How to Install a C7 Audi RS7 Akrapovic Titanium Exhaust

Installing an Akrapovic exhaust on a C7 Audi RS7 is a bolt-on, cat-back job that takes a shop tech roughly two to three hours and requires no ECU tune. The Akrapovic Evolution Line for the 2014-2017 RS7 Sportback is a full titanium cat-back system that weighs 57.1 lbs versus the factory 75 lbs — a 17.9 lb (about 24%) reduction — while adding a deeper, harder V8 voice to Audi's 560-horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbo. This guide walks through the complete install, the exact torque approach, C7 fitment, and the measured sound, weight, and power results, plus the complementary bolt-ons that pair best with your new exhaust.

What Is the Akrapovic Evolution Line for the C7 RS7?

The Akrapovic Evolution Line (part number S-AU/TI/4H) is a full titanium cat-back exhaust system engineered specifically for the 2014-2017 Audi RS7 Sportback (C7). It replaces everything from the catalytic converters back — the connecting pipes, center resonator section, and rear mufflers — with lightweight Grade titanium and finishes the look with genuine carbon-fiber tailpipes. It is Akrapovic's flagship road system for the platform, sitting above the brand's Slip-On kits in both scope and price at $10,688.07.

Internally, the system uses cast titanium collectors and a three-muffler layout, with the central muffler housing an X-pipe crossover that balances exhaust pulses between the banks of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. That X-crossover is what gives the RS7 its layered, hard-edged tone instead of a droning single note. In our Tampa shop, this is the exhaust we recommend first to any C7 RS7 owner who wants a factory-clean install with a genuine motorsport pedigree — Akrapovic supplies exhaust systems to multiple manufacturer performance programs.

Why Upgrade the C7 RS7 Exhaust?

The C7 RS7's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 560 horsepower (605 hp in RS7 Performance trim) and up to 553 lb-ft of torque, but the factory exhaust muffles most of that character behind heavy steel mufflers tuned for luxury-sedan quiet. Upgrading the cat-back exhaust does three measurable things: it unlocks sound, sheds meaningful weight, and frees a small amount of power. Here is what each one looks like in real numbers.

Sound

The Akrapovic delivers a deep, resonant tone at low rpm and a distinctive popping and crackle on lift-off as engine speed climbs. Because the X-pipe crossover in the center muffler blends the pulses from both cylinder banks, the RS7 gains a hard, exotic bark under throttle rather than the boomy drone that cheaper straight-through systems produce. It is loud enough to announce the car, but the retained mufflers keep it civil at highway cruise so it will not drone on a long drive.

Weight

The titanium Evolution Line weighs 57.1 lbs compared to the factory system's 75 lbs, a reduction of 17.9 lbs or roughly 24%. On a car that already leans on its all-wheel-drive traction, cutting nearly 18 lbs from the rear overhang is unsprung and rotational weight you feel in transitions, not just a spec-sheet number.

Power

Akrapovic's published dyno figures for the C7 RS7 Evolution Line show a gain of 6.9 bhp at 5,850 rpm (558 to 564.9 bhp) and 7.7 lb-ft of torque at 2,950 rpm (556 to 563.7 lb-ft). These are modest on a stock tune — a cat-back's real value is sound and weight — but the freer-flowing titanium system also creates headroom for larger gains once you add a piggyback or ECU tune down the road.

Tools and Parts You Need

The Akrapovic Evolution Line is a direct-fit, bolt-on cat-back — no cutting, welding, or fabrication is required. You will need the full kit in the box plus a modest set of hand tools. Before you start, let the exhaust cool completely; titanium and factory steel both hold heat for a long time.

• The Akrapovic Evolution Line cat-back (S-AU/TI/4H) — includes the connecting pipes, X-pipe center section, rear mufflers, carbon tailpipes, and new band clamps and hangers.
• A two-post lift or four jack stands — the car must be level and fully supported; the rear subframe area needs clear access.
• Metric socket and wrench set — primarily 13 mm and 15 mm for the clamps, hangers, and heat-shield hardware.
• A torque wrench reading in the 10-30 lb-ft range for the band clamps and bracket bolts.
• Penetrating oil, anti-seize, and rubber-hanger lube — factory hardware on a 7-10 year old RS7 can be stubborn.
• Trim/pry tools if you are removing the rear diffuser to swap tips.

How to Install the Akrapovic Evolution Line (Step by Step)

A C7 RS7 cat-back swap is a straightforward two-to-three-hour job for a competent DIYer with a lift. The single most important rule: leave every clamp finger-tight until the entire system is hung and aligned, then torque from front to back. This prevents the tailpipes from sitting crooked in the diffuser.

1. Raise and support the car. Lift the RS7 evenly on a two-post lift or place it on four jack stands so it sits level. Confirm the exhaust is stone-cold.
2. Remove the rear diffuser trim. Detach the lower rear valance/diffuser hardware so the factory tips clear on the way out. Set the fasteners aside in labeled cups.
3. Support the factory system and free the hangers. Place a transmission jack or a helper under the rear mufflers, spray the rubber isolators with hanger lube, and work the factory mufflers off their hangers.
4. Loosen the mid-pipe clamps. Break loose the band clamps where the cat-back meets the factory downpipe/cat section. Apply penetrating oil first and support the weight as the joint separates.
5. Lower the factory cat-back out. With the hangers free and the clamps open, walk the complete factory system down and out of the car. Note how the OE hangers and heat shields are oriented.
6. Hang the Akrapovic center section. Transfer or install the supplied hangers, then lift the X-pipe center section into place and seat it onto the front slip-joint. Leave the clamp loose.
7. Fit the rear mufflers and tailpipes. Slide the rear muffler assemblies onto the center section and hang them on the isolators. Loosely fit the carbon tailpipes.
8. Align everything before torquing. Center the carbon tips in the diffuser openings with even gaps side-to-side, and confirm the system has clearance from the body, heat shields, and rear subframe. Adjust the slip joints until the alignment is perfect.
9. Torque from front to back. Tighten the band clamps and hanger brackets in sequence, front joint first, to the values in Akrapovic's supplied instructions (band clamps are typically around 18 lb-ft; brackets around 15-18 lb-ft).
10. Reinstall the diffuser and test. Refit the rear valance, start the engine, and check for exhaust leaks and any rattles or contact points. Re-check tip alignment once, then take a short test drive.

Torque Specs and C7 RS7 Fitment

This exhaust fits the 2014-2017 Audi RS7 Sportback (C7) with the 4.0-liter TFSI twin-turbo V8, and it is a cat-back-only system, meaning the factory catalytic converters remain installed. That is what keeps the car emissions-legal and prevents a check-engine light — a critical distinction from downpipe or turbo-back systems that remove the cats. Always torque to the figures printed in the Akrapovic instruction sheet, but as a working reference, exhaust band clamps on this platform are generally tightened to roughly 18 lb-ft and hanger/bracket bolts to about 15-18 lb-ft. Do not overtighten titanium band clamps; snug and even beats maximum force.

Because Akrapovic engineers each Evolution Line to the specific chassis, the C7 RS7 kit is not cross-compatible with the newer C8 RS6/RS7 or the related C7 S7. If you own a C8-generation car, you need the C8-specific Akrapovic system instead. Confirm your exact year and body style before ordering — this is a made-to-order titanium system, not a universal muffler.

Sound, Weight, and Power Results

After the install, the change is immediate. Cold-start is noticeably harder and deeper, the mid-range gains an aggressive V8 growl, and lift-off produces the signature Akrapovic pops. On the scale, you have removed 17.9 lbs from the tail of the car. On a stock tune, expect roughly the 6.9 bhp and 7.7 lb-ft Akrapovic quotes — small, but the titanium system's lower back-pressure becomes far more valuable if you later add a tune. The pros and cons below summarize what C7 RS7 owners should weigh.

Complementary Mods to Pair With Your New Exhaust

The exhaust is the halo mod, but the C7 RS7 responds well to a handful of proven bolt-ons that complement it. An AWE Tuning carbon intake feeds the twin-turbo V8 more air (and lets you hear the intake side of that new exhaust note), GiroDisc two-piece rotors cut rotating and unsprung weight while improving heat management, H&R springs close the fender gap, and stainless brake lines firm up the pedal. All four fit the 2014-2017 C7 chassis and are in stock at NLP Performance.