red calipers as standard (more hard-core ceramics are available as an option), stopping power is adequate on both models and I experienced zero fade during my two hot laps. So for everyday driving on regular roads we expect this system to more than suffice the needs of average drivers.
Marrying extreme speed and size-belying driving dynamics, the new RS 6 Avant or RS 7 Sportback performance models are a welcome addition to the local Audi line-up and certainly worth a look if you’re in the market for a do-it-all performance car with enough space for the whole family (and the dog, if you spring for that wondrous wagon).
Pricing:
RS 6 Avant performance: R2,332,700
RS 7 Sportback performance: R2,444,500
Includes a five-year/100,000km Audi Freeway Plan
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