DRIVEN + VIDEO: Audi's SUPER Powerful RS7 Gets Wringed Out BUT Does It HIT The Bullseye?

that is the second not so welcomed review of the New RS7. So basically it is a fast track car without much other benefit. Kind of a let down, as I think it is the best looking of the 3 models of the A7

Bottom line, Evo's Mike Duff concluded in answer to his question: "so is it worth the extra?": "How does (the RS7) compare? By the standards of its tiny segment, pretty well. It’s £14,000 cheaper than the BMW M6 Gran Coupe, although it’s £1500 more than the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG. But it’s also pricier and less practical than the RS6 Avant, which also comes with the bragging rights of being the fastest estate car in the world."
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/290362/audi_rs7_review_pictures_and_video.html

This Evo review is one of the few mediocre reviews of the RS7. Yet, not surprisingly, both the mediocre reviews of the RS7 on Autospies were posted by 00R (who seems to always try hard to scour the internet for negative reviews of production Audi cars). Somehow 00R managed to miss the far greater number of positive reviews of the RS7 available.

I've listed some of the many more positive reviews of the RS7 (from German and American car magazines) on my posts in a previous Autospies blog on the RS7 (see link). [Trust me, it takes more work and time to find negative reviews of the RS7, yet 00R manages to do it]
http://www.autospies.com/news/A-Steal-Of-A-Deal-2014-Audi-RS7-To-Retail-For-Just-Under-105-000-Dollars-77329/

Since then, there have been many more positive reviews of the RS7.
http://www.bild.de/auto/auto-news/auto-news/audi-a7-rs7-oberklasse-luxus-limousine-31619352.bild.html
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/2014-audi-rs7-review/
etc,
etc,
etc...

The Brits don't bother reading their own car mags, even though 00R does. Evo is just another small British car mag (its circulation is only 57,000). Each of the two largest German car mags could swallow the combined circulation of ALL British car mags -- that's why the German car mags have the largest car mags in Europe in terms of circulation (even though Germany's population is only slightly larger than Britain's population).

If the Brits listened to their little Brit car mags, they would not be buying so many Audi cars. Today Audi is the fourth largest selling car brand in Britain -- after Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen.
http://www.best-selling-cars.com/britain-uk/2013-half-year-britain-best-selling-car-brands-and-models/

Here's 00R's earlier mediocre review of the RS7 on July 22: "FIRST Review Of Audi's All-New RS7 – Does It IMPRESS Or DEPRESS?"
http://www.autospies.com/news/DRIVEN-FIRST-Review-Of-Audi-s-All-New-RS7-Does-It-IMPRESS-Or-DEPRESS-77188/

00R's review wasn't the "first review" of the RS7. GermanNut posted this review on July 8 -- two weeks earlier than 00R did (many positive first drive reviews of the RS7 had been on the internet for over three weeks).
http://www.autospies.com/news/Edmunds-Inside-Line-2014-Audi-RS7-Serious-Contender-For-Ruling-the-U-S-Super-Sport-Sedan-Segment-77003/

That's why I chuckle whenever 00R posts a review on an Audi production car.

I honestly could care less about reviews that just test the Audi RS7 by itself.

What's more important, and undoubtedly the reviews that Audi would prefer to shine in if given a choice, would be the ones that compare Audi to is nearest BMW and Mercedes-Benz competitors.

Despite its mixed reviews, the Audi RS7 will win against the BMW M6 Gran Coupe in comparison tests.

I wish I could afford it -- it's a beautiful, fast car....

Good job quattro! Way to represent the RS badge with this numb-steering, torque-steering, boring-to-drive, plush stretched A4! May all future RS models be nearly as fun as this one to drive! It truly is the best RS model thus far in Audi history.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Audi-RS7-Sportback-2013-CAR-review/

Car Magazine?? Another little British car mags that most Brits don't bother to buy or heed its advice.

Since you like reading reviews from Brits...
... why don't you listen to a Brit describe his comparison of the RS6 versus his beloved CLS 63 AMG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xm_RvrS67VU


But better still, read the first drive reviews of the RS7 from American sources...

Road and Track
http://tinyurl.com/kt6nmgs

Car and Driver
http://tinyurl.com/lke9o6z

Motor Trend
http://tinyurl.com/q2ehgxt

Edmund's
http://tinyurl.com/ofmbc5f

Autoweek
http://tinyurl.com/qg63tae

Automobile magazine
http://tinyurl.com/l3szodt

um, so magazine circulation numbers mean everything then? that's funny because american magazines have wayyy higher circulation... and yet you keep bringing up german sources, which we don't understand... good job dude! keep up the good work!

british car sites, german, american... don't really matter. but it is because of all these british video reviews, with high view counts, that keep bringing us back here. think youtube, think top gear. then someone like you, narrow-minded, comes along and have the audacity to tell us that the british have no place in the automotive world? truly amazing you. :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m_TWVMiwmg

btw, since rs7 is based on the rs6 and since the rs6's steering has always been criticized as dull and boring, it doesn't take a genius to figure why they would say the same thing about the rs7's. like i said, good job quattro!

Green Machine: "that's funny because american magazines have wayyy higher circulation.... and yet you keep bringing up german sources"
Are you smoking something? I just gave you RS7 reviews from SIX American magazines! All these American reviews were more positive about the RS7 than the dubious British reviews cited by 00R and you -- including your YouTube reviewer who looks too young and inexperienced to have driven many high-powered supercars in his young life (funny you didn't mention my posting of the Brit Chris Harris video clip on the RS6 vs the Mercedes CLS).
Duh, the RS7 is a German car. The Germans make, drive, review and test their German cars better than anyone else in the world. A smart person would consider what the Germans have to say on their own cars. Oops, I mentioned 'smart person' so I guess you don't qualify.
http://tinyurl.com/k9kk5ak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgk6z7bnH6w

Green Machine: "um, so magazine circulation numbers mean everything then?"
When a German magazine like Autobild's worldwide paid circulation of seven million is six times larger than the largest American mags (Car and Driver and MotorTrend) and 60 / sixty times larger than Britain's largest car mag (Top Gear) -- yes, it means something. It indicates the German mag have passed the assessment of the market and that people are willing to buy it with their own money.
In any case, these German mags are the largest car magazines in Germany and also Europe. If a smart person wants to learn about Germannor other European cars, what better information source than German car mags?

Green Machine: "all these british video reviews, with high view counts, that keep bringing us back here... the british have no place in the automotive world?".
Lol, so you have the audacity to speak for the thousands of other people who visit this site. Wow.
If people used their critical thinking, they'd start questioning these flawed British video reviews more.
Ultimately, these British reviewers are out of touch with British car buyers. Despite the mediocre reviews that British reviewers give Audi cars, the British car buyers don't listen to these British reviewers -- Audi is the fourth best-selling car brand in Britain.
If I want a review of a Jaguar or a Vauxhall, I'll check British car mags.

Green Machine: " since rs7 is based on the rs6... it doesn't take a genius to figure why they would say the same thing about the rs7's. like i said, good job quattro!"
Since you want a British reviewer, here soak this up...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xm_RvrS67VU

LOL. Given your parochial mind that cherry picks what it wants to see, you just can't see the big picture can you?

7 million circulation worldwide? And you got those numbers from, let me guess... wikipedia?? But if you read it more carefully, in wikipedia, it says those numbers include foreign editions of Auto Bild.. including... *gasp* Auto Express?! That's the same as if you were to include Car and Driver USA's millions in circulation and then adding Car and Driver Japan edition, China, South America and Spain editions on top of that. Your 7 million figure, evidently, includes Auto Express - the vary British car tests that you've been ridiculing. The same Auto Express that recently gave the rwd E63 a win ahead of the RS6 and called the Audi soulless, is the same Auto Express that gave the TT RS a 3/5. Hilarious. So, congratulations, you're a moron who can't read.

Evo, Top Gear, and other British publications - their circulation numbers pale in comparison - must have smaller audiences than Auto Bild. Yet, they all manage to capture more viewers on their youtube videos than Auto Bild TV's youtube videos. Auto Bild (with their high circulation) can't get its car enthusiasts to watch their videos? Car fans who enjoy engine noises, wheel smoke, and listening to driving impressions, don't bother with Auto Bild?? Evo has a smaller audience and yet have more subscribers to their youtube videos. Yet somehow you're of the opinion that German tests gather more audience than British tests, and thus are more meaningful? So again, hilarious and frankly quite delusional.

So you're disparaging British reviews because of bad reviews. And because only Germans have the right to properly review German cars. Leave British publications to British cars, you say. Who cares what professional opinions about German cars outside of Germany, you say. Your words, not mine. So, like I said, you're narrow-minded. Just because you don't agree with a review, it must be dumb or less professional? That sounds like the mindset of a sore loser. If all these non-German publications mention RS6's dull and boring steering, it's an easy bet that even German magazines, like Auto Bild, would say the same about the RS6. And yet, you're in great denial about it. Truly - to be as defensive as you are about all things Audi, it's obvious you've got an inferiority complex issue.

So in recap - you're dumb, can't read, delusional, in denial, and with an inferiority complex. You should seek professional help. Professionals can't fix dumb, but fortunately for us, they can fix the others!

LOL. Given your parochial mind that cherry picks what it wants to see, you just can't see the big picture can you?

Now that is the funniest comment you have ever written as you are King of the Cherry pickers when something favors your likes about the Audi product. Ever rebuttle you make bring up the performance, the quarter mile time and then some random comments about how the TTRS is the best thing since sliced bread, even though the article is nothing about it.

satrani - Every car magazine out there has authority figures whether you want to believe them or not is your own opinion. Yet there are about 10 Verified automobile sources from Car & Driver, to Road & track, Automobile, Edmunds, Autobild, Motortrend, Evo, European car and a couple others. It is funny how you only use tests that favor your arguments and the others are hogwash and nonsense.

Take the RS5 vs the M3. 1 of 6 publications picked the RS5 over the M3, yet you argue that when are you going to track the M3 as these cars are everyday drivers. Yet in your argument for the RS7 you state that the Audi is the ultimate driver even though there are a few recent Full tests done that say to the contrary and the RS7 is not a good everyday car due to boring and numb steering.

This whole thing with you is laughable at best ... keep up the good work as I am sure you will quote lap times, 1/4 mile times to every Audi product to prove a point ...

BMW4me4ever: "Now that is the funniest comment you have ever written as you are King of the Cherry pickers... then some random comments about how the TTRS is the best thing since sliced bread, even though the article is nothing about it."
What is really more hilarious is that I had never mentioned the TT RS on this blog before this post.
Green Machine was the only person who mentioned the TT RS -- even though this article is nothing about the Audi TT.
You are so confused that you imagined I mentioned the TT RS. LOL.

But since you asked about the TT RS to update your knowledge... the German car mags frequently test the Audi TT RS against the Porsche Cayman, Cayman S or Cayman R.
http://tinyurl.com/kuzquln
http://tinyurl.com/mm6ft64
http://tinyurl.com/lavmnq3
http://tinyurl.com/mv5mzt9

In 2012, Autobild pitted the BMW M3 Coupe Competition Package, Audi TT RS Plus, Porsche 911 Carrera S and Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport on six different tracks in Germany (Nurburgring's Grand Prix circuit, Lausitz, Saxony, Hockenheim, Oschersleben, Nurburgring Nordschleife).
Guess which car was dead last when all six laptimes were added? Yes, the BMW M3 with Competition Package.
http://tinyurl.com/kyzf8ll

BMW4me4ever: "Every car magazine out there has authority figures... Yet there are about 10 Verified automobile sources from Car & Driver, to Road & track, Automobile, Edmunds, Autobild, Motortrend, Evo, European car and a couple others."
First, I emphasize German car mag tests because the Germans know their German cars better than anyone else since the Germans make, drive, test and review these cars better than anyone else.
Second, put your money where your mouth is: prove to us that "there are about 10 Verified automobile sources from Car & Driver, to Road & track, Automobile, Edmunds, Autobild, Motortrend, Evo, European car and a couple others" -- what evidence do you have those magazines with small paid circulation have 'verified authority sources? Verified by WHO? You?
Third, it's nonsense that every car magazine out there has authority figures. In any field in the real world of business, typically a few successful companies have better experts than most other companies that are not so successful. In most professions only a tiny number of professionals are really truly competent and authoritative in their field. It's unrealistic to believe that this talent is spread out equally so that "every car magazine has authority figures".

BMW4me4ever: "Take the RS5 vs the M3. 1 of 6 publications picked the RS5 over the M3, yet you argue that when are you going to track the M3 as these cars are everyday drivers."
I never said this, you're confused again.
What I did say is: BMW fanboys love to boast that their BMWs are the best cars on track. That contradicts reality because the BMW M3 is slower than the Merc C 63 AMG which is slower than the Audi RS5 on the Nurburgring Nordschleife -- the benchmark track and proving ground for cars.
Yes, the

Green Machine: "That's the same as if you were to include Car and Driver USA's millions in circulation and then adding Car and Driver Japan edition, China, South America and Spain editions on top of that.
"
Put your money where your big mouth is: Tell us what is the TOTAL worldwide circulation of all editions of Car and Driver (USA, Japan, etc.). You don't know, do you -- yet you are trying to weasel around pretending like you do.
Autobild worldwide is larger than Car and Driver. Autobild sells more than 7 million copies each month in 36 countries (published in 34 countries) and read by around 40 million readers globally.

If I give you an apple that's mostly juicy and but has a tiny rotten part, you would be a monumental idiot to eat the rotten part along with the juicy part. If you had any common sense you'd eat the juicy parts and reject the tiny rotten part.
Auto Express with a circulation of about 50,000 is only a tiny part of Autobild's worldwide circulation. Just because I quote tests from Autobild's senior experts doesn't mean I validate all parts of Autobild -- especially those parts with young, inexperienced reviewers.
For example, I often quote Sport Auto's Horst von Saurma, but I don't validate their junior testers and writers (I've ridiculed their test results before).

Next, CarandDriver.com claims 2 million visits per month with 12 million page views. Autobild.de claims 4.7 million visits per month with 87 million page views. Autobild has over 1,000 video clips on its website.
Yet you're worried that Autobild doesn't get its readers to watch YouTube while people to watch Evo and Top Gear videos on You Tube. Lol, these visitors to You Tube don't matter much if they don't then visit the website or buy the magazine -- all the You Tube visits hasn't gotten more people to buy Top Gear or Evo magazines -- whose circulations have been falling.
Hasn't the marketing genius in you considered that Autobild prefers people to watch its 1,000 videos on autobild.de/videos/ or Autobild TV -- rather than watch these same videos on YouTube where they can watch a video and then go away? Maybe that's why Autobild's website has 5 million viists per month and 40 million people read Autobild mags.
Now put your money where your big mouth is: tell us each month exactly how many people watch Autobild videos on YouTube and how many watch Evo videos and Top gear videos on YouTube? You don't know, do you. Yet you're trying to weasel around as if you do.

At the end of the day, smart people pick information from the most credible, most informed and most authoritative sources. The Germans know more about their cars than any one else.
Only fools listen to every source indiscriminately.
For example, certain incompetent little British reviewers whined about Audi's steering in relation to rear-while drive Mercedes CLS they get in Britain. A gullible person with a bias against Audi cars -- such as you -- mindlessly believes everything they say witho

Just like almost (R8) every audi - not fun to drive. However nice in the front and side but horribly ugly at the back. Beside R8 there is no audi to be desired in my book.

genesee: Well, that's your individual taste. Many other smart people (who do their homework) like Audis -- that's why Audi is the biggest-selling luxury car brand in the rest of the world outside the USA.

Audi has won several EyesOn Design Awards at the Detroit Auto show, including for the Audi A7 sportback concept, A6, A8, R8. The judges are car design experts.
http://tinyurl.com/mykq8xr
http://tinyurl.com/mmgvqjx

At the World Car of the Year awards, Audi has won the World Car of the Year one year, the World Performance Car of the Year three different years, and the World Car Design of the Year two years. The Audi A7 (base of the RS7) was a finalist for the 2011 World Car Design of the Year award. BMW has won only one of these awards, Mercedes none (although both have won another award for 'World Green Car').

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Car_of_the_Year#Total_wins_by_manufacturer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Car_of_the_Year#Finalists_and_Top_3_Finalists

design awards for the new A3, new S3 and R8
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10894951

CLS 63 AMG S 4 matic will destroy this 4500lb VW.... Which is the car Harris should have used. That aside the CLS was more fun, better layout/ higher quality interior, better brake feel, better steering feel/handling, and suspension settings.... Oh and sound the sound! It makes the VW sound like a vacuum. Too bad Harris didn't take them around some corners so we could see the trademark RS understeer.

PQ40: Nope, your opinion is wrong and not based on facts. See my post further below. The 113,000 Euro Audi RS7 was likely beat the 131,000 Euro Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic in any drag race or on the Nurburgring track.

The U.S. car magazines such as Car and Driver, MotorTrend etc. place more emphasis on price and that gives Audi a HUGE advantage.

With an MSRP almost $10K less than the BMW M6 Gran Coupe and likely even with the CLS63 AMG S 4MATIC, be assured the Audi RS7 will win at least one if not all of its comparison tests by U.S. car magazines.

Nothing new, another boring "performance" car from Audi..,

MercedesSL: "Nothing new, another boring "performance" car from Audi"

LOL. The first and so far only comparison of the Mercedes CLS AMG S 4Matic and the Audi RS7 was done by the reputable German car magazine Auto Zeitung (which has more paid circulation than the largest British car mag Top Gear).

Auto Zeitung concluded that the Audi RS7 was superior to the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic: "The processing in the Audi is a bit finer and impeccable in the smallest details... The 585-hp Mercedes does not respond as snappily to its throttle, even if it already has powerful real grip from idle speed. The Audi RS 7, however, is always awake, and develops its power evenly with increasing speed... Even though the husky CLS four-door coupe founded this fashionable segment -- the new RS 7 turned the concept into absolute perfection. It allows the performance of a sports car with the elegance of a Gran Turismo and the comfort of a sedan. It is also practical, due to the large tailgate."
http://tinyurl.com/k9kk5ak
http://tinyurl.com/kvzmynl

Just like the AUDI A6 3.0 TFSI QUATTRO beat the facelifted MERCEDES E 400, facelifted BMW 535i and CADILLAC CTS 3.6 AWD in this recent German car mag comparison test.
http://tinyurl.com/ltjbewa

It's funny how everyone categorizes Audi as boring and yet when it comes to car magazine comparison tests, Audi leaves the competition in its rear-view mirror as it takes first place.

People need to stop looking at cars in isolation but rather in comparison to its competition in a test of the two vehicles.

When that occurs, Audi more often than not, shines as best overall vehicle.

german ... RS5 lost every comparison test to the M3, the 335i bested the S4 in a recent test although the time before the S4 bested the 335i, the 328i sedan has beaten every car multiple times with both the E90 and the new F30 and most of the time is not even close. The 5-series has lost a few recent comparison tests to audi.

This article was just solely about the RS7 and was not in comparison. hence why we are looking solely at the RS7. Yes it is another RS or S model that has numb and uninvolved steering and drive vs the competition. Good try at a spin on the car,

@bmw4me4ever

Here is a link to a sportauto test just published today where the M3 DCT just beat the RS5 and C63. Plus the M3 was faster around Hockenheim, but i'm sure Satriani will say the driver is not competent lol..

http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/audi-rs5-bmw-m3-mercedes-c63-amg-im-vergleichstest-das-ende-der-v8-sauger-7284551.html

BMW4me4ever: "german ... RS5 lost every comparison test to the M3"

Uh, NO. German car mag Auto Zeitung tested the original PRE-facelifted 2011 RS5 against the M3 -- and gave the win to the RS5. The facelifted 2013 RS5 would surely have done even better.
http://tinyurl.com/k3e8h9y

The 2013 RS5 beat the Mercedes C 63 AMG Coupe Special Edition 507 as well.
http://tinyurl.com/m45yvmr

And let's not forget that the RS5 is the fastest of the three cars on the Nurburgring track -- six seconds ahead of the M3 and 2 seconds ahead of the C 63 with performance package (all three cars driven by supercar tester Horst von Saurma). That's the ultimate test as it exposes the M3's flaws on this toughest of tracks.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/nordschleife.html

BMW4me4ever: "the 335i bested the S4 in a recent test"
That MotorTrend test conclusions are questionable because it ignored (a) MT's own gold standard for testing the best handling cars -- performance on the Motor Trend Figure Eight course (the Audi S4 was first by a big margin) and (b) the 335i came fully loaded with $16,000 of options (interior and technology) over its $46,075 base price.

The German car mag Auto Motor und Sport did three comparison tests of this generation's S4 sedan against both the previous and current 335 using three different testers/reviewers. The Audi S4 won all three tests.

Facelifted Audi S4 and current-gen BMW 335i x-drive in 2013.
http://tinyurl.com/p9ved5v

Facelifted Audi S4 and current-gen BMW 335i Sport Line in 2012
http://tinyurl.com/p4bx93s

Pre-facelifted Audi S4 and previous-gen BMW 335i in 2009
http://tinyurl.com/lb2eag6

bmwm6: "Here is a link to a sportauto test just published today where the M3 DCT just beat the RS5 and C63. Plus the M3 was faster around Hockenheim, but i'm sure Satriani will say the driver is not competent lol.."

Obviously you already knew that this is a case where the driver is not competent at driving the all-wheel drive RS5.

The Hockenheim laptimes show several different laptimes for each of these cars -- they're all Sport Auto mag drivers/testers as this is their test track (testing cars for different articles).
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/hockenheim_short.html

- BMW M3 (2007 to 2012 generation): 1:14.00 (2010 M3 Competition Package), 1:14.20 (2010 M3 Competition Package), 1:14.30 (2007 M3), 1:15.20 (2007 M3).
This article's rear-wheel drive M3 (1:14.20) matches the laptime of a 2010 M3 with Competition Package -- even though he is driving a 2008 BMW M3 Convertible!

- Mercedes C 63 AMG: 1:13.60 (2011 C63 AMG Coupe Performance Package); 1:13.60 (2011 C63 AMG Coupe); 1:14.30 (2009 C 63 AMG Performance Package Plus), 1:15.20 (2007 Mercedes C 63 AMG).
This article's rear-wheel drive C 63 AMG is able to match the best 1:13.60 laptime of the 2011 C63 AMG Coupe with Performance Package.

- Audi RS5: 1:14.00 (2010 RS5), 1:14.00 (2012 RS5).
This article's all wheel drive RS5 (1:14.30) is unable to achieve the 1:14.00 best laptime with the 2012 RS5 that other Sport Auto drivers have done even with both the 2010 and 2012 RS5.

Based on the results, it's quite possible that the test driver prefers driving rear-wheel drive cars and just is not competent at driving the all-wheel drive RS5 to its limits.

For example, see this Sport Auto in-cabin video clip of the all-wheel drive Audi RS4 Avant wagon and the rear-wheel-drive Mercedes C 63 AMG T-Modell wagon lapping Hockenheim track. It's obvious that the driver pushed the RWD Mercedes closer to its limits than he did with the Audi (which was under more control than the Mercedes). The Audi could have been pushed harder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUtpqn76_2g

"Based on the results, it's quite possible that the test driver prefers driving rear-wheel drive cars and just is not competent at driving the all-wheel drive RS5 to its limits."

Hmm i would rather not speculate. B/c it is quite possible that in other tests the drivers preferred the easier to drive AWD cars and they are just not competent or skilled enough to drive a RWD car fast. At the end if the day the M3 has overwhelmingly beat the RS5 in all major comparison tests, and when the have been track tested together by the same person the M3 usually comes out on top.

Green Machine, PQ40, BMW4me4ever:

What you and the incompetent little British reviewers don't understand is that the steering response in a rear-wheel-drive car will be different from the steering response in the all-wheel-drive version of the same car. The ignorant presumption is that the RWD Mercedes has great steering (Car and Driver rated it better than the M5 and S6 in its comparo), so therefore the AWD Mercedes will have the same great steering. That's nonsense -- shows lack of understanding about the differences between RWD and AWD cars.

Autozeitung car mag explains the difference between the all-wheel drive Mercedes E 63 AMG S 4 Matic and the rear-wheel drive Mercedes E 63 AMG has on steering, drivability and saftey:
"The Mercedes E 63 AMG has gained significantly driveability with the four-wheel drive. While the rear-engined AMG models have trouble implementing the unbridled power especially in advance out from tight bends, the S 4Matic manages this exercise easily. Although it loses some of its impressive precise steering response, but it has enormous gains in driving safety. Once set it, the driver quickly finds the right rhythm and connection on the circuit that males it a blink faster than the M5."
http://tinyurl.com/kqkdpjd

This was from Auto Zeitung's comparison test of the facelifted Mercedes E 63 AMG S 4Matic and the BMW M5 sedans -- giving the win to the Mercedes E 63 AMG S 4Matic.
http://tinyurl.com/buoxubt

When the German car mags do their comparison tests are done with the RS7 sportback in a few months, it's likely the RS7 will come out on top.

PQ40: The "CLS 63 AMG S 4 matic WILL DESTROY (the RS7).... which is the car Harris should have used"

LOL. You're completely wrong. It's easy to fart false opinions on Audis when your opinion relies on your outdated beliefs and on incompetent little Brit reviewers -- because you haven't done your own homework to come up with an informed opinion.

The first comparison (so far the only comparison) of the Mercedes CLS AMG S 4Matic and the Audi RS7 was done by the reputable German car magazine Auto Zeitung.

Auto Zeitung concluded that the Audi RS7 was superior to the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic: "The processing in the Audi is a bit finer and more impeccable in the smallest details... The 585-hp Mercedes does not respond as snappily to its throttle, even if it already has powerful real grip from idle speed. The Audi RS 7, however, is always awake, and develops its power evenly with increasing speed... Even though the husky CLS four-door coupe founded this fashionable segment -- the new RS 7 turned the concept into absolute perfection. It allows the performance of a sports car with the elegance of a Gran Turismo and the comfort of a sedan. It is also practical, due to the large tailgate."
[Note: Auto Zeitung provided only the manufacturer's acceleration claims, not their acceleration test data as they probably will do an deeper comparison with the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic, BMW Gran Coupe and Porsche Panamera in a future article]
http://tinyurl.com/k9kk5ak
http://tinyurl.com/kvzmynl

Auto Zeitung understands German luxury sports cars much more than Chris Harris, Top Gear, Car magazine, Autocar, Evo or any other little Britsh car reviewer. [Auto Zeitung's paid circulation is larger than Top Gear and every other British car magazine. The most popular track on fastestlaps.com for laptimes is Autozeitung's own test track because they have tested over 630 cars on their track. Only Sport Auto car mag does as much testing at Hockenheim track. In comparison, Top Gear's track has tested only about one third as many cars.)

From Auto Zeitung's description, it's likely the RS7 will be faster than the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic. [So far no car mag has published the acceleration test data on either the RS7 or the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic. The respective manufacturer's claims are 3.9 sec for the RS7 and 3.6 sec for the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic (Mercedes claims the regular CLS 63 AMG 4Matic takes 3.7 sec and CLS 63 AMG is 4.3 sec).]

However, we can confidently guesstimate the speeds of the lighter RS7 sportback based on acceleration of the heavier RS6 Avant wagon. The lighter RS7 sportback is likely to be slightly faster than the RS6 wagon.

The following clips give an idea of the RS6 wagon's awesome acceleration is. In a Motorsport Magazine drag races, the lighter BMW M5 took 12.4 sec while it was humbled by a Nissan GT-R. The heavier RS6 wagon sprinted in 12.1 sec to easily destroy the superlight Caterham seven 485R (Caterh

The following clips give an idea of the RS6 wagon's awesome acceleration is. In a Motorsport Magazine drag races, the lighter BMW M5 took 12.4 sec while it was humbled by a Nissan GT-R. The heavier RS6 wagon sprinted in 12.1 sec to easily destroy the superlight Caterham seven 485R (Caterham claims its car achieves 60 mph in 3.4 sec, so the RS6 probably hits 60 mph around 3.2/3.4 seconds, which is consistent with the 3.5 seconds to 62 mph tested by Auto Motor und Sports).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEA-I7M83fA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YPpjvXbfqg

Auto Motor und Sport car mag has acceleration test data on the RS6 Avant wagon, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake, BMW M5.
Manufacturer: RS6 M6 GC CLS AMG M5
0-100 km/h: 3.9 s 4.2 s 4.3 s 4.3 s

AMuS data: RS6 M6 GC CLS AMG M5
0-80 km/h: 2.6 s 3.2 s 3.2 s 3.2 s
0-100 km/h: 3.5 s 4.1 s 4.3 s 4.3 s
0-120 km/h: 4.7 s 5.4 s 5.5 s 5.7 s
0-130 km/h: 5.4 s 6.1 s 6.2 s 6.4 s
0-160 km/h: 7.7 s 8.3 s 8.7 s 8.8 s
0-180 km/h: 9.8 s 10.2 s 10.7 s 10.9 s
0-200 km/h: 12.1 s 12.4 s 13.1 s 13.3 s
http://tinyurl.com/k6s8nwj
http://tinyurl.com/lyxst6j
http://tinyurl.com/cjw6p9x

It's very probable that the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic coupe will not do better than 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h (probably slightly worse) and its performance over the acceleration band from 80 to 200 km/h will not be as impressive as the RS7 -- based on Autozeitung's comparo of both cars as well as the Auto Motor und Sport test data.The heavier all-wheel-drive CLS AMG S 4Matic has the same 5,461cc biturbo V8 engine and dual-clutch 7-speed transmission as the lighter rear-wheel drive CLS 63 AMG -- it's just tuned for more hp and torque. But the same throttle response issues that others have noticed in the CLS 63 AMG's engine were also noticed by Autozeitung in the CLS AMG S 4Matic's engine.

"From Auto Zeitung's description, it's likely the RS7 will be faster than the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic.

Lol, NO its not likely the RS7 will be faster than the 577hp 590lb-ft AWD Mercedes AMG S. It is likely the Mercedes will be faster. The factory claim for the Mercedes, which is conservative is 3.6 seconds (probably around 3.2 when independently tested) vs 3.9 for the Audi.

When Chris Harris raced the Audi vs the RWD CLS (without the S pack) the CLS was ONLY .3 of a second behind at the quarter mile. Considering Mercedes has stated the AWD version is a half second quicker to 60 vs the RWD version its very safe to say the AMG will be the fastest.

PQ40: "Lol, NO its not likely the RS7 will be faster than the 577hp 590lb-ft AWD Mercedes AMG S."

Lol, the claimed figures mean nothing until the cars are independently tested. Alpina BMW claimed the Alpina B7 is 540 hp at 5200 rpm and 538 lb-ft at 2800 rpm. Audi claimed the Audi S8 is 520 hp at 6000 rpm and 481 lb-ft at 5500 rpm. Yet Motor Trend tested the S8 to 60 mph in 3.5 sec while the Alpina B7 took 4.3 sec. Motor Trend put both cars on a dyno -- turned out the Alpina BMW was very overrated while the S8 was very underrated.

You are presuming that the factory claim for the Mercedes "is conservative is 3.6 seconds (probably around 3.2 when independently tested) vs 3.9 for the Audi."
It's unlikely the Mercedes claim of 3.6 sec is conservative, not matter how much you hope it will be.
Auto Motor und Sport independently tested both the RS6 and CLS 63 AMG. The CLS 63 AMG matched the manufacturer claims for 0 to 100 km/h (that's not being conservative). On the other hand, AMuS tests showed the RS6 was 0.4 seconds faster than the manufacturer claim (this is being conservative).
http://tinyurl.com/k6s8nwj
http://tinyurl.com/lyxst6j

Even the Mercedes E 63 AMG S 4Matic sedan was tested to accelerate as fast as a BMW M5 (which is slower than the RS6). This is the same engine that is in the CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic -- you think the same engine will magically become faster?

It's completely safe to say that you're wrong. At quarter mile, the CLS 63 AMG was 0.4 seconds behind. The CLS 63 AMG was 12.5 sec @ 117 mph while the RS6 was 12.1 sec @119 mph. Next, consider that the CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic will be heavier (due to the all-wheel drive) than the CLS 63 AMG, while the RS7 will be lighter than the RS6. Finally, consider that across the acceleration band, the RS6 was accelerating even faster than the CLS. This will be more evident when proper comparison tests are done. Now do the math. [I don't consider Chris Harris videos to be a serious test of accuracy of the German car mags.]

In any case, several months ago I predicted the RS6 would go 3.2 to 3.4 sec for 0 to 60 mph, based on several factors (e.g., the S8's acceleration tests and Audi's tendency for under-rating its cars). The RS6 drag race against the 3.4 sec rated Caterham proves I was right.

In Germany these are the base prices (including 19%):

Audi RS7 costs 113,000 Euros, which is considerably cheaper than every possible variant of the Mercedes CLS AMG.

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4MATIC Coupe costs 131,079 Euros
Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4MATIC Shooting Brake costs 132,983 Euros

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe costs 120,131 Euros
Mercedes CLS 63 AMG 4MATIC Shooting Brake costs 122,035 Euros

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Coupe costs 116,204 Euros
Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake costs 117,513 Euros

Note that Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4MATIC costs 18,000 to 20,000 Euros more than the RS7 -- yet this is the car that these Audi bashers are insisting the RS7 be compared against. With those cost savings, the car buyer can buy options on the RS7 such as the sports exhaust (which Chris Harris's RS7 obviously did not have), dynamic steering, dynamic suspension, interior decorative inlays, etc, etc. and still have money left over to put in a bank or spend at a tuner. If not, just wait for the Audi RS7 Plus, which will be lighter, faster, more powerful and even better tuned than the regular RS7.

"Note that Mercedes CLS 63 AMG S 4MATIC costs 18,000 to 20,000 Euros more than the RS7 -- yet this is the car that these Audi bashers are insisting the RS7 be compared against. With those cost savings, the car buyer can buy options on the RS7 such as the sports exhaust (which Chris Harris's RS7 obviously did not have), dynamic steering, dynamic suspension, interior decorative inlays, etc, etc. and still have money left over to put in a bank or spend at a tuner. If not, just wait for the Audi RS7 Plus, which will be lighter, faster, more powerful and even better tuned than the regular RS7."

Oh I love this Game! Or you could buy a standard CLS 4matic which starts at 83,000 euros and put the 30,000 you save over a RS7, and get it tuned to 1000hp, and put racing shocks/springs on it. lol. The fact is people buying these cars are not shopping solely on price, these cars a status symbols, and people will pay for the best...just look at the Panamera turbo S which cost north of 160K.

PQ40: "standard CLS 4matic which starts at 83,000 euros and put the 30,000 you save over a RS7"

Gosh, that makes no sense -- once again you haven't done your homework.

First, you can't tune the 402 HP engine of the 84,000 Euro CLS 500 4Matic's to 1000hp (and have a viable, durable engine without a lot of expensive physical changes beyond just a software change).

Second, even if you put racing shocks/springs on the CLS 500, it won't make it better than the Audi. You want to know why?

Because German car mag tests consider the 80,000 euro Audi S7 (with 7-speed dual clutch transmission) to be the more dynamic and agile handling car than the 84,000 euro Mercedes CLS 500 4Matic luxury barge (with 7-speed automatic transmission).
http://tinyurl.com/olmd6ku

It thus makes more sense to buy and tune an Audi S7 than a CLS 500. You will have to spend a lot more on the CLS than on the S7 to upgrade it, and you're starting with a 3,500 deficit due to the higher base price of the CLS.

Unlike the CLS's engine, you can probably tune the S7's engine with more power and torque (it's basically the same engine on the S8, RS6, RS7 and the forthcoming 650 HP Quattro concept).

If people want the best, the best is obviously the Audi RS7. The German car mag chose the 113,000 Euro RS7 over the top-of-the-line 131,000 Euro CLS 63 AMG S 4Matic.
http://tinyurl.com/k9kk5ak
http://tinyurl.com/kvzmynl

BMW4me4ever: "Full tests done that say to the contrary and the RS7 is not a good everyday car due to boring and numb steering."

LOL, the majority of reviews have been very positive about the RS7 -- but Audi bashers like you love to cherry pick, obsess and blow up a few contrary things mentioned in a few reviews. That's biased and misleading.

Same thing happened with the RS6 -- people like you obsessed on the few wrong things. Chris Harris: "In many ways the success of the (previous generation) RS6 perfectly describes the dichotomy between a road test assessment of a car and what people actually want to live with. In a magazine test four-wheel drive means stars deducted for understeer, in the real world it means safety and traction in the wet... it rained for one day when we had these two cars and frankly the person driving the Mercedes couldn't see where the Audi had gone... the people who owned (the last RS6) loved them... Objectively (this new RS6) is better than my beloved (rear-wheel-drive) CLS... objectively this Audi is the better car." Watch these parts of the video clip for why he says this: 00:15 to 1:05; 1:50 to 5:40; 9:25 to 12.25.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xm_RvrS67VU

In your obsessive thinking, you ignore all the many positives about the RS7 in order to obsess and fixate on the Audi steering for not being like BMW's steering -- when most buyers of Audis don't care this steering issue as they're content with Audi's steering.

In other words, you miss the big picture. And that's why the BMW steering was unable to save the BMW M6 Gran Coupe from losing the comparison test with the Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake. When the RS7 is included in the next german car mag test, the RS7 will probably win the test and the BMW M6 Gran Coupe will still be in last place... even though BMW fanboys are still obsessing on the Audi's lack of BMW's steering, lol. You obsessive guys MISS the big picture.
http://tinyurl.com/lyxst6j

Matt Davis is the co-chairman of the World Car of the Year Awards. Davis recently drove the RS7 and admonished critics like you who are obsessing on Audi's steering to the point of boring everybody else: "The only bit that's numbing about the whole RS7 experience is its electric power steering, but that whole discourse bores us to death at this point, as it's true of most any Quattro chassis (not all Audis can be of R8 V10 Plus caliber). Here we have a well-balanced 40:60 default torque split on a large and portly car with a weight distribution fore:aft of 56:44. What can you really expect? It seems as if we've learned to live with these sorts of Audi dynamic preferences, so while tasty options like the rear sport differential from the Dynamic Package can be very useful under hard driving, frankly it will rarely really help an everyday RS7 driver. (We'd still get it, though.) And the steering - for an electric setup – is at least smooth, well weighted and predictable – especia

Matt Davis is the co-chairman of the World Car of the Year Awards. Davis recently drove the RS7 and admonished critics like you who are obsessing on Audi's steering to the point of boring everybody else: "The only bit that's numbing about the whole RS7 experience is its electric power steering, but that whole discourse bores us to death at this point, as it's true of most any Quattro chassis (not all Audis can be of R8 V10 Plus caliber). Here we have a well-balanced 40:60 default torque split on a large and portly car with a weight distribution fore:aft of 56:44. What can you really expect? It seems as if we've learned to live with these sorts of Audi dynamic preferences, so while tasty options like the rear sport differential from the Dynamic Package can be very useful under hard driving, frankly it will rarely really help an everyday RS7 driver. (We'd still get it, though.) And the steering - for an electric setup – is at least smooth, well weighted and predictable – especially as we had the most aggressive optional Dynamic Steering aboard. Everything is naturally assisted by the eight-tenths of an inch lower stance from either the standard air suspension or optional steel-sprung sport setup."
http://tinyurl.com/l2hp7dr

As I've shown in a post below, Autozeitung noted that the steering in the rear-wheel drive Mercedes E 63 AMG is different from the steering in the all-wheel drive E 63 AMG S 4Matic. There is usually some tradoff in steering in an all-wheel drive car -- but you get other benefits in driving, cornering and safety. Competent drivers like Horst von Saurma have no problems driving Audi AWD cars -- that's why von Saurma was faster in the RS5 than in the M3 or C 63 AMG on the Nurburgring. It's the less competent drivers who whine about the steering but are unable to exploit the advantages of driving an Audi RS car.

heh, your 7 million circulation includes british reviews, indian reviews, french, hungarian, polish... etc etc. if you count only the german reviews, it would look like your apple is mostly rotten.

btw, doesn't take a genius to track the amount of visits to a site:
car and driver has 58500 daily visitors, autobild.de has 51714 daily visitors. you said autobild.de has 4.7 million monthly visits. a little off. just a little. lol... can you be more incompetent? probably.

same thing with youtube views. auto bild tv got 8 million total views, 21600 subscribers. evo, by itself, has 40 million total views, almost 160,000 subscribers. see, not very hard to find. and yes, i guess you can fail harder.

auto bild or not, it doesn't really matter since you don't validate all of auto bild anyway. or any other magazine. especially ones that gave audi bad reviews.

any bad press about audi, the reviewer becomes immediately incompetent in your opinion. like i said, you're just a fanboy in denial. you've read one too many bad reviews about audi and now you just cry yourself to sleep every night.

btw, it would appear that the cls 63 amg 4matic did destroy rs7. it's not only faster, it's more power and lighter. for someone who apparently only cares about numbers, not opinions, surely you would understand. :P