Audi RS7 Sportback: 412kW ‘four-door coupe’ debuts in Detroit

The large 'four-door coupe' borrows its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 TSFI petrol engine from the RS6 Avant, generating peak power of 412kW and maximum torque of 700Nm across a broad 1750-5500rpm range.

The Audi RS7 Sportback can sprint from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds before reaching an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h. Opt for the dynamic package and top speed increases to 280km/h, and 305km/h with the dynamic package plus.

Despite the ballistic performance numbers, Audi claims the RS7 Sportback consumes 9.8 litres on the combined cycle thanks to the standard start/stop system, innovative thermal management, and cylinder-on-demand technology. At low to medium engine speeds, the 4.0-litre TSFI runs as a four-cylinder engine until the driver accelerates more strongly, activating all eight cylinders.

The engine is mated to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission with paddle shifters sending power to the quattro AWD system.

The Audi RS7 Sportback gets adaptive air suspension, which lowers the body by 20mm. Customers will also have the choice of sport suspension plus with dynamic ride control as an alternative to the air suspension.

As standard, the Audi RS7 Sportback comes with polished, forged lightweight wheels, and it can be optioned with 21-inch wheels in three designs.

The brakes measure 390mm up front with six-pot calipers, while optional 420mm carbon ceramic brakes are also available.

Inside, the RS7 Sportback boasts a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel, white scales and red needles on black–faced instrument dials and a shift light for when the rev limit is reached.

Heavily bolstered RS sport seats covered in a combination Alcantara and leather are standard, with high-grade honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather an option.

Other features include xenon plus headlights, a tyre pressure monitoring system, parking system plus and three-zone climate control.

Options include a head-up display, comfort package, dynamic package and dynamic package plus.

The Audi RS7 Sportback will arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2014. Local pricing and specification details will be announced closer to the car's launch.