ABT's Audi RS 7 Legacy Edition Celebrates Sportback's Tenth Anniversary With 750 HP

1 year, 3 months ago - 23 July 2023, autoevolution
ABT's Audi RS 7 Legacy Edition Celebrates Sportback's Tenth Anniversary With 750 HP
The iconic German tuner continues to commemorate some of Audi Sport's best-known models; now it's time for the RS 7 to shine under the spotlight on the aftermarket realm's red carpet.

Late last year, ABT Sportsline congratulated Audi on building the RS 6 model for two decades and named it the "perfect platform for ultimate high-performance station wagons." As it turns out, of course, they had an ulterior motive. Thus, they unleashed the ABT RS 6 Legacy Edition in May – a high-performance version limited to just 200 units worldwide.

All in all, without even sacrificing its station wagon-like everyday practicality, the well-known RS 6 Avant became a 750-hp supercar killer. Sure, some will say that it's not too far off from Audi Sport's treatment of the RS 6 Performance model – the German company just announced the US pricing starting at $125,800 for the RS 6 Avant with 621 horsepower on tap.

By the way, they also gave us the MSRPs for the fancier RS 7 Sportback Performance model, which started at $127,800 while keeping the same technical credentials, including the extra-shaved (by 0.2s) zero to 60 mph (96 kph) sprint time of 3.3 seconds. Now, of course, it's not hard to guess that ABT gave the RS 7 the Legacy Edition treatment, too.

Dubbed the ABT RS7-LE, which is also limited to just 200 examples worldwide, the more powerful version of the RS 7 Sportback commemorates a decade since Audi introduced the high-performance liftback on the market in 2013. With signature ABT POWER R technology, an in-house ABT turbo and intercooler setup, and software tweaks, the output was raised to 559 kW (760 ps or 750 hp) and 980 Nm (723 lb-ft), just like on the RS6-LE.

Additional tweaks include a reworked suspension featuring BT coil-over springs and ABT sports stabilizers on the front and rear axles, a free-standing rear spoiler, plus 22-inch ABT high-performance IR22 forged aftermarket wheels shod in Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport 295/30 ZR22 tires. Thematically, the add-on parts feature the company's "Signature Carbon Bold" finish, and besides the ABT Carbon insert on the hood, there's SCB on the front lip, inserts, and grille attachment, on the mirror caps, side skirt inserts, side blades, the rear skirt and the newly redesigned free-standing wing.

The meaty voice of the V8 engine now comes out of a stainless steel ABT silencer system with 102-mm four-pipe exits. The ABT RS 7 Legacy Edition also features additional 'trinkets' in the cockpit. Those include Dinamica fabric on various elements (gear knob cap, the dashboard, and seat frame trims), which is said to be "not only particularly flame-retardant but also optimally protected against moisture and dirt thanks to its Teflon coating." Additional goodies come in the form of ABT logos, an ABT steering wheel, and access to the "myABT" smartphone app that can be projected inside the car via Apple CarPlay.