Spotting the all-new Audi RS 7 in our parking garage, the long-haired guy spun his head around comically like Roger Rabbit did after taking a drink of alcohol. “What is that?” he sputtered. “It’s beautiful!”
His wasn’t a unique reaction to the RS 7, a handsomely sculpted rocket that’s simply one of the hottest cars around. So I must have really sent him over the edge when I cranked the sedan’s engine, unleashing the menacing roar that’s been known to propel gearheads into paroxysms of ecstasy. The full-throated growl comes courtesy of the Audi’s sport exhaust system (a $1,000 add-on) and its insane, 4.0-liter engine. Paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, the twin-turbo V8 cranks out an unbelievable 560 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
As a result, the all-wheel-drive RS 7 will jet from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. And that’s just the beginning. The slightest pressure on the accelerator will have you whooshing past everyone on I-35, with ease. Meantime the car’s anti-lock brake system is super-responsive, stopping this refined beast on the proverbial dime behind handsome, 21-inch aluminum wheels.
[aside id=”1″]Inside the cockpit, the RS 7 we tested couldn’t have been more comfortable. The luxury begins with the small, leather-wrapped steering wheel and the stitched leather, massaging seats. Turn on the ignition and the touch-screen display—as well as two little chrome speakers at either end of the dash—rise up into position on cue. Among the other luxe touches are wood accents with aluminum inlays, front and rear cameras, and a power glass sunroof.
With a sticker approaching $123,000, the Audi RS 7 has some tough competition in its elite segment, which includes the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, the M6 Gran Coupe from BMW and the Porsche Panamera Turbo. If you want a car that looks sleek and drives fast, though, you couldn’t go wrong listening to what one Dallas valet parker said about the RS 7: “This one’s a keeper, boss.”
