DRAG RACE: Audi RS6 Avant Quattro vs Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic+

Despite their different body styles, the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63 S are pretty closely matched on paper which is why lining them up on a drag strip and pairing them against one another in a quarter-mile race makes complete sense.

Arriving from Neckarsulm, the Audi RS6 Avant hosts a twin-turbo 4,0-litre V8 that delivers 441 kW and 800 N.m of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed torque converter. With a claimed mass of 2 075 kg, giving it a 192 kW-per-tonne power-to-mass ratio, Audi states that its performance wagon will sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3,6 seconds and hit a quarter-mile time of 11,7 seconds.

From Affalterbach is the Mercedes-AMG E63 S which uses a twin-turbocharged 4,0-litre V8 as well to deliver 450 kW and 850 N.m of torque. This is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Weighing in at a claimed 1 880 kg, with a power-to-mass ratio of 206 kW per-tonne, the E63 S boasts a sprint time from 0-100 km/h of 3,4 seconds and should clear a quarter-mile in 11,4 seconds. This gives it somewhat of an in this match-up.

A more appropriate challenger for the RS6 would be the E63 S Estate but this variant is not available to the local market which leaves the Audi technically unchallenged in its segment here in South Africa.

Off the line, the Audi RS6 Avant has a solid launch and clears most of the strip in first place but as both cars crest past the 100 km/h mark, the more powerful and lighter E63 S starts to reel the wagon in and claim the win for the match-up.

Be on the look-out for part-two where we see how these two large performance cars pair up in an in-depth performance track test.