Now that Audi’s respected RS4 has been put to pasture (only for the time being, I’m sure) and the newness of the S6 and S8 has worn off a bit, what can the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer produce to keep archrivals BMW and Mercedes in check? The answer to that question is quite emphatic, dear readers…
Weighing in at just over two tons and looking very much like a generously-shod version of something that would primarily appeal to the mink-and-manure set, the RS6 Avant is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5,0-litre FSI V10 that belts out 426 kW and peak torque of 650 N.m from 1 500 to 6 250 r/min. Yes, Audi’s most powerful road car is an understated A6-based station wagon – but if you look past the modest exterior tweaks, large-diameter tailpipes and obligatory bits of RS cabin detailing, one begins to comprehend what the RS6 is really about.
The Audi RS6 is claimed to bolt form standstill to 100 km/h in just 4,6 seconds and when you floor the accelerator from standstill, the über Avant does so with breathtaking ease and without so much as a hint of drama. Whereas the RS4 and R8 emit a savage, full-throated mechanical growl during acceleration, the RS6’s V10 produces an unflustered, smooth bellow that briskly rises in pitch and culminates in a gruff, staccato blip when the twin-turbo motor shifts up a gear. HEAR IT!
I’m not going to divulge much about the RS6’s handling dynamics in this piece – for that you’ll have to read the full driving impression in an upcoming issue of CAR Magazine. Suffice to say that the RS6 possesses an unworldly talent to micronize its dimensions, especially when it unleashes its fury on a racetrack… It feels more lithe and, if you forgive the colloquialism, chuck-able, than significantly more compact sports machinery that I have driven. Granted, the dynamic quattro drivetrain and 20-inch wheels certainly contribute to the RS6’s vast reserves of grip, but the three-stage adaptable Dynamic Ride Control system, which reduces the body from pitching and rolling then cornering at speed, enables the Avant to change direction without exhibiting that brief moment of floatiness that a driver may discern when he or she manhandles lesser machinery – at lower velocities.
Another highlight of the RS6 is its six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. When in Drive mode, the big daddy Avant progresses in a luxurious, unflustered manner… Even if traffic flow is stop-start, the RS6 doesn’t baulk. Naturally the Tiptronic has a marvelously long, flat torque curve at its disposal so there’s no need to hunt between gears. Stick the ‘box in Sport mode, and the flat-bottomed RS sports steering wheel, which also features multifunction controls and shift paddles for the transmission, becomes a virtual PlayStation racing station pew.
Audi claims that the Tiptronic’s response time for paddle ‘shift inputs has been shortened to a tenth of a second and that its shifting time has been cut in half – with kickdown “responding in less than a second”. While using the paddles is certainly fun and involving, the exercise does require a fair amount of vigilance from the driver – the V10 seems to reach its rev-limit faster than you can say Ingolstadt, and it’s almost painful to hear the powerplant splutter when it does.
To recap, if you want the full story on the RS6 be sure to get the April issue of CAR – on sale March 17. But I’ll happily leave you with the following thoughts… Two weeks prior to my attendance of the RS6 launch, I sampled the newcomer’s rival, the BMW M5 Touring, which is equipped with a six-speed DSG. The M5 has been around since 2005, so it comes as no surprise that the twin turbo RS6 blows it away in terms of power, and particularly torque, outputs.
However, the RS6 is a much easier car to live with and deserves the title of ultimate executive express – I can’t wait for the saloon version, or for Audi to wedge that powerplant into a more appealing body than the staid (by the manufacturer’s current standards) A6 shell.