Audi RS6 and RS7 gain new ‘Performance’ variants

Though the mighty four-ringed marque from Ingolstadt is dead-set on going full electric by 2030, there’s still some life left in the performance combustion-powered cars. Following up from the release of its R8 Coupé V10 GT RWD run-out special, Audi have now added new ‘Performance’ variants of its RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback.

Both harness the same potent 4.0-litre TFSI twin-turbo V8 mill which, in this new Performance trim, now offer 30 HP and 50 NM more than the standard mill. As a result, output figures now read at 621 HP and 850 NM.

Managing those outputs are both an 8-speed automatic plus Audi’s signature and tricked-out Quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) suite. The Performance treatment sees the latter hardware now sporting a new self-locking centre differential that’s both smaller and lighter.

Said diff is tasked with routing the engine's power in a rear-biased ratio (40:60 front-to-rear) in normal driving conditions. Depending on the amount of traction available, up to 85% of said power can be transferred to the rear wheels, or a maximum of 70% to the front instead. This, in turn, sharpens handling during cornering by diminishing the risk of understeer when pushed hard.

Crucially though, both the uprated mill and driveline also sees improvements in pace, with both the RS6 Avant super-estate and RS7 four-door coupe now able to despatch 0-100 KM/H in just 3.4 seconds – 0.2 seconds quicker than their standard twins. Both also get the RS Dynamic Package as standard, which sees a ‘de-restricted’ V-Max of 280 KM/H and rear-wheel steering primed as standard equipment.

Another hallmark of the Performance variant are the addition of 21-inch cast aluminum wheels, though this can be upsized to 22-inches ones made using a high-tech forging-milling process that shaves 5 KG off from the regular 22-inch wheel. These, in turn, also offer up to 20 KG in weight reduction in total, and they come wrapped in grippy 285/30-profile Continental Sport Contact 7 tyres.

Still on the subject of weight reduction, a further 34 KG can be shaved off through the priming of optional ceramic brakes. These measure at 440 MM up front and 370 MM at the rear, and customers have the choice of either red, blue, or grey caliper finishes. Notably, this particular option forms part of the optional RS Dynamic Package Plus, which raises the V-Max in both cars to 305 KM/H too.

Audi offers both the RS6 Avant and RS7 SportbackPerformance with the choice between 16 exterior hues, including a new Ascari Blue with a matte or metallic finishing choices, as well as a matte-only Dew Silver shade.

Setting the Performance duo apart from their regular base twins, Audi has painted some of the exterior parts in matte grey – front spoiler and side flaps, side mirrors, side sill inserts, roof rails, side window trim, and rear diffuser. Alternatively, there’s an optional matte carbon/black optics package available that adds smoked/darkened side window trim and roof rails plus the option to have the Audi logo finished in black instead of chrome.

On board, little has changed apart from the new blue contrasting accents and a selection of new RS design packages. The seats are wrapped in perforated Valcona leather upholstery with honeycomb stitching whilst the center console’s sides and the gear shifter knob now come covered in suede-like Dinamica microfiber

Driver’s will be glad to see that the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel now comes with a newly embedded shift indicator that works when the transmission is set in manual mode. These also function when launch control is activated, this time by indicating perfect points to accelerate off the line. Lastly, Audi also added LED projectors mounted in the front doors that display the "RS Performance" lettering.

Are you digging these hotter Audi RS duo yet? Hit the comments below with your thoughts…