This is kind of an odd result. Lately, BMW has been losing a lot of comparison tests. Based on the numbers in this one as well as what the author writes, the Audi S7 should really be the winner. It's the quickest and fastest through the 1/4 mile. It is the best handling of the three with the highest skidpad number (tied with the 650i) and the quickest through the figure eight test. And with a price just under $30k less (yes $30k!) as tested than the 650i why in the world did it come in second?

Click here to enlarge

Seriously, read this: "If this test were just about pure, back-road capability, the S7 would get the nod. But as the BMW is about 95 percent as capable as the Audi (identical 0.94 max g, too), but offers so much more in desirability, craftsmanship, and that all-important X-factor, we're calling it the winner."

What? If the test were just about back road capability and driving pleasure the S7 would win? But the BMW is 95% as capable (so MotorTrend directly states the BMW is not 100% as capable as the Audi) yet at a 26% price premium. So $30k more to get within 5% of the overall driving capability? Shouldn't it be the Ultimate Driving Machine that is the more capable drivers car? Hey, you make sense of it.

The BMW gets the win based on the "X-factor" whatever that means. I'd keep the $30k and tell BMW to keep their X-factor. Especially as I pull easily away and lose the 650i on a nice curvy road enjoying the driving pleasure the S7 offers for a 1/4 less money. Seems someone at MotorTrend thinks the 650i X-factor is worth another $30k. Do you?


2013 Audi S7 2013 BMW 650IGran Coupe xDrive 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD Front-engine, AWD Front-engine, AWD
ENGINE TYPE Twin-turbo 90-deg V-8, aluminum block/heads Twin-turbo 90-deg V-8, aluminum block/heads Twin-turbo 90-deg V-8, aluminum block/heads
VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DOHC, 4 valves/cyl DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT 243.7 cu in/3993 cc 268.2 cu in/4395 cc 284.6 cu in/4663 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO 10.1:1 10.0:1 10.5:1
POWER (SAE NET) 420 hp @ 5500 rpm 445 hp @ 5500 rpm 402 hp @ 5000 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET) 406 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm 480 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm 443 lb-ft @ 1800 rpm
REDLINE 6400 rpm 7000 rpm 6300 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER 10.6 lb/hp 10.3 lb/hp 10.7 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION 7-speed twin-cl auto 8-speed automatic 7-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO 4.09:1/2.12:1 2.81:1/1.88:1 2.47:1/1.80:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR Multilink, air springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, air springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar Control arms, coil springs, adj shocks, adj anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, adj anti-roll bar Struts, air springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, air springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO 16.1:1 18.0:1 16.5:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK 2.7 3 2.6
BRAKES, F;R 15.7-in vented disc; 14.0-in vented disc, ABS 13.7-in vented disc; 13.6-in vented disc, ABS 14.2-in vented, drilled disc; 12.6-in vented disc, ABS
WHEELS, F;R 9.0 x 20-in, cast aluminum 8.5 x 20-in; 9.0 x 20-in cast aluminum 9.0 x 19-in; 10.0 x 19-in cast aluminum
TIRES, F;R 265/35R20 99Y
Yokohama Advan Sport		 245/35R20 95Y; 275/30R20 97Y Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT DSST 255/35R19 96Y; 285/30R19 98Y Pirelli P Zero
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE 114.7 in 116.9 in 113.2 in
TRACK, F/R 64.7/64.4 in 63.2/65.8 in 63.9/63.2 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 195.6 x 75.2 x 55.9 in 197.2 x 74.6 x 54.8 in 194.5 x 74.1 x 55.8 in
TURNING CIRCLE 39.0 ft 39.2 ft 37.0 ft
CURB WEIGHT 4435 lb 4603 lb 4318 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R 55/45% 53/47% 56/44%
SEATING CAPACITY 4 5 4
HEADROOM, F/R 36.9/36.6 in 40.6/37.0 in 36.9/36.1 in
LEGROOM, F/R 41.3/37.0 in 42.1/35.3 in 42.1/35.0 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R 57.2/55.9 in 56.7/54.6 in 57.1/56.5 in
CARGO VOLUME 24.5 cu ft 13.0 cu ft 15.3 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30 1.2 sec 1.4 sec 1.7 sec
0-40 2 2.3 2.5
0-50 2.8 3.1 3.4
0-60 3.9 4.2 4.4
0-70 5.1 5.4 5.7
0-80 6.4 6.9 7.1
0-90 8 8.6 8.7
0-100 9.8 10.7 10.6
PASSING, 45-65 MPH 2.1 2.1 2
QUARTER MILE 12.3 sec @ 112.1 mph 12.7 sec @ 108.0 mph 12.9 sec @ 110.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 103 ft 106 ft 102 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.94 g (avg) 0.94 g (avg) 0.88 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 24.8 sec @ 0.81 g (avg) 25.1 sec @ 0.79 g (avg) 25.4 sec @ 0.75 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH 1600 rpm 1500 rpm 1500 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE $79,695 $90,395 $75,405
PRICE AS TESTED $85,570 $114,845 $81,135
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL Yes/yes Yes/yes Yes/yes
AIRBAGS Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee
BASIC WARRANTY 4 yrs/50,000 mi 4 yrs/50,000 mi 4 yrs/50,000 mi
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 4 yrs/50,000 mi 4 yrs/50,000 mi 4 yrs/50,000 mi
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE 4 yrs/unlimited 4 yrs/unlimited Unlimited
FUEL CAPACITY 19.8 gal 18.5 gal 21.1 gal
EPA CITY/HWY ECON 17/27 mpg 16/24 mpg 16/25 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 198/125 kW-hrs/100 mi 211/140 kW-hrs/100 mi 211/135 kW-hrs/100 mi
CO2 EMISSIONS 0.95 lb/mi 1.03 lb/mi 1.02 lb/mi
MT FUEL ECONOMY 12.2 mpg 13.2 mpg 15.0 mpg
RECOMMENDED FUEL Unleaded premium Unleaded premium Unleaded premium



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