“Throughout our 25-year RS history, the Audi RS 6 Avant is one of our absolute icons with a large global fan base. We will also be offering the RS 6 Avant in North America for the very first time. As such, we will be tapping into a new market with huge potential and generating further growth,” said Audi Sport GmbH managing director Oliver Hoffmann.
The RS 6 Avant uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that provides 600PS and 800Nm of torque - all managed by an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission with optimised shift time and launch control.
This gives the RS 6 Avant, with its all-wheel 'quattro' drive system, the ability to launch from 0 to 100kph in 3.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 250kph.
Wheel-selective torque control can help enhance handling by ensuring additional traction across each axle through an individual wheel-braking application.
The quattro sport differential offers a dynamic driving experience and helps enhance cornering agility by actively splitting torque between each of the rear wheels, with the ability to direct nearly all torque to one wheel.
It will also be blessed with RS adaptive air suspension with controlled damping which has been tuned specifically for the RS 6 Avant with several modes available, including an automatic level control. An RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control is also available.
These single-tube dampers have a variable characteristic that the driver can adjust in three stages.
Hydraulic lines and a central valve link the diagonally opposed pairs of shock absorbers.
When cornering at speed, the valves regulate the oil flow in the shock absorber of the spring-deflected front wheel at the outside of the curve, which helps reduces pitch and roll movement, and improves handling.
Drivers can customize their driving experience through the standard Audi drive select system, which offers six drive modes of Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency and the Individually configurable RS-specific RS1 and RS2 modes, which can be activated directly using the “RS MODE” steering wheel button.
The Audi drive select setting influences the engine and transmission management, the power steering, the suspension, the dynamic all-wheel steering, the quattro sport differential and the engine sound.
The RS2 mode exists specifically to influence the Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) directly at the push of a button.
The RS 6 Avant with progressive steering develops significantly higher return forces as steering angle increases, to provide precise steering feedback.
Its newly developed power-assist directly connects the driver and road. Dynamic all-wheel steering can provide increased handling and stability.
The exterior design of the all-new RS 6 Avant is made solely of RS-specific parts.
The body, which has been widened around 40mm on each side with broad flared wheel arches, underscores the athleticism of the high-performance Avant.
The RS 6 Avant features the three-dimensional RS-specific honeycomb structure within the Singleframe grille which is finished in gloss black.
Below the LED headlights, side air inlets open on the striking new RS bumper and extend into the lower edge of the headlights.
The characteristic Avant silhouette dominates the side profile, elongated front section, long, straight roofline and flat D pillars. Dramatically flared fenders provide cues to the standard quattro all-wheel drive.
The rear of the vehicle consists of the roof edge spoiler and an RS-specific bumper with rear diffuser and design elements in gloss black.
In hallmark RS style, the RS exhaust system flows on both sides into oval chromed tailpipes.
The refined interior of the RS 6 Avant includes impressive RS accents and driver-focused technologies.
The brand’s new MMI touch response system, with its black-panel design, fuses together the interior architecture and user interface in a modern and sophisticated manner.
In the Audi virtual cockpit, special RS displays provide information on tire pressure, torque, power output, engine oil temperature, boost pressure, lap times, acceleration measurements and g forces.
The highly anticipated Audi RS 6 Avant will arrive in the U.S. in 2020 and will be available for customer orders, subject to a later announcement.
