Audi RS6 Avant first drive review (2013 onwards)
Supercar in disguise: new (189mph) - 304kph, Audi RS6 Avant is the fastest estate car on sale
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: summary
Immensely rapid but immensely likable, could this be the best Audi RS6 Avant ever?
What: 2013 Audi RS6 Avant
Where: Munich, Germany
Date: April 2013
Price: (£76,985) Rs 64.5 lakhs
Available: On sale now, arriving in July 2013
Key rivals: BMW M5 (saloon only), Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Jaguar XFR-S (saloon only)
Where: Munich, Germany
Date: April 2013
Price: (£76,985) Rs 64.5 lakhs
Available: On sale now, arriving in July 2013
Key rivals: BMW M5 (saloon only), Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, Jaguar XFR-S (saloon only)
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: first impressions
Meet the third generation Audi RS6 Avant, the pinnacle of Audi’s current RS programme. Compared to the previous car it’s minus two cylinders and 20hp, but up about 15lb ft, down about 90kg and faster in a sprint.
It also looks like a Rottweiler on a steroid binge – the noise it makes at full chat is like primal fear encapsulated. And yet, the new RS6 Avant isn’t the total bruiser it might appear. Standard kit includes the first RS air suspension system, special valving in the exhaust means low speed refinement is superb, and the 560hp twin-turbo V8 can run on half its full complement of cylinders to save fuel.
Meet the third generation Audi RS6 Avant, the pinnacle of Audi’s current RS programme. Compared to the previous car it’s minus two cylinders and 20hp, but up about 15lb ft, down about 90kg and faster in a sprint.
It also looks like a Rottweiler on a steroid binge – the noise it makes at full chat is like primal fear encapsulated. And yet, the new RS6 Avant isn’t the total bruiser it might appear. Standard kit includes the first RS air suspension system, special valving in the exhaust means low speed refinement is superb, and the 560hp twin-turbo V8 can run on half its full complement of cylinders to save fuel.
It
combines the ability to dispatch (0-62mph) 0-60 kmph in just 3.9
seconds – not to mention the 189mph speed limiter on the options list –
with between 565 and 1,680 litres of boot space. You’ll definitely be
getting the kids to school on time.
It’s also amongst the most dual personality destroyers of distance we have ever driven. But then, it is an Audi, and the German firm’s Quattro division is the master of making supercars in disguise.
It’s also amongst the most dual personality destroyers of distance we have ever driven. But then, it is an Audi, and the German firm’s Quattro division is the master of making supercars in disguise.
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: performance
Take the previous Audi RS6, an estate – and later a saloon – powered by a twin-turbo version of a Lamborghini V10. While the new twin-turbo V8 in this 2013 car can’t (yet…) claim such exalted distinction, it is a mighty, mighty demonstration of the continuing potency of internal combustion.
We’ve flown into Munich for the launch, and just outside Munich Airport is a stretch of de-restricted autobahn. As a result it takes us no time at all to discover that the RS6 is every bit as quick as the performance figures suggest.
Take the previous Audi RS6, an estate – and later a saloon – powered by a twin-turbo version of a Lamborghini V10. While the new twin-turbo V8 in this 2013 car can’t (yet…) claim such exalted distinction, it is a mighty, mighty demonstration of the continuing potency of internal combustion.
We’ve flown into Munich for the launch, and just outside Munich Airport is a stretch of de-restricted autobahn. As a result it takes us no time at all to discover that the RS6 is every bit as quick as the performance figures suggest.
This
car is a proper German autobahn stormer. That massive grille and the
bulging wheel arches make a serious impression on any rear view mirror,
and though the motor may be 20hp down on the 580hp max of its
predecessor, the extra-fat 516lb ft torque figure is available all the
way from 1,750 to 5,500rpm.
Flatten your right foot and, if you’re in an automatic mode, the eight-speed gearbox will take care of the rest; with the lever slapped sideways into manual you might want to grab the downshift paddle a time or two, since the ’box cedes total control – or you could just enjoy the tidal wave of torque.
Either way, the resulting forward thrust is immense – your passengers will be wanting a decent set of neck muscles to avoid the risk of whiplash, and the car behind that thought it was keeping up with you? A vanishing speck. In our ‘Dynamic plus package’ equipped test car we saw 270km/h. Repeatedly.
The Dpp gives you that – still limited – 189mph top speed capability, and while 270km/h is only 167mph, we don’t doubt the RS6 would top 190 given the opportunity. Even at these mega velocities it remains stable and assured. Exactly as you’d want, and expectBut nothing will prepare you for the noise it makes. If the E63 AMG edges it for melodic thunder, the Audi majors on drama – with a frantic V8 snarl overlaid by a rasping intake rush that’s like a million telephone directories being ripped in half, it sounds like no other estate car on earth.
Flatten your right foot and, if you’re in an automatic mode, the eight-speed gearbox will take care of the rest; with the lever slapped sideways into manual you might want to grab the downshift paddle a time or two, since the ’box cedes total control – or you could just enjoy the tidal wave of torque.
Either way, the resulting forward thrust is immense – your passengers will be wanting a decent set of neck muscles to avoid the risk of whiplash, and the car behind that thought it was keeping up with you? A vanishing speck. In our ‘Dynamic plus package’ equipped test car we saw 270km/h. Repeatedly.
The Dpp gives you that – still limited – 189mph top speed capability, and while 270km/h is only 167mph, we don’t doubt the RS6 would top 190 given the opportunity. Even at these mega velocities it remains stable and assured. Exactly as you’d want, and expectBut nothing will prepare you for the noise it makes. If the E63 AMG edges it for melodic thunder, the Audi majors on drama – with a frantic V8 snarl overlaid by a rasping intake rush that’s like a million telephone directories being ripped in half, it sounds like no other estate car on earth.
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: ride and handling
At this point we’d love to be able to tell you more about RS air suspension, but our car was fitted with the optional upgrade to Dynamic Ride Control. This uses conventional steel springs with diagonally linked hydraulic dampers to control body roll through the turns without completely ruining the ride quality.
DRC is the more traditional RS system, and an innovation that first debuted on the original RS6 back in 2002. For the most part it works very well – but you might want to avoid the Dynamic setting, since it turns even marble smooth German road surfaces into an oscillating pogo fest. Try Auto instead.
At this point we’d love to be able to tell you more about RS air suspension, but our car was fitted with the optional upgrade to Dynamic Ride Control. This uses conventional steel springs with diagonally linked hydraulic dampers to control body roll through the turns without completely ruining the ride quality.
DRC is the more traditional RS system, and an innovation that first debuted on the original RS6 back in 2002. For the most part it works very well – but you might want to avoid the Dynamic setting, since it turns even marble smooth German road surfaces into an oscillating pogo fest. Try Auto instead.
Other
tricks up the big Audi’s sleeve include a sport rear differential and
Dynamic Steering, which significantly modifies the car's responses
depending on how you’re driving it. We seriously disliked this on the
RS4, but it seems to behave much more instinctively here.
And while the feel through the helm remains a little odd, it’s still far less aloof than fast Audis of old, and the initial understeer moment that used to occasionally plague these cars appears to have been eradicated. If the E63 AMG 4Matic presented a challenge, it seems the Quattro division has stepped up.It doubtless helps that the new RS6 is so much lighter than the one it replaces, with plenty of aluminium and ultra-high-strength steel used in its construction. With the quattro four-wheel drive delivering enormous traction, it is a searingly rapid all-weather point-to-point machine, if not overburdened with involvement.
And while the feel through the helm remains a little odd, it’s still far less aloof than fast Audis of old, and the initial understeer moment that used to occasionally plague these cars appears to have been eradicated. If the E63 AMG 4Matic presented a challenge, it seems the Quattro division has stepped up.It doubtless helps that the new RS6 is so much lighter than the one it replaces, with plenty of aluminium and ultra-high-strength steel used in its construction. With the quattro four-wheel drive delivering enormous traction, it is a searingly rapid all-weather point-to-point machine, if not overburdened with involvement.
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: interior
But then, if the chassis was too alive in your hands, the RS6 wouldn’t be quite so comfortable monstering motorways – and that’s a key part of the appeal of this car. As such, you’ll also find the inside vastly accommodating and well appointed, though still with plenty of scope to spend thousands more on the options list.
For example, our test car had carbonfibre finished everything, fancy hexagoinal upholstery to mirror the exterior grille designs (or provide the playing surface for some impromptu rounds of Blockbusters), and, finished in matt Daytona Grey, all the visual presence of a modern battle cruiser. Expensive stuff.
But then, if the chassis was too alive in your hands, the RS6 wouldn’t be quite so comfortable monstering motorways – and that’s a key part of the appeal of this car. As such, you’ll also find the inside vastly accommodating and well appointed, though still with plenty of scope to spend thousands more on the options list.
For example, our test car had carbonfibre finished everything, fancy hexagoinal upholstery to mirror the exterior grille designs (or provide the playing surface for some impromptu rounds of Blockbusters), and, finished in matt Daytona Grey, all the visual presence of a modern battle cruiser. Expensive stuff.
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: economy and safety
A word about the brakes. As standard the RS6 is equipped with ‘wave’ design discs that are 390mm across at the front. The wiggly edges save weight and help the stoppers perform better. Probably, they’re good enough.
But our car had the optional carbon-ceramic upgrade, which saves even more weight, and offers an epic 420mm disc diameter up front. This is very reassuring when a much slower car has just pulled out in front of you to overtake a truck…
A word about the brakes. As standard the RS6 is equipped with ‘wave’ design discs that are 390mm across at the front. The wiggly edges save weight and help the stoppers perform better. Probably, they’re good enough.
But our car had the optional carbon-ceramic upgrade, which saves even more weight, and offers an epic 420mm disc diameter up front. This is very reassuring when a much slower car has just pulled out in front of you to overtake a truck…
As
for the economy, Audi says this 4.0-litre V8 recorded 28.8mpg during
the standard EU testing procedure, and is taxed on 229g/km CO2 – an
impressive achievement given the performance, and one that’s some 40%
better than the previous 5.0-litre V10, we’re told.
Cylinder-on-Demand (amusingly acronymed to COD) helps with this, literally shutting down cylinders 2,3,5 and 8 at low engine loads and speeds. However, running, uh, more briskly, we saw average consumption peak at 23.9l/100km on the trip computer. Equivalent to just 11.8mpg.
Cylinder-on-Demand (amusingly acronymed to COD) helps with this, literally shutting down cylinders 2,3,5 and 8 at low engine loads and speeds. However, running, uh, more briskly, we saw average consumption peak at 23.9l/100km on the trip computer. Equivalent to just 11.8mpg.
2013 Audi RS6 Avant: the MSN Cars verdict
It was always going to be extraordinarily rapid – there is no estate car on sale with higher top speed potential from the factory – but what impresses us most about the 2013 Audi RS6 is that it’s really very good fun as well.
Fast, furious and four-wheel drive, what it lacks in outright purity compared to the E63 AMG estate, it more than makes up for with sure-footed security. You’ll need plenty of room to play in, but give it the full beans and it’s a blast.
It was always going to be extraordinarily rapid – there is no estate car on sale with higher top speed potential from the factory – but what impresses us most about the 2013 Audi RS6 is that it’s really very good fun as well.
Fast, furious and four-wheel drive, what it lacks in outright purity compared to the E63 AMG estate, it more than makes up for with sure-footed security. You’ll need plenty of room to play in, but give it the full beans and it’s a blast.