Wow, did someone just let off a small tactical nuclear device outside?
No, I think that was just one of the new Audi 'Performance' range parallel parking.
Performance range?
Yup, new versions of the RS 6 Avant and RS 7 Sportback that now come with even more power. Their 4.0-litre TFSI twin-turbo V8 petrol engines have been tweaked up a notch to give 605hp and 750Nm of torque and both can accelerate to 62mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Staggeringly, neither car has seen its official fuel economy figures reduce - the RS 6 Avant gets 29.4mpg while the RS 7 returns 29.7mpg. Their CO2 emissions are 223g/km and 221g/km respectively.
The nominal torque figure for the uprated engine is actually 700Nm, but there's an overboost system that gives it the extra 50Nm when needed, while that 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds is about 0.2 seconds quicker than before.
The extra 45hp of power comes from tweaks to the engine management system, while fuel consumption has been kept in check thanks to the clever cylinder-on-demand fuel saving system.
As before, both cars get an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox with gearshift paddles, plus air suspension that can be lowered by as much as 20mm, while there's an even stiffer RS Sport Suspension option available. The quattro four-wheel drive drivetrain sends 60 per cent of its power to the rear wheels under normal circumstances.
If you're nerdy enough, you'll be able to spot the new RS models thanks to their new 21-inch alloys, which will often be seen covering up optional ceramic brakes. The bumpers and air intakes have also had a light tweak and there's a new colour option - Ascari Blue.
Both new models go on sale in November.
Neil Briscoe - 23 Oct 2015
