2014-2017 Audi RS7 Akrapovic Titanium Exhaust Review

The Akrapovic Evolution Line titanium exhaust for the 2014-2017 Audi RS7 (C7) is one of the most requested single upgrades we fit at our Tampa, FL shop — and for good reason. The C7 RS7’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 makes 560 horsepower straight from the factory, but Audi’s stock exhaust keeps most of that character bottled up behind heavy steel mufflers. This full titanium cat-back (Akrapovic part S-AU/TI/4H) removes 17.9 lbs, unlocks a deeper, harder-edged V8 note, and installs with no ECU tune required. In this review we break down exactly what it does, how it fits, what it costs, and which supporting mods complete a proper C7 RS7 build.

The 2014-2017 Audi RS7 (C7): What You Are Working With

The 2014-2017 Audi RS7 Sportback (chassis code C7, internal 4G) is Audi’s twin-turbo super-sedan built on the A7 fastback body. Its 4.0-liter TFSI “hot-vee” V8 (3,993 cc) produces 560 hp between 5,700 and 6,600 rpm and a flat 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque from 1,750 to 5,500 rpm. Power runs through an 8-speed ZF tiptronic automatic and quattro all-wheel drive, launching the roughly 4,398-lb Sportback from 0-60 mph in about 3.7 seconds.

For 2016-2017, Audi added the RS7 Performance, which bumped output to 605 PS (597 hp) and up to 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) on overboost, trimming the 0-60 time to roughly 3.6 seconds and raising the optional top speed to 174 mph with the Dynamic Plus package. Both variants share the same exhaust architecture, so the Akrapovic Evolution Line (part S-AU/TI/4H) fits the standard RS7 and the RS7 Performance alike. The V8 also uses cylinder-on-demand, deactivating four cylinders under light load — part of why the factory exhaust is tuned so conservatively for sound.

Akrapovic Evolution Line Titanium: The Full Review

The Akrapovic Evolution Line is a complete cat-back exhaust system in full motorsport-grade titanium, hand-built in Slovenia. It replaces everything from the factory catalytic converters back with lighter, free-flowing titanium pipework, three mufflers, and a set of 90mm carbon-fiber tailpipes. The central muffler houses an internal X-piece that balances exhaust pulses between the two banks — the trick that gives the RS7 its cross-plane V8 snarl instead of a muddy drone.

Because it is a cat-back, the OEM catalytic converters stay in place, so the system is emissions-friendly and requires no ECU remap. It bolts to the factory hangers and reuses the RS7’s original exhaust-valve wiring, so the electronically controlled flaps still open and close on the car’s standard logic. That is the single biggest reason it is worth the money over a cheaper straight-pipe: you keep full daily-driver manners with a genuine motorsport pedigree.

How Much Power and Weight Does It Actually Add?

On the dyno, the Akrapovic Evolution Line adds a measured 6.9 hp and 7.7 lb-ft to the C7 RS7, lifting output from 558 to 564.9 bhp at 5,850 rpm and torque from 556 to 563.7 lb-ft at 2,950 rpm. Let us be honest: on a 560-hp car, those are small numbers, and anyone promising 40+ hp from a cat-back alone is selling you something. The gains grow meaningfully once you pair it with an intake and a tune that can exploit the freer-flowing back end.

The bigger, more tangible win is weight. The stock RS7 cat-back weighs about 75 lbs; the Akrapovic titanium system weighs just 57.1 lbs — a 17.9 lb reduction, roughly 24% lighter. That mass comes off the very back of the car, low and behind the rear axle, which measurably helps the RS7’s rotational inertia and rear-end balance. Titanium’s higher strength-to-weight ratio is also why the system resists heat discoloration and corrosion far better than stock steel.

What Does the Akrapovic RS7 Exhaust Sound Like?

The Evolution Line transforms the C7 RS7 from muted luxury cruiser to a proper twin-turbo V8 event. At idle and light throttle in Comfort or Auto mode, the valves stay mostly closed and the car remains civil enough for a morning commute. Open the valves in Dynamic mode and the 4.0T develops a deep, hard-edged bark up top with the signature Akrapovic crackle and “popping” on throttle lift-off. The X-piece gives it a cleaner, more exotic tone than the factory Y-pipe layout, cutting the low-rpm drone many owners complain about with cheaper systems.

Titanium vs. Stainless Steel: Why the Material Matters

Titanium is the reason this system costs what it does — and the reason it is worth it to serious owners. Grade-appropriate titanium is roughly 40% lighter than stainless steel of the same volume while offering a higher strength-to-weight ratio, which is exactly how Akrapovic pulls 17.9 lbs out of the RS7’s exhaust without sacrificing durability. Titanium also has a higher melting point and superior resistance to heat discoloration and corrosion, so the pipework and the carbon-fiber tips age far more gracefully than plated steel behind a 560-hp twin-turbo V8.

There is an acoustic payoff, too. Titanium’s thinner walls and different resonant frequency give the Evolution Line its distinctive metallic, high-strung tone — the sound most people associate with factory supercar exhausts and motorsport paddocks. A comparable stainless cat-back can be louder, but it rarely matches titanium’s combination of weight savings, tonal clarity, and long-term finish. For a flagship car like the C7 RS7, that material difference is the whole point.

Installation and Fitment on the C7 RS7

Fitment is direct. The Evolution Line uses the RS7’s factory mounting points, hangers, and valve harness, so a competent shop can install it in about 2-3 hours on a lift with no cutting or welding. Because it retains the OEM catalytic converters and plugs into the stock valve electronics, no ECU tune or remap is required and there are no check-engine lights when installed correctly. Part number S-AU/TI/4H covers all 2014-2017 RS7 Sportback models. This is a cat-back system, so it keeps the factory emissions equipment intact — always confirm exhaust rules in your state before installing any performance system.

Complete the Build: Intake, Brakes and Filtration

An exhaust is the headline, but the C7 RS7 responds best to a balanced package. These are the upgrades our customers most often pair with the Akrapovic system to turn up airflow, braking, and throttle response — all direct-fit for the 2014-2017 4.0T.

Here is how those recommended C7 RS7 upgrades stack up at a glance:

Is the Akrapovic RS7 Exhaust Worth It?

At $10,688.07, the Akrapovic Evolution Line is a serious investment — roughly the price of a set of forged wheels — so it is fair to ask whether it earns its keep. Our honest take after fitting these systems: if your goal is peak horsepower per dollar, a tune and downpipes will return far more power for the money. But that is not what this exhaust is for. It is a lifetime-quality, motorsport-grade titanium system that permanently changes how the RS7 sounds and how it carries weight, and it does so without touching your emissions equipment or your factory warranty on the drivetrain.

For owners who plan to keep their C7 RS7 — a car that is now firmly in modern-classic territory — the Evolution Line is the exhaust to buy once and never second-guess. It is also the piece that makes every other mod feel finished: a tuned RS7 with a stock exhaust always sounds like it is holding back. Pair it with the AWE S-FLO intake and a supporting tune and the 4.0T finally breathes and sings the way Audi Sport hinted at but never fully unlocked from the factory.

Akrapovic RS7 Exhaust: Pros and Cons