2013 Audi S7
The autobahn, of course, is a perfect setting for this Audi, and the only drawback-with admittedly little relevance for U.S. customers-is the fact that the S7 is governed at 155 mph. The car follows the road stoically at that speed, and Audi engineers promise the S7 could reach almost 190 mph if ungoverned. With help from the transmission’s launch-control function, we estimate the 0-to-60-mph sprint will take around four seconds, which is a considerable improvement from the A7’s 5.1-second time.
While cruising the autobahn or the freeway, you'll have a chance to appreciate the classy interior. We are especially impressed by the S-exclusive aluminum and Beaufort wood trim combo, created from tulip wood that’s dyed black and, well, aluminum. The interior is virtually perfect, unless you go for the optional head-up display. Its clumsy casing on top of the dashboard is a glaring eyesore, making the option appear to have been an afterthought.
The S7’s exterior is close to the regular A7’s but is clearly distinguishable to the enthusiast's eye. The differences: There are horizontal strips in the outside air intakes, a platinum-gray grille, horizontal blades below the bumper front and rear, aluminum side-mirror housings, and the obligatory quartet of exhaust finishers, which emit a clearly audible growl.
The Audi S7 targets the softer, rear-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz CLS550, the upcoming AMG CLS shooting brake, and the Jaguar XFR. The all-wheel-drive BMW 550i xDrive and the chunky 550i xDrive GT also are on the list, and some might compare the S7 with the similarly priced but more powerful Cadillac CTS-V wagon. Ingolstadt’s offering arguably represents a level of perfection that is difficult to match. So are there any complaints left? Let's see…we’ve given up hope for a manual, but how about more power still? An RS 7 ought to do the trick.
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