German Car Zone

At it’s electronically-limited 280 kph top speed the RS6 Avant shoves air and reluctant Mercedes drivers out of the way at about 255 feet per second, so when that bug dies in a camera-click 1/250th of a second on your windshield it still leaves a trail a foot long. In warm weather at least, you’ll spend considerable time cleaning dead bugs off an RS6’s leading edges.

Although a sedan has joined the RS6 family for 2009 Audi hasn’t said anything about potential import to the North American market. What with the flunking dollar/euro relationship, NHTSA/DOT drones, and sales numbers on the only remotely competitive car—the E63 AMG wagon--in the single-digit-per-month realm, the caution is understandable. We’re pessimistic given the costs of certification and diagnostics for a low-volume engine that is not otherwise offered here. On the other hand bringing it stateside would offer some benefits. Even at small volume every unit counts when amortizing parts like custom fenders. You could scare the bejeebers out of…oops, um…educate Americans on Audi engineering three at a time as opposed to one at a time in an R8, maximizing exposure at marketing events. The same engine could be plugged into an R8 GT and make a homologated racer. Finally, Audi would become the only automaker with a waiting list for a station wagon, and how cool would that be?


Even those lacking any experience with four rings quickly recognize the RS6 is different. The bulbous fenders are a softer contemporary version of those shelves on the “original” quattro, the added width emphasized more on certain paint colors. The outer intercooler air intakes, with a cooling fan behind each, resemble some of the changes applied to the ’09 A6 lineup and eliminate the separate fog lamps, and the 20-inch wheels are a dead giveaway.

Out back, a small spoiler atop the rear window and a shallow diffuser molded into the bumper cover keep the car stable at high speed, as does all the ducting underneath you need a ramp or lift to inspect; it might not be the cleanest underbody and the exhaust pipes aren’t as big as you expect, but the air management is well-sorted. The other changes are all RS staples: matte-finish aluminum-look trim for center grille, door handles, and outside mirrors, and a pair of big oval exhaust outlets.

The side signal repeaters are now in the rear-view mirrors rather than a simple front fender mount, more visible to oncoming traffic but less so to that adjacent or off a quarter. Your correspondent prefers the older style for awareness and it made knocked off mirrors cheaper to replace. Other differences are a function of location rather than model, with some detail changes to lighting systems and wide-angle rearview mirrors on each side. Unlike the U.S. spec A6 Avant, a sunroof is not standard equipment and if you choose one be sure it’s closed before the speed run as it will pop your ears if you shut it at triple-digit velocity.

Full article: audiworld