Supercars with Intelligence | Audi Sport

Audi RS 7 Sportback | Audi RS 7 Sportback

Intelligent Sports Gear

Audi has always embraced racing, driven by the belief that "racing is a laboratory for technology," achieving a brilliant track record. Now, a sub-brand has been born, embodying the culmination of the latest technologies honed on the track and symbolizing Audi as a sports premium brand. This is "Audi Sport." We visited Zushi, a mecca for marine sports, in the RS 7 Sportback, a flagship model of this brand that proclaims itself an "Intelligent Super Car."

Text by OGAWA FumioPhotographs by OKAMURA MasahiroSpecial Thanks to RIVIERA ZUSHI MARINA

A New Brand to Enhance Audi's Sports Image

Audi is known for its success in numerous motorsports, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. While its efforts in the World Rally Championship, which began in the 80s, are also known in Japan, Audi generally carries a stronger sporty image in Europe and North America. Against this backdrop, Audi Japan announced "Audi Sport" in July 2016. This is a sub-brand designed to strengthen the sporty image of the company and its vehicles.

A representative model is the Audi RS 7 Sportback. It's a four-door with a stylish fastback body, but under the hood lies a 4-liter V8. The more powerful specification, the Audi RS 7 Sportback performance, which has just arrived in Japan, produces a maximum output of 445 kW (605 ps) and a maximum torque of 700 Nm. This is combined with a full-time 4WD system that maximizes power delivery.

Audi RS 7 Sportback Performance | Audi RS 7 Sportback Performance

The beauty of the Audi RS 7 Sportback lies in its combination of four key elements: functionality, elegance, comfort, and performance. The interior features a driver-focused, tight cockpit to enhance maneuverability, while generously using high-quality materials like leather and wood to create an unparalleled luxurious space. Its distinctive character and style, which are hard to find elsewhere, are highly appealing.

Who would drive an Audi RS 7 Sportback? If we let our imagination run wild, we might picture an athlete. Perhaps someone who excels at triathlons, golf, or surfing, but also enjoys intellectually demanding marine sports like sailing. Given that the intellectual aspects of Audi's appeal—its meticulous craftsmanship and high-precision engineering—are important, there might be a natural affinity with marine sports.

Imagine living in Tokyo and keeping your yacht at a marina in Shonan. For such a lifestyle, the Audi RS 7 Sportback would be an unparalleled partner. The reason is simple: it allows you to reach your destination without stress, and it is safe and comfortable. Furthermore, despite its high output and large displacement, the engine offers a smooth running character that makes driving incredibly enjoyable, concentrating the allure of the drive.

Comfort and sportiness. Style and functionality. The Audi RS 7 Sportback possesses numerous distinct characteristics. Life can be dull if enjoyment is one-dimensional. In that sense, it is truly appealing. Some say it is akin to the sea.

Audi RS 7 Sportback | Audi RS 7 Sportback

Intelligent Sports Gear (2)

A Supercar Bridging Two Worlds

While out in the Zushi Marina with the Audi RS 7 Sportback, we met Eisuke Tomiyama, an editor and writer who focuses on seaside lifestyles and marine sports, and serves as the editor-in-chief of "Shonan Style Magazine." This magazine disseminates the appeal of the Shonan area's lifestyle, including housing and dining. Mr. Tomiyama, a resident of Kamakura, also owns an Audi Q5, which he uses for work, including interviews.

"I truly understand the appeal of a sporty sedan like the Audi RS 7 Sportback. In a word, it skillfully bridges two worlds. From my perspective in Kamakura, I feel it's a waste to think that Tokyo is the only place to live, or that everything is available only in Tokyo. Quite a few of my acquaintances live in Tokyo and come to places like Zushi to enjoy marine sports such as sailing."

Mr. Tomiyama shared this sentiment at the Zushi Marina boat shed. According to him, "The stylish approach right now is understated." He questions the notion of ostentatiously displaying one's involvement in marine sports or ownership of a boat in the city.

"What I find appealing is seeing friends and acquaintances arrive in Shonan in their sports models to enjoy sailing. It's truly understated. For them, Tokyo and Shonan are connected within their lifestyles. They seem to structure their lives without overemphasizing either, for example, working in Tokyo and extending their reach to Shonan for enjoyment."

In such contexts, the Audi RS 7 Sportback naturally draws attention. Audi's sponsorship of various yacht races and other events, big or small, garners favor among yachtsmen, but what truly captures attention is the car's inherent quality. It can be incredibly fast when desired, yet also offers a comfortable cruising experience. The car itself can be considered sports gear comparable to a yacht. With factories where racing machines and production cars are manufactured on the same line, Audi seamlessly connects sports and daily life.

Models like the Audi RS 7 Sportback performance, Audi RS 6 Avant performance, Audi RS Q3 performance, and Audi R8, among other Audi Sport models, are ultimate luxury vehicles infused with technology cultivated through racing. For those who understand that sports enrich life, Audi Sport is undoubtedly the most suitable partner when choosing a vehicle.