2024 Audi RS7 Sportback Performance First Drive: Power on Tap, Performance on Demand

To put the "Performance" in the RS7 Sportback Performance, Audi engineers slapped bigger snails on the familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 and turned up the boost by 3 psi. The resulting 621 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque are gains of 30 hp and 37 lb-ft over the outgoing RS7, which Audi claims is good for a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60-mph time. That should put it right on the cusp of breaking 3.0 seconds. The eight-speed transmission comes with new controls for tighter and quicker shifts. A redesigned self-locking mechanical differential is smaller and lighter, distributing the power in a 40/60 front/rear split normally and sending as much as 70 percent of the torque to the front or 85 percent to the rear as needed.

The RS7 Sportback Performance's two suspension options make it feel like two completely different cars. The standard air suspension feels connected to the road but absorbs rough spots for a more comfortable ride. It also allows the driver to customize the ride height in the RS1 and RS2 driving modes. The optional sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) uses steel springs with interconnected dampers that reduce body roll and pitch. A DRC-equipped RS7 sits a full inch lower than the air version and has a stiffer, rougher feel.

The Dynamic Steering has been refreshed for 2024. The steering hardware is identical in both versions, but an RS7 will feel different depending on which suspension it rides on. Steering feels tighter with the DRC and a bit lighter with air suspension. Either suspension is a great option with similar performance in hard cornering. Choosing one or the other will come down to personal preference.

Brake options carry over from last year's car. The RS7 Performance comes with 16.5-inch steel rotors in the front, 14.6-inch steel rotors in the rear, and 10-piston calipers. Buyers who opt for the absolutely massive 17.3-inch carbon-ceramic front rotors also get 22-inch wheels and newly engineered Continental Sport Contact 7 285/30 tires that are wider than the 275/35 tires on the standard 21-inch wheels. The standard brakes offer all the confidence most drivers need, but if you're going big, you won't have to suffer through a grabby brake pedal on the street. The carbon-ceramic rotors maintain good pedal feel, allowing drivers to give smooth, controlled inputs without any sudden bite.

The RS7 Sportback Performance is still distinguished from the A7 with the same unique stampings as last year's car. The subtle updates to the styling are found in the composite pieces. The mirror housings, front spoiler, front side flaps, roof rails, rear diffuser, and side window trims have been switched from gloss black to matte gray for the standard offering. When you replace the 21-inch 10-V-spoke cast aluminum wheels with the 22-inch five-Y-spoke forged aluminum wheels, you cut 11 pounds of unsprung mass and get your choice of three finishes. The big wheels are available as a stand-alone option with a matte titanium finish or as part of the Black Optic or Carbon Matte packages. Eight exterior colors are offered, including Gerenadier Red Metallic and Ascari Blue Metallic, both new for 2024.

The design of the cockpit hasn't changed except for new trims and upholsteries. RS Design Plus package is available in gray, red, and blue. The blue option is the most distinct, with solid Blue Ocean seat belts and blue stitching in the carbon twill dash inlay. The gray and red are more subtle with color-matched borders on black seat belts and no color in the carbon twill. The dash inlay is a highlight of the Audi design team, with their focus on creating an attractive piece that didn't look like an afterthought just to cover the passenger airbag. The flat-bottom Alcantara steering wheel, floormats, and center console all have color-matched stitching, and Dinamica microfiber dresses up the armrests and shift lever. Valcona leather seats with perforated honeycomb stitching carry the occupants in style.

The infotainment screens now deliver more natural haptic feedback using a small hammerlike device hitting the back of the screen instead of vibration. Audi's system, which requires you actually press—rather than just tap—the screen avoids any accidental touches, even while aiming for an icon over choppy pavement. The 12.3-inch gauge cluster displays a new green/yellow/red shift indicator in manual mode and illuminates a drag-racing-inspired Christmas tree for launch control. The cluster has a dark color scheme by default but can be switched to white in the North American models to commemorate the 1997 S6 Plus as Audi Sport GmbH celebrates its 40th anniversary.

With three distinct driving modes (Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic) plus customizable RS1 and RS2 settings, the RS7 Avant Performance really is a "do it all" kind of car. Each mode gets progressively more aggressive, tightening up steering and suspension and adjusting the ride height on air-suspension models. The RS1 and RS2 modes allow drivers to individually tailor the engine, steering, suspension, exhaust, and ESC settings. Stability control can only fully be turned off in RS2, and the launch mode becomes available.

Audi engineers put a lot of focus into making each drive mode distinct, and they achieved that goal. An RS7 with air springs can be tame enough to make it feel like a touring car or lively enough to feel like it belongs at the track. The DRC car is nearly as versatile but will be harsher all around and might not be for everyone in the RS2 mode.

Audi removed 18 pounds of acoustic material to make the thrilling exhaust note more noticeable. The stereo is good enough for its class, but we preferred to listen to the RS7 do its thing. It is louder than its RS6 Avant Performance counterpart, but only due to the body shapes and where the material was removed from. It's incredibly balanced, and the drivetrain doesn't allow any hint of understeer. It handled just as well with either suspension and again, will likely come down to a driver's preferred feel. A lot of us attending the drive agreed that the best daily driver would be the air suspension because it was more comfortable (especially for passengers) but didn't limit the performance. You might miss out on some limit handling on a track, but the RS7 is distinctly a road car and gives the most emotional driving experience through more natural scenery.

It's hard to find anything to complain about here. The styling is spot on, and the long, sloped roofline of the Sportback suits the design and wears any color offered well. We did find it hard to completely turn off the driver aids, even in RS2 mode, and the lane centering controls struggled to trust the driver on tighter roads. Some may be disappointed that a top speed of 190 mph is no longer available, but the 155-mph top speed can be bumped to 174 mph with the Bronze edition exclusive to the North American market. It adds Sebring Black crystal-effect paint, 22-inch matte neodymium gold wheels, black calipers, gloss carbon exterior accents, and bronze interior stitching.

Anyone in the market for a luxury sport sedan will be buying a complete experience with a versatile car that looks and drives among the best. We wouldn't expect anything less than that given the $128,895 barrier to entry. It's hard to imagine anyone needing or even wanting more than 621 hp, but Audi tells us 10 new RS models will be on sale by 2026, so maybe we'll see an even racier version in the future. As for the RS7 Sportback Performance, you can have it starting in the fall of this year.