[Just_me]

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[Merc1]

Audi is aiming at clear supremacy among German super sedans with the 2009 Audi RS6. With a monster 580-horsepower, twin-turbocharged, 5.2-liter V10 engine under its hood, this high-performance four-door sedan is more powerful than either the BMW M5 or Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

The aggressively styled RS6 will make its public debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show, and it's the latest in an illustrious line of rapid four-wheel-drive Audi models to receive the treatment as an RS (Renn Sport — which translates as Race Sport). It all started with the Porsche-developed RS2 in 1993, but no RS has proven so powerful or quite as fast as this one.

The Subtle Hints of a Monster

Building on the S6's muscular appearance, Audi's increasingly active Quattro GmbH division has provided the new RS6 with a host of detailed exterior changes to imbue it with a further touch of visual aggression.

The additions begin with a heavily profiled front bumper that incorporates larger cooling ducts. The new car's prominent grille also receives a brushed-aluminum frame and high-gloss black insert to set it apart from its naturally aspirated sibling. The standard bi-xenon headlamps house halogen foglamps as well as a set of LED daytime running lamps.

The flanks are characterized by heavily flared wheel arches with a flat-panel design that recalls Audi's legendary Quattro, with chunkier rocker sills underneath the doors and brushed-aluminum exterior mirrors.

At the rear you'll find a pair of chromed oval tailpipes. (The S6 has round tailpipes in comparison.) The reworked rear bumper boasts a fully functioning diffuser element that smoothes the airflow underneath the rear of the car.

The new Audi is clothed in a shell built predominantly from steel, although the hood and front fenders are stamped from aluminum in a bid to reduce weight at the front end and provide a more balanced front-to-rear weight distribution.

Two Turbos, 580 Horses

For all the RS6's visual drama, though, it's what lurks underneath the hood that is sure to set tongues wagging at this Audi's debut in Frankfurt. The previous model's Cosworth-tweaked twin-turbocharged 4.2-liter V8 is history; this new RS is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of Audi's 5.2-liter V10 engine featuring the latest direct-injection system.

Peak power is put at 580 hp at 6,250 rpm with a mountainous 479 pound-feet of torque at just 1,500 rpm. These numbers eclipse the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10 of the BMW M5 by 80 hp and 96 lb-ft, while they surpass the 6.2-liter V8 of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG by 73 hp and 10 lb-ft.

Despite boasting 130 hp and 64 lb-ft of torque more than the previous-generation RS6, the new car's substantial curb weight of 4,464 pounds means its power-to-weight ratio is actually slightly worse than its predecessor's. Still, it's enough to propel the performance of the new-generation RS6 well into supercar territory.

Audi claims 100 kph (62 mph) comes up in just 4.6 seconds in the new RS6. This is more than a second quicker than the current-generation Audi S6, which has a naturally aspirated version of the 5.2-liter V10 that produces 435 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. It also eclipses the last SMG-equipped M5 we tested, but it's slower than the last E63 we tested, which tore to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds.

Ingolstadt also reveals that the new car gets to 200 kph (124 mph) in just 14.9 seconds. Top speed is once again limited to 155 mph, although there is little doubt the new RS6 would bullet well and truly beyond this without electronic intervention.

Quattro Puts the Power Down

As tradition dictates, the RS6's power is channeled to each corner of the chassis via a six-speed automatic gearbox and Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Revisions to the Torsen center differential now send 40 percent of the power to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear, improving traction off the starting line and delivering cornering dynamics more like those of a rear-wheel-drive car.

As an indication of just how seriously Audi is taking the RS6's handling performance, its new engine boasts dry-sump lubrication to maintain optimal oil scavenging even at cornering that reaches grip levels of 1.2g.

The RS6's beefed-up suspension (wider tracks front and rear plus unique springs, dampers and even bushings) has been extensively tested at the Nürburgring. It's allied to a heavily revised version of Audi's Dynamic Ride Control system, which relies on hydraulics to suppress body movement while providing three different levels of suspension damping control. Other features include a more sophisticated electronic stability program that has a higher threshold of engagement than the S6 and can now be deactivated completely.

In standard trim, the RS6 rolls on 19-inch wheels with 255/40R19 tires. You'll be able to order the new car on optional 20-inch rims with more aggressive 275/35R20 rubber, a combination that also allows the fitment of 16.5-inch front and 14-inch rear carbon-ceramic brakes.

Serious Seats for a Serious Sedan

The RS6 is no stripped-down road racer, as the interior of the RS6 offers a luxurious driving environment like that of the S6 with a sumptuous combination of leather, aluminum accents and carbon-fiber trim.

The front seats have been replaced by hulking hard-shell items that promise loads of support. A stop/start button sited between the front seats is used to fire the new car's twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V10 (an engine also slated for a future version of the Audi R8 sports car). The steering wheel has been resized and has a motorsports-style squared-off rim at the bottom to emphasize the new car's sporting pretensions.

Overall interior spaciousness is the same as that of the S6, meaning generous room for four adults. The sedan offers 19.3 cubic feet of luggage space, while the wagon has 20 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second seat and 58.6 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.

It's Still a Year Away

There's no official word on pricing of the 2009 Audi RS6 for North America — or whether we'll get the wagon as well as the sedan — but expect the RS6's outrageous performance to come at a cost. The new Ingolstadt stormer will be priced around $90,000, which is right in line with the BMW M5 and Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.

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M

[rev]

I'm speechless! This is probably one of the most stunning cars Audi has ever created! It's absolutely marvellous! The interior is by far one of the most elegant, sporty and gorgeous looking interiors. BTW, I'm not so sure the sedan version will look better. The Avant is just so sick(and practical)! The only thing that bothers me though, is the torque figure. Only 650nm??? IMHO opinion it's not enough for such a heavy car. I hope when this hits the market, it's gonna have at least 800nm. Anyway, congrats to Audi for that masterpiece!

[Merc1]

Never paid any attention to that, but the torque is really low for such a turbocharged monster. Then again it puts out 479lb-ft at 1500 RPM, gives me chills.

M

[Gene]

Wow thats insane. Unfortunately I'm going to play the devils advocate and think of the negative side: practicality really reduces when you keep running out of petrol. Imagine the amount that a high-revving 5.0 V10 of the M5 drinks, then think about a relatively high-revving 5.2 litre V10 Bi turbo - thats at least 50% of the worlds fuel gone in one car.

These power wars really need to stop, particularly with relatively mass-produced cars - it might be make us happy today, but its going to screw us over tomorrow.

[martinbo]

Well now... It's almost perfect in every sense!

No-one does the hyperwagon theme better than Audi and this new RS6 is just amazing.

The availability of all that torque low-down and the supposedly "low" torque figure of 650 Nm points to the likelihood that the turbo's are light pressure units aimed at providing enhanced response and linear power delivery, just like those in the 335i.

650 Nm is an almighty figure in the rational context; it's just that we've become so blasé about anything below 500 Nm these days. In any event, didn't Audi jump up the torque from 560 Nm to 580 Nm in the old RS6 Plus?

I love those wheels!

[Merc1]

I'm still looking at the pics, those fender bulges are ridiculous. Gorgeous!

M

[Just_me]

2025 kg for the Avant. Anyone with weight numbers for E63 Wagon and M5 Touring?

[martinbo]

Originally Posted by Just_me

2025 kg for the Avant. Anyone with weight numbers for E63 Wagon and M5 Touring?

According to the maker's websites:

BMW M5 Touring: 1955 kg
MB E63 AMG Estate: 1955 kg

[Monster]

Now this is absolute HOTNESS ! Stunning looking wagon. I like how Audi has shaped the flared wheel arches. We all expected them to be a bigger, swollen circular shape like those on the RS4 Avant, but Audi has done something different and these flared wheel arches is directly inspired by the Audi Quattro.

I also like how the designers have hidden the number plate support bracket on the grill. Unlike other Audi where the big front grill is divided into 2 halves by the number plate support bracket, the ones on the RS6 is hidden behind the mesh. so the front grill now looks like a true single frame grill.

I was expecting the torque figure to be higher than 650Nm, maybe Audi detune it so the gearbox will survive. 426kW/580 hp is a sh*t load of power, and this has definitely raise the game once again. Not only does the next generation of AMG and M cars have to match or beat this figure, the next generation of supercars have to beat this figure as well now that this RS6 has risen people's expecation once again.

Too bad this wagon version is at a fat 2025kg. That is seriousely heavy, S-class heavy. As the article mentioned, the power to weight ratio is slightly lower than the previous generation because this car is seriousely fat. That twin turbo V10 must be dam heavy, and I hope the engineers and chassis tuning people have done their work to make this nose heavy beast handle like what they have done with the nose heavy RS4.

This car is a monster, and I think it is the perfect car for me.