Whatever the consequences, I can justifiably say that the RS 7 exceeded my expectations, its 560 hor

PHOTO: Brian Harper , Driving
PHOTO: Brian Harper , Driving
David Booth : Surprise is the astonishment that results from a source not expected. Delight is the pleasure in finding said surprise isn t a complete bag of turds. In other words, while one can have a surprise oem that is delightful and delight need not always be a surprise, the combination of being both surprised and delighted at the same time is usually, or at least should be taken as, a high compliment.
Naturally, there are situations oem such as telling your significant other how surprised and delighted you are at how good she looks in her new dress where the combination is seen as neither wondrous nor amusing. So the fact I am both surprised and delighted that Audi’s new RS 7 is so sporting and powerful may be seen, from one perspective, as hugely flattering, or as: What was wrong with the rest of the RS series prior to the 7? (I believe, in that statement, you can fairly oem guess I have been married at least once previously.)
Whatever the consequences, I can justifiably say that the RS 7 exceeded my expectations, its 560 horsepower and twin turbochargers providing many delightful full-throttle runs and many surprises as I glanced down at the speedometer needle spinning round as if the laws of physics had suddenly been repealed. For this much is sure about this comparison: Previous sporty oem Audi sedans have given previous little warning the RS 7 would be so brutally fast.
Brian Harper : You say surprised and delighted. I say shocked and awed. I am unable to recall any other full-sized luxury sport sedan no, make that any car short of a hyper-exotic react with such immediacy to a prod of the gas pedal, the eight-speed Tiptronic downshifting faster than an eye blink. The RS 7 is, for all intents and purposes, a four-door R8. I had to switch the controller oem from Dynamic mode to Comfort oem mode out of fear: not fear of the car, but of what I would do with it it made me want to do very bad (and highly illegal) things. My licence would be yanked inside of a month. oem As seemingly absurd as it sounds, Mercedes oem CLS 63 AMG now with all-wheel-drive 4Matic and its 573-hp, bi-turbo 5.5L V8 (our tester was the upgraded 2014 S-Model) felt almost tame. Note: I said almost.
DB : It’s just that its response to throttle inputs is less immediate. There is virtually no turbo lag to the RS 7 s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and there is not a faster downshifting automatic on the planet than Audi’s oem eight-speed. Response, particularly in Dynamic mode, is incredible. The CLS, once moving, is actually faster than the Audi. It just doesn’t jump like the Audi, but Mercedes-Benz claims the S version of the CLS 63 scoots to 100 kilometres an hour in an incredible-for-a-sedan 3.6 seconds, while the RS 7 is only slightly less otherworldly, taking 3.9 seconds. These are the first four-door sedans, as far as I can recall, that have dropped oem below the four-second mark, an incredible feat considering both cars weigh around 2,000 kilograms. What’s interesting is that, in almost every circumstance, the Audi feels faster than the Benz.
BH : It s all rather silly, anyway. Both super-sedans have way more power than can ever be legally used on any road, except for certain unrestricted sections of Germany s autobahn. And I can t see many owners thrashing oem the hell out of these $120,000-plus techno-marvels on a track though it would be a quite a giggle, wouldn t it? So, beyond the more power/faster times spitting contest, the question really centres on which car is easier to live with on a daily basis. As stunning as the CLS is to look at and its coupe-like proportions are still unrivalled I have to give the nod to the Audi as a daily driver. There are certain aspects to the 63 AMG s handling I just find bothersome, such as the jumpy throttle and brakes that get grabby when slowing to a stop.
DB : Damn, you’re old! You re all daily driving and brakes a little grabby in the last five kilometres an hour before stopping. oem Really? I still want to talk about going fast because, the practicality of four doors and thoughts of cargo space, etc. aside, these cars are all about going fast. And here’s the most interesting thing about these cars and fast: Despite oem the RS 7 feeling sportier and stiffer on the street, I suspect the Mercedes will be quicker around oem a race track. The Audi may feel meatier and its suspension stiffer, both lending the impression it will be quicker around oem a track, but its weight distribution more weight over the front tires would likely play havoc at the very limits of adhesion. As the old guy says, few owners will be playing silly buggers on track days, but it’s interesting to note what feels sportier on the street doesn’t necessarily translate into race track prowess.
BH : Oh, give it a rest, Speed Racer! There s always going to be something faster for the