Tremendous-SUVs – two-and-a-half-tonne behemoths with outrageous physique kits, absurdly massive wheels, and several other hundred horsepower – are all the trend. Contemplating the best way a few of them can bend physics to their will whereas providing a go-(virtually)-anywhere skill, it’s simple to see the attraction they’ve.
However spare a thought for the unique quick household automobile: the super-sedan. Let’s be trustworthy, in the event you actually care about driving, you recognize why a low-slung sedan trumps a high-riding crossover. These souped-up sleepers have been scaring supercars away from the visitors lights for many years now, and I’m completely happy to report they’re nonetheless on the high of their recreation. Simply have a look at the brand new Audi RS7 Sportback – isn’t it a sight to behold? It’s large, for one, at over 5 metres lengthy and practically two metres extensive with out its mirrors. How large is that? Effectively, this take a look at automobile is using on 21-inch wheels, and these are the small measurement — you’ll be able to choice 22-inch wheels! It masks that measurement to an extent with its sloping ‘sportback’ roof and flared wheel arches. The rear undertray that homes the RS-signature oval exhaust suggestions is so extensive, it virtually bursts out of the bodywork, and the cliff-like entrance finish is sort of at odds with the remainder of the automobile’s curves. However all of it simply works. And, oh sure, it wouldn’t be a contemporary Audi with out an intricately designed set of LED headlights and tail-lights, which do a cool little dance every time the automobile wakes up. Furthermore, the RS7’s civilian counterpart, the A7, isn’t on sale in India, so while you see considered one of these pull up subsequent to you, you received’t mistake it for anything.
Subsequent to it’s the newest iteration of the unique tremendous sedan. The M5 Competitors is a peregrine falcon to the RS7’s peacock — way more understated in displaying its efficiency intent, and to the uninitiated, not fairly as simple to differentiate from, say, a 530d M Sport. A real sleeper, then, particularly in the event you go for a much less radical paint shade. You might need to level out the M identifiers to your less-clued-in associates – the air vents on the entrance flanks, the subtly aggressive entrance bumper, the aerodynamic ‘flicks’ on the rear-view mirrors, the lip spoiler on the boot, and naturally, the quad exhaust pipes. This Competitors model does at the least spotlight a few of the exterior particulars in gloss black to make them extra apparent. What it additionally does is decrease the suspension by 7mm, and particularly on the rear, you’ll be able to see that this automobile is admittedly slammed to the bottom. And why is there no sunroof like on the RS7? As a result of the M5 has a carbon-fibre roof to decrease the burden and, by extension, the centre of gravity.
Max Chill out
They’ve, mercifully, not given as critical a efficiency focus to the M5 Competitors’s inside, and the setting will not be of some stripped-out racer, however, as an alternative, that of a top-tier BMW. Plush leather-based, cross-stitching, contrasting colors, ambient lighting and funky metallic trim, plus a few of the most supportive (but comfortable) and extensively adjustable sports activities seats round. There’s a driver focus, in fact; the identical as you’ll discover in all BMWs, with a low seating place and a cabin that wraps itself across the driver. The thick M steering wheel returns with its racecar-like M1 and M2 toggle switches (the Audi has a extra typical ‘RS Mode’ button on the wheel for a similar objective), however sadly, so do BMW’s new digital dials that are exhausting to learn on the transfer.
Low-set seat within the M5 is cocooned by the cabin and provides a extremely sporty really feel.
Save for this take a look at automobile’s non-obligatory leisure screens (you’ll suppose 625hp could be leisure sufficient!), it is a normal 5 Collection rear seat. It’s a bit low set and the backrest is a contact upright, however area and luxury are each actually good.
However the RS7 is just higher. These bigger dimensions have translated superbly to extra cabin room, and there’s ample area for 2 six-footers to stretch out. Even the sloping roof will not be a hassle with regards to headroom. It even affords the RS7 extra usable baggage room, because of its liftback tailgate versus the M5’s typical sedan boot.
The RS7, surprisingly, provides far more room within the again seat.
Up entrance, the RS7 is each bit a contemporary Audi and fairly just like the A6, with its angular, multi-tiered dashboard, dual-screen MMI interface and a great deal of brushed aluminium – all of it screams cutting-edge tech. There are, in fact, some sporty touches, like a flat-bottom RS steering wheel, sports activities seats and what appears like unlacquered carbon-fibre rather than wooden trim. There’s additionally the newest era of Audi’s Digital Cockpit digital dials which might be crisp and simply a lot simpler to learn than the BMW’s. In actual fact, even the driving place, which is a bit greater up and provides a lot higher visibility, makes for a much less intimidating expertise.
RS7’s screen-heavy cabin simply screams bleeding-edge tech and is excessive on high quality too.
Velvet boxing glove
And so it continues. Get previous the transient rumble at startup, and the Audi RS7 settles right into a easy, refined idle. Energy supply is light and the eight-speed ZF torque converter goes about its enterprise unobtrusively within the background. A little bit of street noise apart, the trip on these 21-inch wheels and the air springs will not be too far off from limousine ranges (we wouldn’t hassle with the non-obligatory sports activities metal springs on roads like ours). Subsequent factor you recognize, you’ve settled snugly into the heated and cooled seats, and also you’d be forgiven for forgetting you will have 600 horsepower to play with.
This, in fact, is as a result of the automobile defaults to Consolation mode, however this will simply be remedied with a click on or two of the RS Mode button, which is a shortcut to 2 customisable drive mode presets that may flip the wick up instantaneously and dramatically. At its most aggressive, the gearbox raises the revs and holds on to them longer, the air suspension hunkers down and corporations up, the steering beneficial properties some weight, and the 4.0- litre V8 likes to make itself heard. It sounds a bit fruitier and extra characterful than earlier than, too.
Sure, now it seems like an Audi RS automobile, and people large dimensions shortly soften away round you. However there’s one thing extra this time round. Most RS vehicles, particularly the outdated RS7, had been ballistic missiles in a straight line however a bit picket round corners. This one nonetheless accelerates like there’s no tomorrow and places its energy to the street in a single stable whack, with none of it wasted on constructing revs or boisterous wheelspin. The result’s, in our checks, we even beat Audi’s claimed 0-100kph time of three.6sec, managing a 3.54! The distinction is, this time it’s way more agile as nicely.
A number of the credit score should go to the non-obligatory rear-wheel steering and torque-vectoring sports activities rear differential (each choices we suggest ticking), and the outcomes are recreation altering. The RS7 tucks its extensive nostril into corners a lot extra willingly than its predecessors, and the rear follows go well with gamely, powering you out of corners with a bit extra histrionics. That is relative, although, and grip continues to be the secret for Audi’s Quattro AWD system. The g-forces will pin your intestine to the facet bolster of the seat however the rear finish won’t ever absolutely let go.
Non-compulsory rear-wheel steer does wonders to help agility.
Wild youngster
Think about, nonetheless, that you just’ve taken your excellent nook within the Audi as quick because the legal guidelines of physics will allow, after which in your rear-view mirror, you espy, accompanied by a small plume of tyre smoke and squeal, the BMW M5 Competitors rising from the identical nook, not fairly in a straight line. And that basically sums up the distinction between these two vehicles which might be seemingly very comparable on paper.
The M5, too, is a giant luxurious sedan with all-wheel drive, and a twin-turbo V8 with upwards of 600 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed auto. However it’s altogether extra of a handful to drive. In AWD Sport mode, the entrance driveshafts really feel like they’re solely there in title, and although they are going to nonetheless step in to claw you out of a decent spot, that is nonetheless a really rear-biased automobile. You may, famously and in contrast to the Audi, flip all the security nets off and change to RWD solely, however you’d need to be a extremely expert driver to benefit from the subliminal feeling of a well-controlled tail-out energy slide.
AWD Sport is one of the simplest ways to drive, and the nice bit is, in the event you instantly wish to change even a single parameter of the automobile’s setup – engine, exhaust noise, steering, suspension or gearbox – you are able to do so by way of the quick-access buttons and never have to enter the menu to reconfigure your M1 and M2 presets.
Shortcuts allow you to tweak particular person settings on the fly too.
Energy supply isn’t as rapid a intestine punch as within the Audi, but it surely’s no much less ferocious. BMW has tried to recapture a few of the rev-happy nature of the outdated naturally aspirated engines, and the Competitors revs out additional than the usual M5, with a wider powerband. And oh, it’s a lot louder than the Audi. The place you’re extra inclined to simply let the Audi do all of the give you the results you want, within the M5, you’ll end up reaching for the paddles and taking cost of the gearbox, which, although, associated to the one within the RS7, feels way more aggressive and brutal.
The white-knuckle expertise extends to the chassis. No absorbent air suspension right here, and as an alternative you get some actually stiff metal springs and adaptive dampers. It shimmies and strikes round, maybe a bit an excessive amount of for uneven Indian roads, and at all times retains you in your toes. The steering is fast, sharp, and stuffed with rewarding really feel, however that additionally means you’ll end up making fixed corrections to maintain the M5 on the straight and slender. It’s a bit of labor, but it surely’s way more rewarding while you get it proper, and can at all times go away you grinning ear to ear.
Loud, aggressive and playful, the M5 will at all times go away a foolish grin in your face.
The M5 Competitors could also be down on torque to the RS7, but it surely additionally has a full 190kg much less weight to maneuver, giving it much better power- and torque-to-weight ratios. The outcomes communicate for themselves – 0-100 got here up in a scant 3.29sec in our checks!
The draw back of all this? Effectively, even while you dial it all the way down to its most secure and most snug modes, the M5 Competitors by no means really settles down. The trip is busy and can thunk exhausting over potholes, the steering is a tad heavy in on a regular basis conditions, and the lowered suspension and lengthy wheelbase may make you wince going over larger velocity humps. It simply doesn’t have the plush trip or on a regular basis usability of the Audi.
Competitors will get lowered, stiffened suspension all spherical.
Brutes in fits
So, with vehicles that ended up being so completely different from each other, which is it going to be? It may very nicely be the RS7, which really embodies the ethos of the dual-purpose, all-weather supercar for the household. It’s a much more participating expertise than earlier than, and it permits even a novice to get a deal with on its efficiency fairly simply, however there’s nonetheless one thing fairly medical about the way it goes about its enterprise. What’s extra, whereas Audi’s usually gentle and inert steering makes issues simple in visitors, it simply doesn’t provide the intimacy with the street you need from a automobile with 600 horsepower. If you wish to make a method assertion, although, it needs to be the RS7, as a result of it stands out from the group in a manner the M5 simply can’t.
RS7’s frameless home windows critically elevate the fashion quotient.
However possibly you wish to mix in; that makes the shock of the efficiency a lot sweeter, and if driving exhausting frequently is your high precedence, the M5 Competitors, with its sharper dynamics, stronger efficiency and higher driver focus, clearly has an edge right here. It’s a tough edge, although, and the BMW will be fairly unforgiving on Indian roads, and that robs it of a few of that on a regular basis usability. The usual M5 was a bit higher on this respect. However then a 530d will go a lot quick and maintain you snug; you probably did select the super-sedan for a purpose, proper? So, whereas the selection does lastly come all the way down to what you need out of your efficiency luxurious automobile, what can’t be ignored is the value. At Rs 1.94 crore, the RS7 is a full Rs 39 lakh dearer than the M5 Competitors, and although every will thrill you in its personal distinctive manner, that is what lastly clinches it for the BMW.
