Audi RS6 Avant: it's brutal

In this age of sanitized, electric, autonomous cars, of “mobility solutions”, it sometimes feels good to see a car like this new Audi RS6 Avant. Completely unnecessary, and therefore absolutely essential!

Audi has made a specialty of these supercharged station wagons from the RS range for 25 years, to the point of often only offering them with this type of bodywork, not even as a sedan. This new version of the RS6 (C8 generation for experts) is no exception to the rule: Forward, all of you!

Power inflation is significant: + 40 hp compared to the C7, and above all + 100 Nm of torque. These values ​​now stand at 600 hp and 800 Nm respectively. The engine is still the 4-liter TFSI V8 combined with an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox and Quattro transmission. Note that Audi has the good taste to offer its RS6 with a gasoline engine, unlike the wiser S6 available only in diesel from us, environmental constraints oblige. Audi has nevertheless made some efforts on the subject: the V8 has a soft hybridization system in 48 V (which can ensure an all-electric displacement up to 22 km / h or provide a one-off additional power) and can deactivate the half of the cylinders if necessary. The transmission distributes the power 60% to the rear and, if necessary, can go up to 85%. This generation of RS6 is also the first to be equipped with four-wheel steering. The adaptive suspension system is taken from the previous generation.

The new version RS6 Avant visually stands out very clearly from its placid cousins ​​in the standard range who have not gone to the gym. The RS6 widens by 8 cm (yes yes, centimeters) by adopting bulging fenders to accommodate the imposing wheels of 21 ″ by 275 wide. Beyond this widening, the most impressive point of view is the front face, highly aggressive with its largely indented bumper and its large single frame grille . Beware of the middle lane squatters on the highway! Small aesthetic novelty: a thin slit is present at the junction of the hood and the grille.

This gimmick, already seen on the restyled A1 and A4, is reminiscent of the Audi Quattro Sport. The wave design of the rear bumper is much less successful than the rest, which had been able to be aggressive without falling into vulgarity. It is unfortunately unnecessarily loaded, too bad. The serial Avant station wagon, the RS6 ultimately retains only a few elements: front doors and tailgate.

The interior, on the other hand, does not revolutionize the range: it is reproduced almost identically to the S6 with plethora of LCD screens, driving aids, etc ... The atmosphere is more luxury than sport, but the configurations must be able to adapt to the wishes of the buyer. For families, removals and other express transport, the trunk volume is still a decent 565 dm3.

The performance of the RS6 Avant? It's brutal: 0 to 100 km / h in 3.6 seconds, 0 to 200 km / h in 12 seconds. The speed is limited to 250 km / h on the standard version, but can be increased to 280 km / h via the Dynamic Pack, or even 305 km / h with the Dynamic Plus Pack. This little car will have several driving modes, two of which can be configured by the driver , influencing the transfer of traction, the intervention of electronic aids or even the sound of the exhaust, more or less “manly”.