Audi RS6 Avant

Audi have just released a meaner, powerful and aggressive version of their stylish A6 Avant. The new RS6 Avant replaces a car that was both powerful and impressive to drive at the same time. Although the new one is less powerful by 20hp the torque figure has gone up from 650Nm to 700Nm. The reason for the lower power figures is that the new RS6 uses a V8 engine compared to the previous generation which had a monster V10 engine under the bonnet. 

Audi RS6 Avant

The new 4.0 V8 TFSI engine is not only more economical as well but also comes with impressive performance figures. 0 to 100km/h takes just 3.9 seconds. In a standard configuration the engine is limited to 250km/h. Add a Dynamic package and the speed is raised to 280km/h. However should one need to experience more speed the Dynamic plus package is available. With this installed the top speed is raised to 305km/h.

Side profile

Compared to the old RS6 the new one only needs 9.8 liters of fuel to cover 100 kilometers. Among the factors contributing to this figure are the new, standard start-stop system and innovative thermal management. One pioneering efficiency technology in the new RS6 Avant is the cylinder on demand (COD) system. At low to intermediate loads and engine speeds, it shuts down the intake and exhaust valves of cylinders 2, 3, 5 and 8. The 4.0 TFSI then runs as a four-cylinder engine until the driver accelerates more strongly again. Efficiency in the active cylinders is increased because the operating points are displaced toward higher loads. The changeover from four and eight-cylinder operation takes just a few hundredths of a second. About the only thing noticeable to the driver is an indication in the instrument cluster. The COD technology reduces ECE fuel consumption by roughly five percent. Even greater savings of approximately 10 percent are possible when driving at moderate speeds. Active engine bearings use out-of-phase counter-oscillations to compensate for the vibrations that occur during four-cylinder operation. Married to the engine is an eight-speed tiptronic featuring shortened shift times. The automatic transmission offers D and S modes.

Front seats

Drivers who wish to shift for themselves can use the shift paddles on the steering wheel or the selector lever, which sports a unique RS design. The lower gears of the tiptronic are tightly spaced for sporty performance, while a tall eighth gear reduces fuel consumption. At the heart of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring is a self-locking center differential with an elevated locking value. An oil cooler regulates its temperature. If desired, the sport differential distributes the power steplessly between the rear wheels to further increase agility and stability. The new RS6 Avant is the first RS model from Audi to come standard with a specifically tuned air suspension. The dynamic setup of the RS6 adaptive air suspension lowers the body by 20 millimeters. The system combines the air suspension with controlled damping and takes into account the road conditions, the driving style and the mode chosen in the driving dynamics system Audi drive select, with which the driver can influence the function of key components in multiple steps. Audi also offers the tauter sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) as an alternative to the RS6 adaptive air suspension.

Rear seats

This system uses steel springs and three-way adjustable shock absorbers that are interconnected diagonally by means of oil lines and a central valve for improved body roll stability. Another option is dynamic steering, which features steplessly variable steering boost and ratios. This system can also be integrated into Audi drive select and, just like the standard electromechanical power steering, is tailored specifically for the Audi RS6 Avant.

Cockpit

The brakes offer uncompromising performance. The four internally vented discs feature a weight-saving wave design with a wave-like outer contour. The front discs measure 390 millimeters in diameter and are gripped by black, six-piston calipers. Customers can also opt for red brake calipers. Also available as an option are carbon fiber-ceramic brake discs measuring 420 millimeters in diameter. Their calipers are painted anthracite gray. The electronic stabilization control (ESC) has a Sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.

Powerful V8 engine

The new Audi RS6 Avant comes standard with high-gloss, 20-inch, forged wheels in a seven twin-spoke design. Optional 21-inch cast wheels are available in three versions: high-gloss silver, polished black and polished titanium-look. The body plays a major role in the handling. It is roughly 20 percent aluminum and includes numerous components made of high-strength steel. The new Audi RS6 Avant weighs roughly 100 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. The improved power-to-weight ratio contributes to even better handling with improved performance coupled with reduced fuel consumption. Numerous RS-specific design details underscore the distinctive appearance of the high-performance Avant. Most noticeable are the matte aluminum applications on the body, the high-gloss black protective grille at the front of the car, the bumpers, the fender, sill flares and the large roof spoiler. At the rear of the car, the diffuser and the two large, elliptical exhaust tailpipes make a bold statement. Two optional appearance packages are available. They are Matte Aluminum or Carbon. The packages further boost the overall look of the car. The packages add things such as quattro badges on the central front air inlet. With the Carbon appearance package, the front splitter and the diffuser are even more boldly shaped.

Rear design with integrated spoiler

Open its classy door and a sportily elegant cockpit awaits you. The dial instruments feature black faces, white dials and red needles. The driver grips a flat-bottomed, three-spoke, multifunction steering wheel. At the doors are illuminated entry sills. The tachometer and displays for the MMI as well as the driver information system all bear RS logos. A new feature in the RS menu of the DIS is the shift light. Green segments are illuminated as revs increase. The bar turns red and begins to blink when revs approach the red line. Displays for the gear selected, boost pressure, oil temperature and a digital speedometer round out the RS6-specific driver information system.

With super huge exhausts

The footrest, pedals and switches in the MMI navigation plus terminal shine in an aluminum-look finish. The decorative bezel surrounding the retractable monitor sports a piano finish; the interior door openers feature a delicate double-bar design - a classic RS feature. Carbon inlays are standard; six additional materials are available as options. A black headlining is standard; Moon Silver or black Alcantara are optional. RS sport seats with pronounced side bolsters, integrated head restraints and RS6 logos are standard. They are covered in a combination of black Alcantara and leather, and the center sections feature diamond quilting.

Previous Audi RS6 Avant

The seats can also be covered in high-grade, honeycomb-quilted Valcona leather in either black or Moon Silver. Audi offers optional power-adjustable deluxe seats with memory function. The Audi RS6 Avant comes standard with two sportily molded rear seats. A three-person bench seat is available as an option. The luggage compartment holds up to 1,680 liters. The new Audi RS6 Avant comes with a generous list of standard equipment, including xenon plus headlights, LED rear lights, a tire-pressure control system, illuminated entry sills and the custom driver-information system. Also on board are the parking system plus, cruise control, three-zone automatic air conditioning, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and the 10-speaker Audi sound system.

Shifter

Options include LED headlights with a unique design, ceramic brakes front and rear, the sport differential on the rear axle and the sport suspension plus with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC). The Dynamic package, Dynamic package plus, Comfort package and practically every high-end option available in the model series are also available for the RS6 Avant. These include the head-up display and the high-performance driver assistance systems as well as the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 15 speakers and 1,200 watts of total power. The Bluetooth online car phone - the perfect complement to the MMI navigation plus - delivers web-based Audi connect services to the car.

Prices for the RS6 Avant will be announced soon. I have no doubt that this new Wagon will take its original spot of the fastest performance Wagon on the planet.