2020 Audi RS 7 Sportback introduces wide body and 5 seats

The second-generation Audi RS 7 Sportback has been officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Ingolstadt’s latest super four-door coupe has evolved into a wide-bodied five-seater for the first time, along with improved performance and efficiency delivered by a mild hybrid system.

The new Audi RS 7 Sportback sits low to the ground, its flared wheel arches emphasising the sporty nature of the high-performance model from Audi Sport. At 1951 millimetres wide, the RS 7 is 40 millimetres wider than the A7 Sportback on which it is based. The RS 7 Sportback shares the coupé-like lines of the base model’s body, but only in four areas: the bonnet, the roof, the front doors and the tailgate. The RS-specific exterior design gives the 5008-millimetre grand tourer a character all of its own.

Inside, a stripped-down look with sporty accents characterise the interior of the new Audi RS 7 Sportback. The flat-bottomed, fully perforated RS sport leather steering wheel with new large RS aluminium shift paddles features multifunction buttons, including the RS MODE button, which the driver can use to enable the new Audi drive select RS1 and RS2 modes. This automatically opens the RS-specific displays in the Audi virtual cockpit. The RS and RS 7 logos adorn the steering wheel, seats, and illuminated front door sill trims. Logo projectors on the front and rear doors beam the Audi Sport emblem onto the ground when the doors are open.

RS sport seats upholstered with black pearl Nappa leather with a rhombus pattern and RS embossing are fitted as standard. An even sportier option is available in the form of RS sport seats covered with perforated Valcona leather, featuring a honeycomb pattern and RS embossing. The perforation allows a ventilation function for the first time.

The two RS design packages, available in either red or grey, bring a splash of colour, with contrasting stitching on the Alcantara steering wheel rim, gear lever gaiter and knee pads. Each package also features seat belt straps with coloured edging and RS floor mats. Optional inlays in carbon, natural grey-brown wood or matt aluminium open up a range of possibilities for customising the interior.

The 4.0 TFSI in the new RS 7 Sportback produces 441kW and delivers 800Nm of torque from 2100 to 4500rpm. Driving through an eight-speed automatic and quattro all-wheel drive, 0 to 100km/h is dispatched in just 3.6 seconds, en route to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. Customers can opt to have this increased to 280km/h with the Dynamic package and to 305km/h with the Dynamic plus package.

The new Audi RS 7 Sportback is expected to arrive in Australia in mid-2020. Pricing and specification will be announced closer to launch.