There’s one thing very conventional and in fact reasonably reassuring about pitching one four-door, four-wheel force German V8 in opposition to every other four-door, four-wheel force German V8. Neither 630hp, 4.0-litre Audi RS7 Efficiency nor 635hp, 4.4-litre BMW M5 CS are looking to be anything else that they’re no longer; those aren’t 120kWh BEV behemoths claiming to save lots of the sector or SUVs pretending to be sports activities automobiles. They’re supersaloons, natural and easy (or shut sufficient, within the RS7’s case), right here in what will have to be their final, maximum persuasive codecs. Sufficient is understood in regards to the M5 CS to grasp its inclusion; the RS7 is aiming to head one higher than the RS6 identical and surpass a BMW Membership Game adversary. 

Plus, effectively, the Efficiency is right here to remind us all that the RS7 exists. It may well appear to be the forgotten sibling as the automobile international will get all tizzy about every other RS6, which turns out unfair given how a lot is shared. Certain, it doesn’t do sensible efficiency reasonably so without difficulty because the RS6, and its design will not be as universally common, however that is nonetheless a ginormous Audi able to hauling a lot of people and quite a lot of stuff round with a swaggering twin-turbo V8 as accompaniment. It most definitely merits extra popularity than it will get – or a minimum of one thing like parity with the RS6. 

Particularly when it’s this nice. If ever there used to be a automobile no longer to pass judgement on on appearances, the Efficiency is it. Surely you’re seeing a two-tonne, five-metre-long, lightbar-equipped Audi RS on 22-inch wheels and achieving some conclusions already. One is rooted in revel in in all probability, despite the fact that in no way appropriate right here. It rides effectively, for starters, this RS7, with right kind plushness and a degree of convenience that the M5 – with its measly, staggered arrange of 20/21s, and extra tyre sidewall – can’t reasonably fit. 

At low velocity it’s not possible to not brace for the have an effect on from velocity bumps and the like, handiest to be in large part undisturbed; the BMW is tenser, tauter, much less amenable. It method you’ll be able to in reality lean into what appears like this Audi’s most well-liked state: menacingly cruising round, creating a impolite noise, going quicker than is precisely essential and feeling ever so relatively good about it. Little does feel-good on 4 wheels like the peerlessly achieved ‘bahnstomer, even at 1 / 4 of its best velocity. 

Just like the RS6 Efficiency, a lot of the RS7’s dexterity can most probably be attributed to its unsprung weight financial savings. Vorsprung spec right here brings the ones implausible Y-spoke 22s, which save 5kg every (!) in comparison to the usual wheel. With the non-compulsory (£9k) ceramics – a monster 440mm on the entrance, 370mm rear – added in additionally, every other 34kg comes off the unsprung mass. So 54kg in overall, a far-from-insignificant quantity even on a heavy automobile. An RS7 Efficiency with non-lightweight rims and iron brakes undoubtedly wouldn’t trip with reasonably such aplomb. Optionally completed or another way, it’s reasonably some celebration trick. 

Corners carry the Audi much more animatedly to lifestyles. The usual RS7 used to be all the time an ready handler, as rapid as anything else around the floor, if moderately aloof with it. Extra continuously than no longer, it appeared extra content material with the driving force as a spectator to all it used to be able to fairly than bringing them alongside to the celebration. That’s unwelcome, if acquainted, trait has been grew to become on its head; taking 8 pounds of sound deadening out has introduced some V8 rumble to lawsuits, the steerage – if nonetheless a little rapid for a automobile of this measurement – provides some resistance to paintings in opposition to ultimately and the game diff can in reality be felt gnawing on the tarmac to hurl you from a bend. It’s nonetheless lacking the previous few finer main points when it comes to comments, however the Efficiency is an important step in the correct course from the usual automobile. Whilst, crucially, no longer sacrificing that crushing efficiency or plain usability.  

As is rapid Audi lore – rapid automobile lore usually now, in reality – the RS7 does admittedly want putting in place to in reality exhibit its very best. The Dynamic surroundings for the suspension might effectively carry advantages on a monitor, but on street it needlessly unsettles the trip after Auto, and the similar surroundings for the force gadget makes the throttle too abrupt. On the other hand, you’ll without a doubt need Pronounced for the sound to verify most malevolence. And the game diff at its maximum ferocious to claw the whole thing out of the outside and the large Continentals. 

Configured, thusly, the Efficiency is the RS7 because it all the time will have to had been. There’s the whole thing right here that fanatics of the usual automobile ought to comprehend, whilst those that in reality wish to be part of the motion can experience an RS7 with a little of grit and tenacity plumbed in. Just like the hot RS3 and RS4 Pageant, a correctly memorable rapid Audi is maximum without a doubt welcome. It is only a disgrace they’ve arrived in such restricted numbers and for therefore little time.

Nonetheless, it bodes effectively for regardless of the long term holds for Audi Game. There are obviously people there who care in regards to the intangibles, so we’ll have to pray for his or her endured involvement as soon as the V8 has long past. (The RS e-tron GT is an auspicious starting.) This RS6 and RS7 may have been left untouched to look out their days with a good legacy; that the Performances exist method they’ll each be remembered as correctly nice flagships. And far the similar will also be mentioned of the BMW. The F90 M5 used to be an excellent saloon with out ever being actually unforgettable; its lasting standing overly depending on it being the remaining purely combustion model. It used to be by no means an M5 that left you craving for every other pass, or dreamed of proudly owning sooner or later. It wanted the sensational CS to transport the sport on. 

Granted – and no longer for not anything both – if the requirement for a automobile like that is simply otherworldly velocity mixed with soothing convenience, the Audi takes it. In spite of the burden merit on paper for the BMW, there’s no longer a lot in it in actual lifestyles – that additional 74lb toes of torque for the RS7 will pay dividends each and every time the throttle is pressed, even though the reaction is sharper within the CS. It’s arguably the extra charismatic V8, too, boasting an old-school, low-pitched rumble along some turbo fizz – then again strangled via filters – in opposition to the BMW’s extra motorsporty blare. Be in unquestionably: there is no scenario the place the Audi is being left in the back of.

That mentioned, if we’re speaking about sheer, unadulterated, tell-the-grandchildren revel in, the CS is in a category of its personal. As it’s each and every time it faces any roughly comparability, in reality, in opposition to just about any roughly automobile. Massive, heavy saloons merely aren’t intended to be this soaking up, this tactile, this obscenely satisfying to hustle down a street. It’s a real privilege to revel in it getting higher and higher the quicker it is pushed, protected within the wisdom not anything else manages its mass or adjustments course like this. Because the cracks start to seem within the RS7’s facade – when the brake pedal isn’t so reassuring or the damping in spite of everything needs for precision – so the BMW is at its imperious very best, unruffled and unflustered via just about any problem requested of it. But nonetheless handing over absolute readability from its controls, the measured, preferably weighted steerage an glaring spotlight when sampled back-to-back – it isn’t simply rapid to a fault. The CS is monstrously fast and supremely well-sorted. 

Whilst it will not be reasonably so serene round the city, it is difficult to argue that as a concern in two automobiles so explicitly fascinated by riding thrills. With velocity below its wheels, it’s the M5 that makes very best at the promise of tremendous saloon nirvana: it’s composed, communicative, confidence-inspiring and right kind amusing in addition, the whole thing that may be desired from an M automobile and extra. To this point the one factor to ship an identical poise, steadiness and finesse is – you’ve guessed it – the smaller M3 CS. The transformation from smaller, lighter, rear-drive automobiles that couldn’t all the time stay a take care of on themselves, to greater, heavier xDrivers which are extra succesful in addition to extra gratifying to force in reality has been astonishing to witness. 

So it’s most definitely simple to wager which approach the decision is going in this one, with out even factoring within the BMW’s awesome riding atmosphere or its extra classically good-looking glance. Which isn’t to disregard the RS7 Efficiency out of hand for a 2nd. A perhaps relatively fairer, like-for-like comparability with a regular M5 Pageant or one thing like a Porsche Panamera Turbo would had been a in reality close-run factor, such are the beneficial properties made in motive force involvement and sense of instance over a regular ‘7. RS6 apart, that is the most productive Audi V8 in yonks, and, if possibly no longer the remaining hurrah epic that some may had been hoping for, it without a doubt supplies quite a lot of proof that Audi Game can nonetheless flip in a laudable headliner. Each second spent aboard used to be a pleasing one. 

However up in opposition to it on this case used to be a supersaloon that lately is aware of no equivalent. You force the M5 CS no longer pondering of what’s so stunningly nice, however fairly what may perhaps be modified for the easier. Seldom do efficiency automobiles of any stripe really feel so cohesive and so authentically rewarding, let on my own tech-heavy massive saloons with four-wheel force. It used to be simple to disregard the CS at release, with its scant 70kg weight reduction, reputedly inconsequential suspension adjustments and foolish racecar-style lighting fixtures; handiest now it’s the naysayers that glance daft, as a result of that is the ‘bahnstormer par excellence. As rapid, entertaining, enticing, sumptuous and loutish as it is advisable to ever need or want a flagship style like this to be. As fanatics of the style, it’s not possible to not be smitten. The CS is a triumph, as nice a purely V8 saloon as there’ll ever be – let’s hope BMW can proceed this wealthy vein of shape into the hybrid technology.

Engine: 3,993cc, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 8-speed torque converter automated, all-wheel force
Energy (hp): 630@6,000rpm
Torque (lb toes): 627@2,300-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 3.4sec
Best velocity: 174mph
Weight: 2,065kg (unladen weight with out motive force)
MPG: 22.8
CO2: 282g/km
Worth: £125,495 (OTR worth as usual; worth as examined £136,495 produced from RS Ceramic brakes with blue calipers for £9,000, RS Dynamic Pack Plus for £500 (189mph velocity prohibit elevate) and RS Sports activities Suspension Plus with Dynamic Experience Regulate for £1,300)

Engine: 4,395cc, V8, twin-turbocharged
Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel force
Energy (hp): 635@6,000rpm
Torque (lb toes): 553@1,800-5,950rpm
0-62mph: 3.0 seconds
Best velocity: 189mph
Weight: 1,825kg (DIN, with out motive force, 1,900kg EU)
MPG: 25-25.5
CO2: 253-258g/km
Worth: £140,780