[vtknight]

So…I thought I would share an update about the just released Throttle House drag race between the new BMW M5 and the latest Audi RS7 Performance (and old Mercedes E63S lol).

Some of the things not seen is how badly the RS7 took the launch versus either car. My launch for that run was the closest out of the bunch but I was still three cars ahead of the new M5 by the 330 foot mark.
It was easy to launch and consistent.
The new M5 felt as big as it looked and it was like driving the size of the car it appeared to be. M cars have always felt smaller than they actually are. Not here - not for me. It’s quick - the interface and options are insane. I'm not a fan of the exterior. The interior was about the same for me, but I personally think a step down from my F90 M5C.

The hybrid piece works - the launches were pretty brutal with some hop - and it works as intended mid to top end - which is where James passed me - half-way to three quarters down the track.

Mid range roll - the Audi showed my point about mid top end lack of punch for the RS7. It wasn’t a crushing defeat - but the RS7 is like two different cars; one to 100ish MPH and the other after that. It’s too bad - because it is a really nice car (my favorite of the three by far). I do get it - most owners of this car won’t do much with it after 100 MPH. That said - why intentionally slow down your cars for people who may want to fully utilize the performance of your Audi RS7 Performance.

That is one thing I both love and appreciate from BMW - it really is a drivers car insofar that they throw all of the performance they can squeeze out of it - and don’t cut corners.

Anyways…lots of fun - very thankful for the invite - and a great day with the TH Team!

[pbonsalb]

Do you think the top end performance drop off of the RS7P is due to turbos that are on the small side, intercooler heat soak, boost taper in the tune or just not enough power? The 4500 lb weight should not be the issue given the weight of the other cars. I really like the top end pull of the 2018-23 M5 and modified mine for a bit more.

[vtknight]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Do you think the top end performance drop off of the RS7P is due to turbos that are on the small side, intercooler heat soak, boost taper in the tune or just not enough power? The 4500 lb weight should not be the issue given the weight of the other cars. I really like the top end pull of the 2018-23 M5 and modified mine for a bit more.

This is a great question...I would say it some kind of boost taper/tune decision. I used to help test modified car packages for Shops in the US and Canada from 600-2000 HP and I can clearly feel it - but I personally think anyone could. We have an Audi S5 - and I had a RS5 before that - and they both do/did exactly the same thing. On the one hand - you are experiencing intense traction in the first 60' and lower gears - so that is normal overall to feel more in the 0-100 MPH range of the pull. But the mid-range loss of punch is palpable to me between 100-110 MPH in the RS7 and sooner in the 5's (closer to 100) - more than expected - it just feels flat. Or to put it another way - whatever power output the BMW cars put out - I don't feel a change - it is linear with the power progression you would expect. It drops off but at a pace that feels like it following the power curve on a dyno sheet. The Audi's do not. TO your point - the F90 does not do this - and they are such an amazing platform to mod. I do not know the size of stock turbos on the AUdi - but the displacement may be a factor - 4L versus 4.4L for spool.

Overall MPH seems to confirm these perceived issues. The RS5 is lucky to run 115 MPH. I have asked myself - is it just the slower car - and of course it is...but I keep feeling that difference on every run at that midrange point - and I am not the only one there that did at testing - so I believe there is something going on there - which again I don't understand why Audi would do that. To somehow save components on the car? To discourage higher MPH driving? I'm sure the new RS7 still traps 125 MPH+ but the older car trapped 122 - which compared to the 128 MPH the F90 M5 traps - is both a big difference and quite low for the previous Audi RS7. That said - I would bet to the 1/8th mile between the two cars - the differences are much closer however. The 605 HP old RS7 Performance trapped 125, but at 4400 lbs versus almost 5000 lbs now (though at 627) - which I bet will average out to around 125 MPH trap - still less than the previous gen F90.The Audi's feel like two different cars during the same race lol.