New Audi rs6-avant for sale

Performance of the New Audi RS6 Avant

The RS6 Avant Performance packs a punchy 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 which sends its power to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system. In total, there’s an astounding 621bhp and 850Nm of torque, which is enough to send the RS6 Avant Performance from 0-60mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its top speed is restricted to 155mph.

However, despite that headline-grabbing performance the RS6 is beautifully refined on the motorway and is just as adept at travelling long distances as it is wolfing up corners at speed.

What’s under the bonnet?

The RS 6 uses a twin-turbocharged V8 engine feeding drive to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro system. The figures are predictably ludicrous for what is still a useable estate car; 592bhp, 800Nm of torque (up 100Nm on its predecessor), 0 to 60mph in 3.4 seconds and 155mph flat-out – with the option to raise that to either 174mph or 189mph depending on how much you want to spend.

Audi has also integrated its 48-volt mild-hybrid system too, which allows the car to ‘glide’ – or coast with the engine effectively switched off – at speeds of up to 99mph. It also means that the start-stop system will kick in from 13mph, further shaving valuable fuel consumption. Even so, this is still a big, heavy V8-powered estate, so you’re still only looking at up to 22.6mpg combined and CO2 emissions of 263g/km.​

What’s it like to drive?

It’s a car with two distinct characters, the RS 6. The one, being serene and quiet, means that the RS 6 transforms the longest of journeys into short little blips, effortlessly gobbling away the miles with the ease of a standard A6 Avant. Our car, on standard air suspension, soaked up the road imperfections while isolating road noise impressively well. Only the slight rumble of the V8 gives any indication that there isn’t some cooking-grade diesel under the bonnet.

Yet when it needs to be, the RS 6 can be truly unhinged. With RS driving modes engaged – accessed via an all-new shortcut button on the steering wheel – the whole car tightens up. The all-wheel-steering means it feels far nimbler than the car it replaces and though the V8 may not sound quite as devilish as before, it still provides more than enough aural theatre.​

What’s the spec like?

Being Audi’s range-topping estate car, the RS 6 gets almost all the bells and whistles that you could think of. There’s a full Virtual Cockpit setup with RS-specific dials, which integrates readouts such as speed, torque, engine output and g-forces – among others – all into one display ahead of the driver.

It’s backed by a 10.1-inch display in the centre of the cabin which incorporates media and navigation functions, followed by a second 8.6-inch screen underneath which is your main point of control for heating and ventilation. It’s an extremely tech-heavy cabin, and those looking for a more analogue experience may be left feeling a little over-screened.

Verdict on the RS6

As we’ve already mentioned, this new RS 6 Audi motor had a whole heap of expectation on its shoulders. Thankfully, it has more than lived up to it. It’s sharper than before without having lost that all-important refinement which allows it to chew through the miles, and it has somehow improved on the already excellent fit-and-finish exhibited in the older car. Expensive it may be, but if you want a performance car for every occasion, the RS 6 remains the one to have.