Audi Sport has revealed the fourth-generation RS6 Avant, which features a 600hp, mild-hybrid twin-turbo V8 and will spearhead a major expansion of the carmaker's RS range. The new Audi RS6 Avant is scheduled to make its international debut at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, which will be held from September 12-22, 2019.
The hot estate is one of six new Audi Sport models due this year, including the RSQ3 and RSQ8 SUVs. But the flurry of new models kicks off with the latest high-performance Audi estate and extends a lineage dating back to the first RS model – the 80-based RS2 Avant, which was introduced 25 years ago.
Project manager Michael Binder said that the RS6 Avant represented “the DNA of Audi Sport.” The fourth-generation model has been extensively reworked from the A6 Avant to showcase the latest design language of Audi’s performance car division.
The only body panels carried over from the standard A6 are the front doors, roof and boot lid. Everything else is an RS-specific design. The new panels make the performance car’s body 80mm wider than that of a standard A6, which measures 1,886mm, although its track width is unchanged.
The revamped front end includes a new bonnet with a ‘powerdome’ and thinner headlights taken from the A7. The gloss-black front grille is an RS-only design and the air intakes built into the front bumper are styled after those seen on the R8 supercar. For the first time, the Audi logo is available in black as part of the brand's Black and Carbon styling packs.
There are RS-specific side sills and roof spoiler; and a bespoke rear end incorporates a bold diffuser and twin oval-shaped exhausts. Inside, a leather sports steering wheel features RS aluminium paddleshifters. There are also leather-and-Alcantara-covered sport seats and a revamped instrument panel.
Binder said the brief was to “give maximum performance without compromise” and that is reflected in the 565-litre luggage compartment, unchanged from the one in the standard A6, which expands to 1,680 litres with the 40/20/40 rear seats folded.
As with the previous generation, the new RS6 is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo TFSI petrol engine, now boosted by a 48V belt alternator/starter mild-hybrid system, which can recover up to 16hp. The engine also utilises a cylinder-on-demand system that can shut off half its cylinders to boost fuel economy.
The powertrain produces 600hp – up from the 560hp of the previous standard model but nearly as powerful as the 604hp offered by the 2016 Performance variant – with 800Nm available between 2,100-4,500rpm.
The new RS6 Avant can achieve 0-100kph in 3.6sec. A governed 250kph top speed can go as high as 280kph or 305kph with the optional Dynamic and Dynamic Plus packages, respectively.
Power is sent to all four wheels, with a 40/60 split between the front and rear axle as standard, through an 8-speed automatic gearbox, which features a launch control option and wheel-selective torque control. The dynamic packages add a sport differential.
The Drive Select function gains configurable RS1 and RS2 modes, which are activated by an ‘RS mode’ button positioned on the steering wheel. In addition to adjusting the engine and handling responses, they also enable bespoke information on the Virtual Cockpit system.
The RS6 sits on 21-inch wheels as standard (with 22-inch wheels available as an option) and offers adaptive air-suspension as standard. The RS6 rides 20mm lower than the standard A6 and it is lowered by an extra 10mm beyond 121kph. Sport suspension, featuring dynamic ride control, is optional. The standard steel brakes can be upgraded to ceramic discs.
Audi has not made any announcement regarding the launch of the new RS6 Avant in India, however the German carmaker did have the Audi RS6 Avant Performance in its India line-up back in 2018.
Also see:
2020 Audi RS6 Avant image gallery
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