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

                    
      		   
      Published on 02-03-2013 01:32 AM
      1 Comment Comments
      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
      This article was originally published in forum thread: Audi robbed? MotorTrend picks the 2013 BMW 650i Grand Coupe xDrive over the Audi S7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS550 4Matic started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 10 Comments
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 02-03-2013, 02:51 AM
        i would definitely take the s7 as well, that thing is a beast
      1. Sledgehammer's Avatar
        Sledgehammer - 02-03-2013, 07:05 AM
        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.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-03-2013, 01:49 PM
        Best performer does not equal victory but all other tests chose the S7 and pricing seems to have been overlooked bog time....
      1. mpowerct's Avatar
        mpowerct - 02-03-2013, 04:54 PM
        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.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-03-2013, 04:56 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by mpowerct Click here to enlarge
        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.
      1. Eric335's Avatar
        Eric335 - 02-03-2013, 04:58 PM
        Notice the curb weights as well, the 6-series is a pig, as usual.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-03-2013, 05:01 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Eric335 Click here to enlarge
        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.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 02-03-2013, 05:02 PM
        Oh and take a look at the awesome 50/50 BMW weight distribution. Oh wait a second...
      1. Puerto Rican 335d's Avatar
        Puerto Rican 335d - 02-04-2013, 06:09 AM
        Pretty close to me but frankly SPEAKING AUDI would be the winner on this except the fuel consumption!!
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 02-04-2013, 09:35 AM
        Stupid segment with stupid cars..