Akrapovic Audi RS7 Titanium Cat-Back Review (C7 2014-2017)

The Akrapovic Audi RS7 titanium cat-back is the single most requested exhaust for the 2014-2017 C7 RS7 that comes through our Tampa, FL shop, and it is easy to understand why. The C7 RS7 packs a 4.0L TFSI twin-turbo V8 making 560 hp and 516 lb-ft in standard form, or 605 hp and 553 lb-ft in the 2016-2017 Performance trim — enough to launch a 4,500 lb Sportback to 60 mph in roughly 3.3 to 3.6 seconds. The one thing Audi held back was the voice. This review breaks down exactly what the Akrapovic Evolution Line system (part S-AU/TI/4H) changes, how it fits, whether it is worth the roughly $10,700 asking price, and the three supporting upgrades we pair it with most often.

What Is the Akrapovic Evolution Line Cat-Back for the RS7?

The Akrapovic Evolution Line is a full cat-back exhaust system built almost entirely from lightweight titanium, finished with a set of hand-laid carbon fiber tailpipe tips. It replaces everything behind the catalytic converters on a 2014-2017 Audi RS7 (C7) — the center resonator section, rear muffler and tips — with a free-flowing, race-derived design. "Cat-back" means it leaves the factory catalytic converters in place, so the system stays emissions-friendly in most states and installs without a tune.

Akrapovic is the Slovenian manufacturer that supplies exhaust technology to MotoGP, World Superbike and multiple factory automotive programs, and the Evolution Line is its flagship street offering. On the RS7 it is engineered as a direct bolt-on that mates to the OEM hangers and the car's factory active exhaust valves, so the sound character still responds to Drive Select modes. The result is an exhaust that whispers in Comfort and roars in Dynamic — without the constant boom that plagues cheaper valveless systems.

Why Titanium? Weight Savings and Sound on the C7 RS7

Titanium is the whole point. The factory RS7 exhaust is heavy stainless steel, and Akrapovic Evolution Line systems are known for cutting a large share of that mass — titanium is roughly 40% lighter than steel of the same strength, so a full titanium cat-back removes meaningful weight from the very back of the car where it helps rotational balance and rear-axle mass most. On a 4,500 lb Sportback that is not a lap-time revolution, but it is unsprung and rearward weight you actually feel over crests and under hard braking.

The bigger transformation is acoustic. Titanium's density and Akrapovic's tuned resonator design give the 4.0T V8 a hard-edged, metallic top end and a deep idle that the muffled OEM system simply hides. Because the system retains the factory valves, cold starts and part-throttle cruising stay civil enough for a daily driver, while wide-open throttle produces the layered eight-cylinder howl and the pops and crackles on overrun that owners buy these systems for. Be honest about power, though: on a stock twin-turbo engine a cat-back is worth only a few horsepower, because the turbos already scavenge the exhaust. The gains here are weight, sound, throttle response and that intangible sense of occasion — not a dyno headline.

How Does It Sound and Drive?

In everyday driving the Akrapovic RS7 exhaust is a Jekyll-and-Hyde system, and that is exactly what makes it livable. Leave Drive Select in Comfort or Auto and the valves stay closed at light throttle: idle is a touch deeper, highway cruising stays quiet enough for phone calls, and there is no drone at 75 mph. Switch to Dynamic, drop two gears and the whole character changes — the 4.0T V8 snarls through the midrange, upshifts crack, and lifting off the throttle brings a run of pops and burbles from the carbon tips.

Owners consistently describe the change as "the sound the RS7 should have come with from the factory." Because the system keeps the catalytic converters and the active valves, it avoids the rasp and cold-start bark of cheap universal mufflers. The titanium also warms to a beautiful bronze-blue heat tint over time, so the tips age like a piece of motorsport hardware rather than dulling like chrome. If your goal is a car that can commute Monday and terrorize a canyon Saturday on the same exhaust, this delivers both.

Fitment: Does It Fit Every 2014-2017 RS7?

Yes — the Akrapovic Evolution Line cat-back (S-AU/TI/4H) is a direct fit for every 2014-2017 Audi RS7 Sportback (C7), including both the 560 hp base car and the 605 hp Performance model. Both trims share the same 4.0L TFSI V8 architecture and exhaust routing, so a single Akrapovic part number covers the entire C7 RS7 run. It bolts to the factory hangers and reuses the OEM valve actuators, which is why no tune or coding is required.

A few fitment notes from our install bay: this is a cat-back only, so it works with your existing downpipes and catalytic converters. If your C7 also wears the RS6 Avant bodywork abroad, the system is engineered for the RS7 Sportback specifically — always match the part to the exact chassis. Installation is a genuine bolt-on for an experienced shop, typically a couple of hours on a lift, and the titanium is light enough that a single technician can maneuver the rear section into place. We install and inspect these in Tampa, FL and ship nationwide.

Complete the Build: Intake, Suspension and Brakes

A titanium cat-back is the centerpiece, but the RS7 rewards a balanced build. Here are the three upgrades we pair with the Akrapovic system most often to turn a fast luxury liftback into a properly sorted performance car. Every part below is a confirmed fit for the 2014-2017 C7 RS7.

AWE Tuning S-FLO Carbon Intake V2 — Breathing to Match the Exhaust

Freeing the exhaust exit begs for a better intake charge. The AWE S-FLO Carbon Intake V2 for the C7 RS6/RS7 4.0T uses dual carbon fiber housings feeding both turbochargers, with sealed airboxes to keep intake air cool. It looks like factory-optional carbon under the hood and carries AWE's No Check Engine Light guarantee. At around $1,300 it is the natural companion mod to the Akrapovic cat-back for owners chasing induction sound and throttle sharpness.

KW H.A.S. Height-Adjustable Springs — Stance Without Losing the Ride

The C7 RS7's biggest visual flaw is factory wheel gap. The KW H.A.S. (Height Adjustable Spring) kit for the RS7 lets you dial in a lower, more aggressive stance while keeping the car's adaptive dampers and air-quality ride. Unlike fixed lowering springs, the KW height adjusters let you fine-tune ride height even after installation, and because it works with the OEM dampers it preserves Drive Select functionality. At around $1,400 it is the smart handling and stance upgrade for owners who daily their RS7.

DBA 5000 Series 2-Piece Front Rotors — Stopping the 600 HP Sportback

A 4,500 lb, 600 hp car earns its brakes. The DBA 5000 Series XD front rotors for the 2014-2018 RS7 (iron-rotor cars) are floating 2-piece units with a drilled-and-slotted face and DBA's Kangaroo Paw internal ventilation for better cooling and structural support. The silver aluminum hats trim rotational and unsprung weight versus the heavy OEM one-piece rotors. At around $700 for the pair they are the upgrade for owners who track their RS7 or just want fade-free stops from triple-digit speeds.

The RS7 (C7) Upgrade Menu at a Glance

Here is how the four upgrades in this guide stack up by role and price so you can prioritize your build. The Akrapovic cat-back is the headline, but the intake, springs and rotors round out a car that sounds, sits and stops the way a 600 hp RS7 should.