The Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback now have another word to join their name – performance.

Not that it needs to be stated when the 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine does more talking than a badge ever could, but in new RS6 performance and RS7 Performance guise it now makes 445kW – up 33kW.

The revised engine is the same unit found in the S8 plus revealed earlier this year. The power increase also leap-frogs the 430kW delivered by the 5.5-litre V8 Mercedes-AMG E63 and CLS63, and the 441kW offered by the 4.4-litre V8 BMW M6 coupe. There’s no love lost in a German power war.

Audi rs6 performance rear

We mention the revs first, because anywhere from 2500rpm and 5500rpm the turbo V8 now delivers an overboost function extending torque to a monstrous 750Nm.

Audi rs7 performance front

This all results in a standstill to 100km/h sprint time of 3.7 seconds, wiping 0.2sec off the time of the, erm, non-performance RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback. After 12.1sec the near-twins will reach 200km/h as the lead over the standard models extends to 1.2sec.

Audi rs7 performance rear

Exterior styling remains similar, though the Ascari blue paint is a performance-grade exclusive. Inside there’s exterior colour-matched lighting and stitching for the leather, sports seats with beefier bolstering and Alcantara-trimmed kneepads on the lower dash.

Audi rs7 performance interior