Audi robbed? MotorTrend picks the 2013 BMW 650i Grand Coupe xDrive over the Audi S7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic

[Sticky]

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?

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

Source

[Yukohama]

i would definitely take the s7 as well, that thing is a beast

[Sledgehammer]

Considering the test is subjective as are all road tests I dont consider the result crazy. Its not uncommon for the best performer to not place first. That being said the A7/S7 is as ugly as the Panamera for me. The 650 is much better looking I for one would choose the 650 or CLS on looks alone over the S7.

Clearly the Audi is a stout performer and cheaper, however if I recall the C&D Lightning Lap they were highly disappointed with the A7 on track but loved it on the street.

[Sticky]

Best performer does not equal victory but all other tests chose the S7 and pricing seems to have been overlooked bog time....

[mpowerct]

Sorry , But the 30 grand difference is based on options. I would really say it a $10,000 difference going off base Price. We don't know what options were in each car etc so that number really is not accurate. Either way that audi is quite the performer but I would take the BMW personally any day even though it is slower.. Audi Is just not nearly as pretty. And at the end of the day no one is going to be tracking these cars so the difference is minimal on the road. So for daily duties BMW all day for me.

[Sticky]

Sorry , But the 30 grand difference is based on options.

The 6 Series base pricing AND options are insane. Look at the S7 and CLS options, base, and final pricing. It's very valid to point out the huge gap.

The M6, Gran Coupe, etc., is simply way more expensive than the competition. BMW really priced the 6 way too high.

[Eric335]

Notice the curb weights as well, the 6-series is a pig, as usual.

[Sticky]

Notice the curb weights as well, the 6-series is a pig, as usual.

Can't believe I forgot to mention that. Wrote this one in a hurry but I've been hard on BMW's weight gain and rightfully so.

[Sticky]

Oh and take a look at the awesome 50/50 BMW weight distribution. Oh wait a second...

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Pretty close to me but frankly SPEAKING AUDI would be the winner on this except the fuel consumption!!

[Sorena]

Stupid segment with stupid cars..