2018 Audi S7
Powerful, practical and leading-man handsome, Audi's S7 is one of the best-rounded luxury machines on the market. This performance-focused version of the A7 "four-door-coupe" appeals to the left brain with foul weather-taming all-wheel-drive and a spacious cargo area, while also providing driving thrills with a bellowing 450-horsepower V8.
Need even more power? Audi also builds the RS 7, which packs 560 ponies in its corral.
Overview
With the A7's slinky sheetmetal as a starting point, the S7 adds a deeper front bumper, a more menacing grille, and a rear diffuser that houses a quartet of purposeful-looking exhaust pipes. Sporty 19-inch aluminum wheels and aluminum side mirror covers complete the treatment.
There are more substantial upgrades to be found in the engine bay, where The A7's supercharged six is replaced by a potent twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. It produces 450 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel the S7 from zero-to-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
The V8's partner in speed is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that serves up smooth but rapid shifts and can be controlled manually through steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system helps the S7 conquer inclement weather and also improves handling by sending torque to the outside rear wheel to cut down on understeer in turns.
Despite its performance credentials, the S7 is no gas guzzler - it's rated at 17/27 mpg - due in part to a cylinder deactivation system that essential turns the engine into a V4 in low-throttle highway driving. Known as Cylinder-on-Demand, the setup employs active noise cancellation technology and active engine mounts to eliminate any NVH issues that would be uncouth in such a premium vehicle.
The S7 rides on a full air suspension with adaptive dampers, which can both be adjusted to suit the driver's preferences with a Drive Select system that also controls throttle response, steering effort and shift calibration.
Inner Beauty
Aesthetes will find much to like in the cabin, which features organic lines rendered in rich soft-touch materials and set off by fine wood and metal trim. Supportive sports seats wrapped in cross-stitched leather, a three-sport multifunction steering wheel and a S-line instrument cluster are classy reminders of the S7's sporting intentions.
Some rear headroom is sacrificed in the name of the S7's dapper lines, and it's worth noting that the rear seats accommodate two passengers instead of the traditional three.
The S7 does offer a sizable 24.5 cubic feet of cargo space, however, and the trunk is easily accessed through the wide-opening rear hatchback.
Being a modern Audi, the S7 is equipped with MMI, or multimedia interface, which includes an eight-inch pop-up display, a five-inch information LCD display and an optional heads-up display for the windshield. The MMI also boasts an industry first: the ability to recognize driver handwriting via the touch input pad, allowing for the input of both navigation and telephone information.
Standard and Optional Features
The S7 is fitted as standard with diamond-stitched leather upholstery, a navigation system with SiriusXM Traffic, a sunroof, heated and 12-way power-adjustable front seats, four-zone automatic climate control, a 14-speaker, 630-watt AM/FM/CD/SiriusXM/HD Radio Bose sound system, keyless start, adaptive xenon headlights with LED running lights, LED taillights, Bluetooth connectivity, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Driver Assistance Package Audi side assist, a corner view camera system, Audi pre sense plus with pre sense rear, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go.
The Innovation Package builds on the Driver Assistance Package's features with a head-up display and night vision assistant with pedestrian detection.
The Cold Weather Package brings a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats.
The Comfort Seating Package adds front seat ventilation and massage functions, sport comfort design front seats with 22-way power adjustability, and Valcona leather upholstery.
Standalone options include a 15-speaker, 1,300-watt Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, rear side airbags, 20-inch wheels and full-LED headlights.
Occupant Safety
All S7 models are fitted with dual front, front knee, front side and full-length side curtain airbags. Rear side airbags are optional. Traction and stability control systems, electronic brakeforce distribution and a tire pressure monitoring system are also included as standard.
Optional safety features include active lane assist, which warns the driver when the S7 is wandering into an adjacent lane and can even gently steer the car back into the original lane. There's also Audi pre sense, which can detect obstacles in front of the S7 and apply the brakes to prevent a crash or mitigate its severity. Finally, Audi side assist alerts the driver when a vehicle is in one of the S7's rear blind spots.
Key Competitors
The S7's primary competitors are the Mercedes-AMG CLS63, the extra-strength version of the CLS that created the four-door coupe segment, and the shapely BMW M6 Gran Coupe. High-performance variants of the Porsche Panamera are also worth a look.
- Propulsion: Gas 4.0L V8
- Power: 450hp
@
5800-6400rpm - Torque: 406ftâ‹…lb
@
1400-5200rpm - Mileage: 21 MPG ( 17 city, 27 hwy)
- Transmission: 7-speed Automated Manual
- Seating: 4 seats
in
2 rows - Passenger Volume: TBDcu ft
- Length: 196.3in
- Wheelbase: 114.8in
- Height: 55.0in
- Weight: 4486lbs
- Cargo Volume: 24.5cu ft
- Front Leg Room: 41.3in
- Front Head Room: 36.9in
- Front Hip Room: TBDin
- Rear Leg Room: 37.0in
- Rear Head Room: 36.6in
- Rear Hip Room: TBDin
- Drag Coefficient: TBD
- Drag Coefficient: 0.30