Outstanding top performance and maximum dynamism combined with excellent suitability for everyday use are the impressive features of the new Audi RS 6 Avant, which will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the IAA 2007 in Frankfurt. A newly developed V10 engine with FSI direct injection and twin turbochargers, permanent quattro four-wheel drive and sports suspension with Dynamic Ride Control DRC set the standard for high-performance vehicles in the luxury class. 580 bhp and a maximum torque of 480 lb-ft add up to an unforgettable performance experience. At the same time, the new Audi RS 6 Avant offers a high standard of travel comfort – on long journeys, too.
The new Audi RS 6 will only be available as an Avant to start with, with the unrivalled combination of 580 bhp and a maximum 1,660 liters of luggage space.
The Audi RS 6 is a New Leader in the Performance Category
The Audi RS 6 redefines the term “high performance” in the business class. With its 580 bhp, it is the most powerful model in the current Audi range and – with the exception of pure racing cars like the Le Mans-winning Audi R10 TDI – the most potent Audi of all time. But not only that: it is also clearly superior to all competitors in the top performance category.
The ten-cylinder V-configuration engine in the RS 6 is based on the V10 powerplants of the Audi S6 and Audi S8, but has been redeveloped in practically every respect to attain the significantly higher level of performance. The twin turbochargers ensure an impressively constant stream of power over the entire engine speed range: the mighty peak torque of 480 lb-ft is available across the entire range from 1,500 to 6,250 rpm; maximum output is available between 6,250 and 6,700 rpm.
This powerplant enables the Audi RS 6 Avant to achieve the road performance of a high-performance sports car. It requires just 4.4 seconds for the sprint from a standing start to 60 mph, and reaches the 124 mph mark in a mere 14.9 seconds. Only when the needle touches 155 mph is the propulsive power electronically governed.
The six-speed tiptronic is the perfect complement to the self-confident, powerful character of the RS 6. Its hydraulics and control system have been optimized to achieve exceptionally short shift times; the ratios have been adapted accordingly.
In its basic setting, the center differential distributes 40 percent of the power to the front and 60 percent to the rear wheels – this slightly rear-biased setup produces particularly dynamic handling characteristics.
An Individual Driving Feel
With Dynamic Ride Control the shock absorbers are connected diagonally with each other via two oil lines and two control valves. Body movement – e.g. rolling when cornering at high speed on an uneven road surface – produces flows of oil, which generate additional damping force. As a result, the RS 6 boasts even more directional control through bends and reacts with substantially more precision to the steering inputs of the driver.
Dynamic Ride Control on the new RS 6 can be supplemented if desired with optional three-stage damping. This allows the driver to select the handling characteristics according to his/her personal preferences or chosen route. In the comfort setting, the sports suspension plus provides remarkable ride comfort, in the dynamic program it adjusts superbly to an enthusiastic driving style and in the sport mode it delivers maximum driving precision.
Self-Assured Appearance
Its independent design lends the Audi RS 6 a striking and self-assured look – without any hint of aggression. In fact, the clear front-end design with the remodelled bumper and accentuated apertures evidently follows function: the high-performance powerplant requires a considerable amount of air to breathe as well as for cooling. The fact that it belongs to the RS family is emphasized by the matt aluminum-look single-frame grille featuring a highly polished black guard in a diamond design.
Elegant and Exclusive Interior
The interior of the new RS 6 offers an impressive synthesis of sporty elegance and exclusiveness. The extremely high standard of craftsmanship typical for Audi is complemented by an equally sporty and elegant combination of top-class materials. Carbon fiber, aluminum, leather and Alcantara create an ambience that is unique even in the world of high-performance cars.
The main control element is and remains the steering wheel: on the RS 6 the customer can choose between the multifunction sports steering wheel with a 3-spoke design and the particularly distinctive flat-bottomed RS sports steering wheel, likewise with multifunction controls and shift paddles for the transmission. The cockpit in the typical RS design additionally features a boost pressure gauge. Displays for boost pressure, oil temperature and lap timer can be called up via the driver information system.
