First drive: 2014 Audi RS7 in the UAE

It’s easy to criticize a carmaker for creating niche after niche, even though nobody asked for them. But the difference is how they go about it. There’s BMW with their 5-Series GT, an absolute disaster. And then there is the Audi A7, an interesting take on the ubiquitous sedan. To top it off, there’s the hotted-up RS7 version, which is on another plane altogether.

The RS7 is a sharply-styled car, and in the optionally aluminium-adorned trim seen here, looks unique compared to the usual cookie-cutter Audi designs. That fastback makes it look sporty as well as makes it practical, as the tailgate opens up as a liftback, revealing a huge boot.

Up in the cabin too, there’s no shortage of space, at least for average-sized people. It’s also trimmed very nicely, with intricate detailing, proper bucket seats and sky-high tech. The pop-up tweeters on the dash as well as the flip-up LCD screen add a nice bit of theatre on start-up. There are minor issues though. The pretty metal shift-knob gets burning hot in the sun. And some of the controls are complicated, requiring you to look down at the center-console to figure out what to press.

Of course, the real reason for the RS7’s existence is speed. Lots and lots of speed. With 560 hp and 700 Nm of torque on tap from a 4.0-litre turbo V8, it is said to be capable of 0-100 kph runs in 3.9 seconds. We believe that, even if we didn’t time it, because we felt that explosive thrust every time we touched the throttle. And it sounds absolutely brutal when it’s angry.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is smooth, and works quick enough in manual mode too. The steering is sharp and well-weighted, although offering limited feel. The brakes are expectedly strong. The throttle pedal can feel overly sensitive at low speeds, and requires delicate inputs in traffic.

The RS7 rides a bit firmly, but still fairly compliant considering the rubber-band tyres and sport-tuned suspension. Fairly quiet with a bit of road noise, it’s a great daily driver for a car that can carve corners like a sports car. While we didn’t get the opportunity to explore its true limits, grip levels are so high that we never even squealed the tyres on our usual curvy routes within the city. The car just keeps on turning, dab the throttle a little more, and it just turns faster without any drama, thanks to an all-wheel-drive system that we assume is watched over by an army of computers.

If you’re looking for burnouts and powerslides, this is not the car for you. The Audi RS 7 is built for dispatching distance and corners with ruthless efficiency, with no time for shenanigans.