Agent001 Answers The Question Everyone Is Asking: Is 2013 Audi S7 A Poser Or A Player In The Luxury Segment?

It really wasn't that long ago on this that if you mentioned Audi and the competition a roar of chuckles would erupt from the comments section. Just how was Audi planning on taking on the heavyweights? they would say. Quattro was just a gimmick, true performance cars are rear wheel drive ONLY.  Turbocharging is cheating.

Now we circle around to 2012 and we see the competition is beginning to follow suit.  Mercedes-Benz has already announced that future AMG models will be AWD.  BMW has adopted turbocharging.  All of the brands are now moving to technologies that Audi used back in the 90's and moved from novelty status to the mainstream.

The point of the diatribe above is that the buyer in general is seeing Audi in a totally different light than it did just a few years ago.

This quote by our friends over at TTAC earlier in the week sums it up pretty well.

"VW and Audi were mobbed for so long after their press conferences that it was hard to get photos of their debuts. Volkswagen debuted a new Crossover concept with three rows of seats, while Audi debuted the SQ5 and the RS7. All of the vehicles on the Audi stand were immensely desirable and made the BMW and Mercedes products look like reasonable facsimiles of desirable luxury vehicles. I am more convinced than ever that Volkswagen Group’s goal of 1 million units in America by 2018 is feasible, and Audi will likely reach their 200,000 unit sales goal as well."


Now that John Q Public is seeing what we have been saying for years now, how does our own Agent001 think the $73,000 2013 S7 stacks up against the competition?

Just watch below to find out:

merc07 - 1/17/2013 3:10:00 PM

+4 Boost

Still rather have the cls or 6GC. This audi just doesn't do it for me. The s7 or the rs6 still takes a backseat to its competition. Now that mercedes is using 4matic on Amg audi no longer has the 4 wheel drive advantage, plus AMG makes a better engine than Audi. Sorry it's a no for me. Not a poser but just not the best.

gkearns56 - 1/17/2013 4:54:29 PM

-2 Boost

Absolutely love it!! Wish I had one.

lexworld - 1/17/2013 7:19:04 PM

+3 Boost

..Yeah, Those Audi's I think are just beautiful automobiles. Just wish they spend the next decade on their trouble index. It's horrible!

GermanNut - 1/17/2013 7:58:50 PM

-3 Boost

Audi's S7 is indeed a MAJOR PLAYER in the luxury segment.

Why else would Road and Track compare the Audi S7 to the BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic and choose the Audi S7 as the winner both when price is and is not factored into the scoring?

It's simple, the Audi S7, and for that matter Audi as a company, is a HUGE player in the luxury segment.

Steve - 1/17/2013 10:08:10 PM

+2 Boost

I wasn't asking that question.

lmariorod - 1/18/2013 7:37:55 AM

+2 Boost

Saw this car stopped at a light and just loved it...was "Only" an A7 and still looked gorgeous. Nothing from bimmer/merc gets a second look as this S7/RS7. Simply stunning!

Eyecarehawaii - 1/18/2013 5:52:01 PM

+2 Boost

It never fails to amaze me what money can buy.

dayday - 1/19/2013 1:44:05 AM

+1 Boost

S7 has lost pretty much in all comparison tests here in Australia comparing to 6GC and CLS.

GermanNut - 1/19/2013 2:53:37 PM

+1 Boost

Day day, in the U.S. The Audi S7 won the Road and Track comparison test against the BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic.